T-7 days until the basketball clinic…still need 50% of the funding but it will come, I know it. Words do not express how excited I am for this camp. The kids are so easily excitable that I am just really looking forward to seeing the joy in their faces. I know there will be a couple pain in the butts thrown into the mix but they add to the experience as well and I end up getting along with them the best anyway. The language barrier will be difficult but I smile in Kinyarwanda so it works. I think one of the most fun parts will be the fact that it will be a barefoot camp…I’ve never played barefoot before! It’s going to be interesting to say the least. I decided that since the kids only have beat up sandals or no shoes at all we are all going to be barefoot. The message of the camp is unity so I’m taking it to the extreme...per usual.
I still have so much to do for the camp but I got myself an assistant. One of the guys in my bible study has a daughter that just graduated from high school and is now waiting to apply for college so he offered her as a potential coach/assistant. She is going to help me with the basics of the camp. She’ll follow-up with the restaurant / transportation company, create the newsletter, and help build the sponsorship deck. I’ll take her to meetings with me and just try to share everything I know. That has really been my focus over the last couple weeks. I am trying to leave everything I’ve got here, go home learn some more and then come back and do the same. There is such an opportunity for us to share our knowledge here…I would love to start a program for Americans who have been working for 3/5 years and want to take a step back. They could come here and teach everything from the principles of business to excel/powerpoint to teenagers and even adults. It’s very rewarding, everyone is looking to learn.
Right now, AWF has slowed down a bit. I finished our materials and am almost done with the budget which is killing me! I got stuck and cannot figure out a part BUT it’s almost done. I just need someone to talk it through with. I’ll probably send it out to a couple people but I need to have it completed by Monday because Walk to Remember stuff has really picked up. We are creating all of our materials and it is very time consuming. The walk is in 68 days in five countries!!! This is by far the biggest project I have ever managed. I actually feel like a boss. I am getting myself ready mentally for our meetings with sponsors and trying to channel Bryant. I have so much faith that this event could be huge. Like, huge. The PLP guys are just brilliant. They have so much experience at such a young age and are just so creative. I love working with them….they are no Gennaro but they are as close as anyone will come to him.
Other than all the work stuff, which is about 95% of my time here now, I am going to Gisenyi Saturday – Monday with my roommates and a couple friends so I’m really looking forward to it – minus the fact that I will be driving. I have so much work to do with Walk to Remember but I am leaving my computer at home…I pray that I can leave my brain there as well. It just does not stop nowadays. The ideas will not leave me alone!!! But, I’m not complaining, I need to learn to find the calm in the chaos of my mind. We shall see…as the Rwandans say, “it is possible.”
That’s all I got…I can’t believe I was originally scheduled to come home Monday. I really love you all, like really but I cannot imagine leaving this place right now. This experience has been such a blessing. I am so lucky.
HUGE HUG.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Promise
I promise to start writing more again...I've been slacking big time!
Can not believe I was originally supposed to leave in two days. I can't imagine leaving now.
I love you all and miss you! I will write more tomorrow and send an update on everything. All is good, projects are launching and we are in the process of creating Walk to Remember materials...thank goodness I have been reading business plans and reviewing financials for the last two and a half years!!
Also, if you have not sent money for the camp yet...DO IT! The kids are so excited and I really want to be able to have it for eight full weeks. In other news, busted my ankle and it's pretty swollen (again), I think I have a crush (well I know I do but I'm not sure I want to admit it), it's too freaking hot here and I think I am dehydrated.
LOVE YOU. Promise to be better with the blog!
Can not believe I was originally supposed to leave in two days. I can't imagine leaving now.
I love you all and miss you! I will write more tomorrow and send an update on everything. All is good, projects are launching and we are in the process of creating Walk to Remember materials...thank goodness I have been reading business plans and reviewing financials for the last two and a half years!!
Also, if you have not sent money for the camp yet...DO IT! The kids are so excited and I really want to be able to have it for eight full weeks. In other news, busted my ankle and it's pretty swollen (again), I think I have a crush (well I know I do but I'm not sure I want to admit it), it's too freaking hot here and I think I am dehydrated.
