Hello my friends, my apologies but I am all UBUMWE all the time. To see what we are up to check out www.ubumwebasketball.org.
Other than that, saw the PFR street kids today! That was amazing. I really love them. They all wanted to go play "basket" so that is a good sign. At least they enjoyed it. We are making great progress with the camp and I really look forward to starting next week. Nothing much has changed, Denis cracks me up every other day and I am enjoying seeing everyone again. I am adjusting to the new roomies, all very nice (but miss my old ones). We are going on a camping trip tomorrow. I am feeling kind of sick with a cold but I am hoping it will pass. If I wake up sick tomorrow than I may have to miss it but I do not plan on it. Aside from all that, life is good. I miss everyone and am trying so hard not to dwell on what's next, it sucks to be in my head. If anyone sees any job openings that don't demand a piece of meaningless, overpriced paper, (yes, I said it) hit a sister up!
Love you all.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Get OFF THE GRASS!
It is illegal to walk on the grass in Kigali - if the police feel like it, they have the right to arrest you for it.
Fun fact for you...
Fun fact for you...
Monday, October 25, 2010
Muraho Kigali!
I arrived. It is very strange but it feels like a second home. Do not fear, I am taking my medication and being cautious but I am very comfortable and happy here.
I arrived Saturday night and was greeted at the airport by Benjamin, Dadi, Denis, Marc and Kharim. It was so nice to see them. They all commented on my weight saying that I have disappeared and one even asked where my bum went. I have only lost 10 lb but I was not expecting such a response. I am sad to report but I have fallen out of Rwandese supermodel status. It was a sad day in Kigali for me.
After I arrived Saturday, the PLP guys took me to drop off my luggage and then for tea at “The Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee” formerly know as “Star Café.” Not sure of the purpose of the name change but thought it was worth mentioning. I was surprisingly not as tired as I expected - especially since I slept for four days last time but I think that was more of a “what the f did you do?” rather than tiredness.
Sunday was great as well. I went to church in the morning (love the music) and the whole time I was reflecting on where I was emotionally last time I was here and where I am today. I am so thankful to God for all that He has done to help heal my heart. At church I was able to meet up with a couple more friends and catch-up with Herve and Joel. After church, I was able to hangout with Angel and Dadi. I am so happy to see all of them. I know it has only been five months since my last trip so I should not have expected anything to be different but it really isn’t. We started off right where we ended.
Sunday evening Benjamin, my colleague from AWF, invited me to his house for dinner. He was recently married so was very excited to have me over to share dinner with him and experience his wife, Jane’s, cooking. Unbeknownst to me, his whole family was there! Luckily a couple family members spoke English and Denis was there as my sidekick – per usual! I was very impressed with Jane’s cooking. I have never liked African tea but she made me a cup and I actually finished it! I was very surprised; usually I can only have a sip and try to mix up the cups so no one can tell it is mine. It is offensive not to finish.
So, the first weekend was eventful and I am ashamed to admit that I miss being called "fat" because it was a compliment. Haha, yes I know I am crazy, but positive affirmation is one of my primary love languages so I can not be surprised. Other than that, I have a week full of events planned for UBUMWE and look forward to getting started. And, I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE KIDS (from Prison Fellowship). I can’t wait!
I arrived Saturday night and was greeted at the airport by Benjamin, Dadi, Denis, Marc and Kharim. It was so nice to see them. They all commented on my weight saying that I have disappeared and one even asked where my bum went. I have only lost 10 lb but I was not expecting such a response. I am sad to report but I have fallen out of Rwandese supermodel status. It was a sad day in Kigali for me.
After I arrived Saturday, the PLP guys took me to drop off my luggage and then for tea at “The Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee” formerly know as “Star Café.” Not sure of the purpose of the name change but thought it was worth mentioning. I was surprisingly not as tired as I expected - especially since I slept for four days last time but I think that was more of a “what the f did you do?” rather than tiredness.
Sunday was great as well. I went to church in the morning (love the music) and the whole time I was reflecting on where I was emotionally last time I was here and where I am today. I am so thankful to God for all that He has done to help heal my heart. At church I was able to meet up with a couple more friends and catch-up with Herve and Joel. After church, I was able to hangout with Angel and Dadi. I am so happy to see all of them. I know it has only been five months since my last trip so I should not have expected anything to be different but it really isn’t. We started off right where we ended.
