Ntakibaso (not-chee-boz-o) . . . No Problem

I know what you want to ask me.  

“Are you getting settled?”  

That’s the question that I’ve heard most often through emails and from folks here in Rwanda.  The quick answer is “No, but that’s ok.” 

It’s a good thing that one of my greatest strengths is adaptability!  Since I arrived last week, I haven’t spent more than four nights in the same place.  

My schedule for the next three weeks is to spend Sunday night - Tuesday night with the Miller family who lives in a village about 30 minutes south of Kigali.  They have a very simple home and I was surprised to get my own room! While at the Miller’s, I am helping three of their four kids finish the current school year.  My day starts at 6:30am with either a cold shower (if the water is on) or a steaming hot sponge bath.  After getting ready, I have about thirty minutes or so of quiet time with God and looking over the day’s lessons.  About 7:45 or 8:00 we all sit down and enjoy the breakfast that Andrea Miller has prepared.  School starts after breakfast has been cleaned up.  We break around 12:30 for another delicious Andrea Miller meal.  School will last until 2:30 or 3:00 depending on how difficult the day’s lessons are. The afternoons are always different.  The whole Miller family will usually squeeze in language training.  Andrea finds time to prepare another delicious meal.  (Really, I don't see how Andrea has time for much else beside cooking!)  Last week, I joined Abby, who is 13 years old and the oldest Miller kid, for a bike ride.  And, Abby promised me another bike ride this week! Hopefully, I'll have pictures to share on the next blog!  There's also a whole story about bean bugs - but I'll save that for later.

So three days with the Millers, then I switch to the Crowsons in Kigali.  While in Kigali, I am staying at a quaint guest house run by nuns and I am sharing a quaint room with my friend Jessie, who is spending a year in Kigali working with Let’s Start Talking.   

Thursday - Saturday I work one-on-one with the Crowson boys who are diligently working hard to finish their school year before the next on starts in September.  My days are similar as described above but my evenings are usually spent with Jessie or other Americans who are also staying at the same guest house.  

Today is Sunday, so I am re-packing and looking forward to spending the next three days with the Millers.  

So far I have been blessed with great health, good rest, respectful students and the ability to remember Jr. High Algebra.  I’ve got my iphone unlocked and working on the local network!  I even had a delicious BBQ Pork sandwich for lunch today!  I miss home and family like crazy.  My laundry is starting to pile up and I still have thank-you notes to write to some of you who have sent in financial donations.  But, the Lord had blessed me with courage and joy renewed each morning.  While I’m not physically settled, my spirit is a peace.  That’s why it is all ok! 

Here are some pictures of the guesthouse in Kigali.

 It has rained today, so everything is looking especially green and saturated with color!

Now, welcome to our confusion in our small living space!  Jessie uses the front room and I use the back room.  Luckily we have a private toilet that we share! We even have hot showers on most days!

I am standing in the bathroom doorway.  To the right is the tiny shower and to the left is the toilet.  The sink is straight in front of me.

Here is my room - luggage and all.  It would drive my super organized sister-in-law batty and my mom could clean in here for days, but I just try to ignore the mess and am thankful for a comfy room.

 This is from the doorway of the back room looking forward.  And, that's Jessie who is also living out of luggage and trunks like me.

 Just outside our door is beautiful Kigali!

 It is Sunday here and there are lots of visitors who come to worship with the nuns who run this guesthouse.

Rwanda is the "Land of a Thousand Hills".  And on the next hill over from our guesthouse is the airport.  See the tail of the airplane in the center of the picture?  So, hearing jets fly over helps me think of Atlanta and makes be feel at home!