LOVE YOU. Promise to be better with the blog!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Call me UWINEZA
I have officially been given my rwandanese name - UWINEZA - which means "person who does good everyday" in kinyarwanda. Goodness picked my name which I thought was really nice and gave it extra meaning, since I am his mom. In the Rwandan culture, you are given your name based on the personality. Many people have a western name; such as, Tim, Benjamin, etc but they are also given a name within the first eight days of life that seems to reflect their personality. (I could be wrong on the eight days but I know I read that somewhere...maybe in Left to Tell). Also, according to Maurice, many Rwandanese do not carry the last name of their father or mother...instead they are just given a name. Not sure if that is in all families but I thought that was quite interesting. And, last tidbit of info, daughters don't count as children. If you are a father of all daughters some consider you childless (more in rural areas) AND, to this day, females have chores they must finish in the morning and males do not! WTF.
Anyway, the above doesn't reflect all Rwandanese families but some so I thought I would share.
many, many hugs.
UWINEZA
Anyway, the above doesn't reflect all Rwandanese families but some so I thought I would share.
many, many hugs.
UWINEZA
Friday, January 15, 2010
Goodness
People, I have a son. His name is Goodness.
Today I went back to Niboye to give Goodness, the boy who is part of the family we brought food to for the Watchman event, the soccer ball I promised (for more detail see blog: You want me to what?). I went to visit with my friend Kharim, who serves as our translator, and my roommate Rachel. We all sat in their livingroom and a couple of the neighborhood kids came in to check us out and see what was going on. According to Kharim, when the kids asked who I was, Goodness introduced me as his mom. So, it's official, I am a single parent - another character builder.
It was a great day. We hung out there for about an hour and I committed to teaching them all how to play basketball for the next two weeks before they head to boarding school. Goodness said that he does not like basketball but is willing to participate because I am coaching. He is rather entertaining. I wish I could describe the way that he carries himself. When we got to the village, I saw a group of kids about a 100 yds away and I could tell which one was him...must have been my maternal instincts. He has a massive smile and is shy but at the same time very cocky. He had us dying laughing with the comments he was making about Rachel. At 15, he was trying to convince her that she should give him a chance before marrying her fiancé (she just got engaged). Kharim, who is very entertaining, was baiting him on but was forgiven when he whispered to us, how do you heal if you cannot laugh?
I hope everything works out for the camp because I think that it will be a lot of fun. I am coordinating it with the guy who is in charge of the village. He looked to be around my age which means that he was probably 10 during the genocide. He was left alone to raise his brothers and sisters. When he turned around, I noticed he had a massive scar at the bottom of his head above his vertebrae...it was probably 6 or 7 inches long and quite obviously caused by a machete. I can't accurately describe what it is like to be here but moments like that snap you right back to reality. I cannot even imagine what he has witnessed in his lifetime. He was 10 years old. He has those memories. I am sure the are vivid and there is no escaping the horror when it creeps into his mind, that is if it ever fully leaves. He carries that with him. Whatever he saw, the fear he felt seeing the men with the machetes, it is surreal to everyone but the victims. It baffles me. I have been so blessed and these people are so strong.
Other than that, things are moving ahead on all fronts. The new season of screenings and workshops start next week and the radio show and basketball clinic for the street kids are set to launch the first week in February!!!
Please note that I will be sending info on the street kid’s clinic this week and REALLY need your support - REALLY. I need 300 people to donate $20...
Off to the tea plantation tomorrow...I will take TONS of pictures with my fabulous new camera!
LOVE YOU.
Today I went back to Niboye to give Goodness, the boy who is part of the family we brought food to for the Watchman event, the soccer ball I promised (for more detail see blog: You want me to what?). I went to visit with my friend Kharim, who serves as our translator, and my roommate Rachel. We all sat in their livingroom and a couple of the neighborhood kids came in to check us out and see what was going on. According to Kharim, when the kids asked who I was, Goodness introduced me as his mom. So, it's official, I am a single parent - another character builder.
It was a great day. We hung out there for about an hour and I committed to teaching them all how to play basketball for the next two weeks before they head to boarding school. Goodness said that he does not like basketball but is willing to participate because I am coaching. He is rather entertaining. I wish I could describe the way that he carries himself. When we got to the village, I saw a group of kids about a 100 yds away and I could tell which one was him...must have been my maternal instincts. He has a massive smile and is shy but at the same time very cocky. He had us dying laughing with the comments he was making about Rachel. At 15, he was trying to convince her that she should give him a chance before marrying her fiancé (she just got engaged). Kharim, who is very entertaining, was baiting him on but was forgiven when he whispered to us, how do you heal if you cannot laugh?