Sunday evening Benjamin, my colleague from AWF, invited me to his house for dinner. He was recently married so was very excited to have me over to share dinner with him and experience his wife, Jane’s, cooking. Unbeknownst to me, his whole family was there! Luckily a couple family members spoke English and Denis was there as my sidekick – per usual! I was very impressed with Jane’s cooking. I have never liked African tea but she made me a cup and I actually finished it! I was very surprised; usually I can only have a sip and try to mix up the cups so no one can tell it is mine. It is offensive not to finish.
So, the first weekend was eventful and I am ashamed to admit that I miss being called "fat" because it was a compliment. Haha, yes I know I am crazy, but positive affirmation is one of my primary love languages so I can not be surprised. Other than that, I have a week full of events planned for UBUMWE and look forward to getting started. And, I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE KIDS (from Prison Fellowship). I can’t wait!
Monday, May 24, 2010
W O A H.
I will be on a plane in 6 days. 6 days.
I don't even know how I feel. I am experiencing a whole range of emotions. It's all slightly overwhelming. I am really looking forward to coming home but I am fearful too. Rwanda has been such a blessing. I am so thankful for the experiences I have had and the friendships I have made. I will never be able to fully articulate my experience here but there is just something different about this place, about these people. I love home and I have loved the people at home longer but right now I can't imagine being anywhere else but here. Rwanda will always have a piece of my heart and it's a scary thought to leave such an important part of you somewhere.
I am overcome with gratitude towards God for sending me here. As much as I fear coming home, I am ready (I hope)!
I love you loads. See you soon!!!!!
I don't even know how I feel. I am experiencing a whole range of emotions. It's all slightly overwhelming. I am really looking forward to coming home but I am fearful too. Rwanda has been such a blessing. I am so thankful for the experiences I have had and the friendships I have made. I will never be able to fully articulate my experience here but there is just something different about this place, about these people. I love home and I have loved the people at home longer but right now I can't imagine being anywhere else but here. Rwanda will always have a piece of my heart and it's a scary thought to leave such an important part of you somewhere.
I am overcome with gratitude towards God for sending me here. As much as I fear coming home, I am ready (I hope)!
I love you loads. See you soon!!!!!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
woot woot
Today is the first day that I woke up genuinely excited to come home....yaaaaay! 15 days and counting.
Lot-o-love coming your way.
Lot-o-love coming your way.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
No One Likes A FATTY
16 days and I will get getting on a plane. WOAH. I am so excited to see everyone. I can not believe that it has been seven months! It is so crazy to me because I feel like I have been with you all along...weird, I know but it does. I think (and hope) everything will pick-up just where we left off.
I've been thinking a lot lately about my transition back to the good ol' US of A after being here for so long and it is going to be interesting. It is different here and the people are different. One thing that I have thought about a lot recently is how I am not looking forward to going back into image obsessed America. Once you have been away from it for awhile you realize how trivial it all is and how we are all so vain! Here they say embrace your African curves or work-out, that's it, end of story. No, o I'm so chubby (actually usually the opposite of I'm too skinny) or hating on oneself, most people, at least the ones that I have come across are comfortable and don't give it much thought because "its just how their body is." One story that really comes to mind is when Andrea and I were with Marc at Bourbon and we were talking about weight and yada yada and Marc said you guys talking so much about your weight makes me self-conscious about my body. I never thought of it that way. He is/was fine with his body until we started dissecting ours, by doing that, he started to do it to himself. They just don't do that here.
And, the magazines. Oh my goodness. I read my first "western" (from the UK) magazine in six months and was borderline horrified. It is such trash. I never even realized it before but all I could think of was who cares?!? It was so terrible. I think I have ruined myself for stupid things. (That sounds really harsh and this is for me, not for you. If you like trashy magazines, do you!)
So, those are just a couple side comments. Take them of leave them. I just hope I am able to come home and not be as obsessed as I was because that never helped, ever. Never lost a lb by obsessing over it, usually only gained two in it's place. I just want to be healthy and happy, for me. Not for anyone else. Basically I will just continue doing my SHRED videos and reminding myself that no one likes a fatty - not because I'm fat but because it's fun.