I hope everything works out for the camp because I think that it will be a lot of fun. I am coordinating it with the guy who is in charge of the village. He looked to be around my age which means that he was probably 10 during the genocide. He was left alone to raise his brothers and sisters. When he turned around, I noticed he had a massive scar at the bottom of his head above his vertebrae...it was probably 6 or 7 inches long and quite obviously caused by a machete. I can't accurately describe what it is like to be here but moments like that snap you right back to reality. I cannot even imagine what he has witnessed in his lifetime. He was 10 years old. He has those memories. I am sure the are vivid and there is no escaping the horror when it creeps into his mind, that is if it ever fully leaves. He carries that with him. Whatever he saw, the fear he felt seeing the men with the machetes, it is surreal to everyone but the victims. It baffles me. I have been so blessed and these people are so strong.
Other than that, things are moving ahead on all fronts. The new season of screenings and workshops start next week and the radio show and basketball clinic for the street kids are set to launch the first week in February!!!
Please note that I will be sending info on the street kid’s clinic this week and REALLY need your support - REALLY. I need 300 people to donate $20...
Off to the tea plantation tomorrow...I will take TONS of pictures with my fabulous new camera!
LOVE YOU.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Rwanda's Relationship with God
"Before 1994, we used to say God travels the world during the day, but he always returns to sleep in Rwanda. After the genocide, we say God went away -- and he never came back." Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life inspiration for Don Cheadle's character in Hotel Rwanda (quoted at a conference in Canada in 2006)
Taking into account my experiences to date, I would have to disagree with Mr. Rusesabagina and would be interested in learning if he still agrees with his statement three years later. Although there is an incredible amount of pain and suffering still present in the hearts and minds of millions of Rwandan's, progress is being made. The people that I work with everyday are doing God's work. It is amazing to have the opportunity to be a bystander at the AWF workshops and actually see the healing process begin for many of these people. You would have to see it to believe it, but after only three days, a lot of tears and the willingness to testify, the participants whole demeanor changes - even their eyes are brighter. I would be naive to think that is all it takes, but Benjamin and the other instructors are helping to reestablish these people’s relationships with God.
The people I have met here so far are inspirational. Working for a Christian ministry I am exposed to mostly Christians so cannot / should not compare this to the states but people here are so open with their faith. We start the work day with a group prayer, people give thanks to God without hesitation throughout the day and the Bible is quoted whenever applicable (which is more often than I ever knew!). Plus, the people here really know how to pray. I've been praying for 25 years and none of my prayers have ever sounded that good!
All that being said, like everywhere else, not everyone is "saved" and some that claim to be are clearly not based on their actions (I say that in my judgment free zone). But, the ones that are would make most non-believers question their stance after a simple converstation (it's not a southern make everyone convert type of thing).
I am so thankful this experience has given me the opportunity to be in the presence of so many God-fearing young men who have chosen to put their faith in Jesus. It is a sincere commitment which is very refreshing and encourages me to continue to grow in my own faith. I can't believe I was originally set to be home in three weeks...I can't imagine leaving now (although I would like you all to come join me). I changed my flight to June 1st so I will be back in Boston June 3rd...just in time for AJ (almost K's) wedding!!!! So excited.
HUGS.
P.S. Rwandan's do not like the movie Hotel Rwanda because it is not a true representation of what happened. Rumor has it that Paul Rusesabagina charged people to stay at the hotel and when they no longer had the means to pay him, they were kicked out and hacked to death right outside the gate.
Taking into account my experiences to date, I would have to disagree with Mr. Rusesabagina and would be interested in learning if he still agrees with his statement three years later. Although there is an incredible amount of pain and suffering still present in the hearts and minds of millions of Rwandan's, progress is being made. The people that I work with everyday are doing God's work. It is amazing to have the opportunity to be a bystander at the AWF workshops and actually see the healing process begin for many of these people. You would have to see it to believe it, but after only three days, a lot of tears and the willingness to testify, the participants whole demeanor changes - even their eyes are brighter. I would be naive to think that is all it takes, but Benjamin and the other instructors are helping to reestablish these people’s relationships with God.
The people I have met here so far are inspirational. Working for a Christian ministry I am exposed to mostly Christians so cannot / should not compare this to the states but people here are so open with their faith. We start the work day with a group prayer, people give thanks to God without hesitation throughout the day and the Bible is quoted whenever applicable (which is more often than I ever knew!). Plus, the people here really know how to pray. I've been praying for 25 years and none of my prayers have ever sounded that good!