That's all folks. LOVE YOU. SEE YOU IN 18 DAYS!!
I've been thinking a lot lately about my transition back to the good ol' US of A after being here for so long and it is going to be interesting. It is different here and the people are different. One thing that I have thought about a lot recently is how I am not looking forward to going back into image obsessed America. Once you have been away from it for awhile you realize how trivial it all is and how we are all so vain! Here they say embrace your African curves or work-out, that's it, end of story. No, o I'm so chubby (actually usually the opposite of I'm too skinny) or hating on oneself, most people, at least the ones that I have come across are comfortable and don't give it much thought because "its just how their body is." One story that really comes to mind is when Andrea and I were with Marc at Bourbon and we were talking about weight and yada yada and Marc said you guys talking so much about your weight makes me self-conscious about my body. I never thought of it that way. He is/was fine with his body until we started dissecting ours, by doing that, he started to do it to himself. They just don't do that here.
And, the magazines. Oh my goodness. I read my first "western" (from the UK) magazine in six months and was borderline horrified. It is such trash. I never even realized it before but all I could think of was who cares?!? It was so terrible. I think I have ruined myself for stupid things. (That sounds really harsh and this is for me, not for you. If you like trashy magazines, do you!)
So, those are just a couple side comments. Take them of leave them. I just hope I am able to come home and not be as obsessed as I was because that never helped, ever. Never lost a lb by obsessing over it, usually only gained two in it's place. I just want to be healthy and happy, for me. Not for anyone else. Basically I will just continue doing my SHRED videos and reminding myself that no one likes a fatty - not because I'm fat but because it's fun.
That's all folks. LOVE YOU. SEE YOU IN 18 DAYS!!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Guilty as Charged
So, as I type I am multitasking by talking to Morgan at the same time...sup Mogues! She brought to my attention that I have completely stopped blogging and all I have to say is sorry! I really have no excuse. I think it just comes down to the fact that this feels like normal life now. Like if I blog about it, you will all be bored because it's just the day-to-day stuff (at least for me!). No hot topics or anything like that to share.
But, that being said, that comment leads me to a rather interesting point. The point being that I still look at the same landscape everyday (mansions and shacks), still see the same street kids everyday, still feel the tension in the air (literally), still lose electricity at least every other day, still take showers with NO water pressure, still handwash my clothes, still get stared at for abnormal amounts of time per staring episode which happens at least every other person, still get excited when I actually get my list of errands complete and still wear the same four outfits I have worn over the last six months...the point is, this feels normal. Rwanda is my second home, so all of that stuff, that's just part of the day-to-day and how different is that from my "real" life?!?
It makes me think of two things:
1) How a person can become blind over time to his or her surroundings. Meaning, the extreme poverty that I witnessed when I first arrived here is the same that I will leave yet it does not evoke the same emotions it did initially. The prayers continue to be the same but the poverty, and/or acceptance of poverty, has become normal. Now, I am used to seeing people dressed in torn and tattered clothing, children dirty with no shoes, and people visibly hungry. It is normal. It forces me to be more aware and take a moral inventory of my behavior in my own country and what I see and accept as "normal". Do I let things that are considered "normal" that should not be, just exist. And, if so, what can I do in my day-to-day life to make a difference? One thing that I have learned here that I will take with me forever is that there is nothing more important or valued by a child than time. Everyone has time, it's amazing what you can do when your life does not evolve around the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice.
2) I should have written two down before I started writing too much about one! I know it was a good thought! Haha. So, to be honest, I have not changed much and unfortunately, I forget the original two...but, the new two is that In less than 30 days (27 to be exact), I will be back in Boston and then to NYC. Back in places where everything is at your fingertips and excess is everywhere. How the heck am I going to deal with that!?!?
LASTLY. Taking this trip was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. Everyday I feel blessed and everyday I think God is GOOD. I am ready to take on whatever is thrown at me when I get home, including MASSIVE hugs. Am I fully healed? Nope! But, I believe it is possible and that's enough for me.