All that being said, like everywhere else, not everyone is "saved" and some that claim to be are clearly not based on their actions (I say that in my judgment free zone). But, the ones that are would make most non-believers question their stance after a simple converstation (it's not a southern make everyone convert type of thing).
I am so thankful this experience has given me the opportunity to be in the presence of so many God-fearing young men who have chosen to put their faith in Jesus. It is a sincere commitment which is very refreshing and encourages me to continue to grow in my own faith. I can't believe I was originally set to be home in three weeks...I can't imagine leaving now (although I would like you all to come join me). I changed my flight to June 1st so I will be back in Boston June 3rd...just in time for AJ (almost K's) wedding!!!! So excited.
HUGS.
P.S. Rwandan's do not like the movie Hotel Rwanda because it is not a true representation of what happened. Rumor has it that Paul Rusesabagina charged people to stay at the hotel and when they no longer had the means to pay him, they were kicked out and hacked to death right outside the gate.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
New Year, New You --- NOT
Hello friends...I'm back.
I've had a somewhat difficult first nine days of 2010 but, rest assured, this is not a good representation of what 2010 will bring. Starting tomorrow it will be better...I can feel it.
I'm a bit exhausted...haha in Africa (someone is a psycho). We are in the process of completing our business plan for fundraising and I feel like I am in GB401 again. It's 10 pages with 18 pages of appendices (appendix ?) so far. I'm thinking it will end up being 30 pages which is a nightmare for readers but they'll get the info they need in the first 8 pages and all the curious folk will find everything else they need in the rest.
That's about it, doing the same thing everyone else is...sitting at my desk in front of my computer...just in Rwanda.
Miss you all!
I've had a somewhat difficult first nine days of 2010 but, rest assured, this is not a good representation of what 2010 will bring. Starting tomorrow it will be better...I can feel it.
I'm a bit exhausted...haha in Africa (someone is a psycho). We are in the process of completing our business plan for fundraising and I feel like I am in GB401 again. It's 10 pages with 18 pages of appendices (appendix ?) so far. I'm thinking it will end up being 30 pages which is a nightmare for readers but they'll get the info they need in the first 8 pages and all the curious folk will find everything else they need in the rest.
That's about it, doing the same thing everyone else is...sitting at my desk in front of my computer...just in Rwanda.
Miss you all!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
MISSING: Female (5?), Female (24), Female (22)
Consider this the milk carton / flyer on Wal-Mart's bulletin board:
Have you seen my family?
Female (5?)
Hair: "Blonde"
Eye Color: Hen eyes
Height: 5'4 3/4
Description: Attractive middle-aged female with seemingly friendly disposition, right handed, has a freckle on the iris of each eye, likes to drop the F-bomb by 10AM.
Female (24)
Hair: Depends on the mood
Eye Color: Green
Height: 5'4
Description: Magazine pretty female with small build, freckled face, occasionally snorts when laughing, tendency to flash a trophy wife smile when photographed.
Female (22)
Hair: Blonde (curly)
Eye Color: Hen eyes
Height: 5'6
Description: Young female with many attractive physical attributes, including; long curly hair, long eyelashes and most noticeably, perfect lips. Very intelligent, will kick ass when tested.
If you have any information regarding their disappearance, please contact Kate at +250 785373991 or katelynnkelley@gmail.com.
Have you seen my family?
Female (5?)
Hair: "Blonde"
Eye Color: Hen eyes
Height: 5'4 3/4
Description: Attractive middle-aged female with seemingly friendly disposition, right handed, has a freckle on the iris of each eye, likes to drop the F-bomb by 10AM.
Female (24)
Hair: Depends on the mood
Eye Color: Green
Height: 5'4
Description: Magazine pretty female with small build, freckled face, occasionally snorts when laughing, tendency to flash a trophy wife smile when photographed.
Female (22)
Hair: Blonde (curly)
Eye Color: Hen eyes
Height: 5'6
Description: Young female with many attractive physical attributes, including; long curly hair, long eyelashes and most noticeably, perfect lips. Very intelligent, will kick ass when tested.
If you have any information regarding their disappearance, please contact Kate at +250 785373991 or katelynnkelley@gmail.com.
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