I love you all and will see you in less than a month. And, no, I do not know what I am going to do when I get home and to be honest, I am not worried so nobody better try to push their fears for me, on me. I ain't scared :) (so you shouldn't be either!). I know how to work and I now know how to pray so I'm ready for the next adventure....woot woot.
But, that being said, that comment leads me to a rather interesting point. The point being that I still look at the same landscape everyday (mansions and shacks), still see the same street kids everyday, still feel the tension in the air (literally), still lose electricity at least every other day, still take showers with NO water pressure, still handwash my clothes, still get stared at for abnormal amounts of time per staring episode which happens at least every other person, still get excited when I actually get my list of errands complete and still wear the same four outfits I have worn over the last six months...the point is, this feels normal. Rwanda is my second home, so all of that stuff, that's just part of the day-to-day and how different is that from my "real" life?!?
It makes me think of two things:
1) How a person can become blind over time to his or her surroundings. Meaning, the extreme poverty that I witnessed when I first arrived here is the same that I will leave yet it does not evoke the same emotions it did initially. The prayers continue to be the same but the poverty, and/or acceptance of poverty, has become normal. Now, I am used to seeing people dressed in torn and tattered clothing, children dirty with no shoes, and people visibly hungry. It is normal. It forces me to be more aware and take a moral inventory of my behavior in my own country and what I see and accept as "normal". Do I let things that are considered "normal" that should not be, just exist. And, if so, what can I do in my day-to-day life to make a difference? One thing that I have learned here that I will take with me forever is that there is nothing more important or valued by a child than time. Everyone has time, it's amazing what you can do when your life does not evolve around the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice.
2) I should have written two down before I started writing too much about one! I know it was a good thought! Haha. So, to be honest, I have not changed much and unfortunately, I forget the original two...but, the new two is that In less than 30 days (27 to be exact), I will be back in Boston and then to NYC. Back in places where everything is at your fingertips and excess is everywhere. How the heck am I going to deal with that!?!?
LASTLY. Taking this trip was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. Everyday I feel blessed and everyday I think God is GOOD. I am ready to take on whatever is thrown at me when I get home, including MASSIVE hugs. Am I fully healed? Nope! But, I believe it is possible and that's enough for me.
I love you all and will see you in less than a month. And, no, I do not know what I am going to do when I get home and to be honest, I am not worried so nobody better try to push their fears for me, on me. I ain't scared :) (so you shouldn't be either!). I know how to work and I now know how to pray so I'm ready for the next adventure....woot woot.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
False Promises
I am so full of false promises that it is entertaining to me. It's good to know that I continue to overcommit myself, even when it comes to blogging. Something to work on!
I'm 30 days out, 4 weeks, so CRAZY! I can't believe it. This time is going to fly by so quickly. I am getting excited to come home but I am really going to miss this place. It has been such an amazing experience.
So, back to my original plan...
What I will miss....
My kids. I am going to miss the street kids so much. They have been such a blessing and I will miss not seeing them every week. We have really started to bond and I am not looking forward to leaving them. They are wonderful and I get smothered with hugs every week which I will really miss.
How flattering the people are. People here are so open and flattering. If you look like crap they say you look tired but if you look good, they tell you. The people are just really nice to me! haha, I have never felt so appreciated before (by men in particular) and they are all such good, kind people. The guys here treat me very different than the ones at home. Here if you are big, they think that is how you are supposed to be. No one is trying to lose weight and they just like you as you are. It's really nice. I am not looking forward to jumping back into the American cultures obsession with weight and skinny people.
My patio. I will really miss sitting out on the patio in the morning and at night. It's peaceful and I always sit there in awe of how blessed I am to have the opportunity to have this experience.
What I am looking forward to...
Just the usual day to day chats with friends and family. I am really looking forward to sitting around the kitchen table and just catching up with everyone. I can't wait to hear about all the happenings in everyone lives and share all that I have gained from this experience.
Exercise. I really look forward to going on a run whenever I want and not having to worry about the harsh sun or who is going to be watching me or any of that. I can not wait!
Salads!!!!! I can not wait to have salads, as many as I want. I can not wait for a healthy diet!
OTHER
I am going to have a basketball camp at a school for deaf kids in two weeks! Can't wait!
And, in general, I am exhausted! People are starting to go home so we have had going away parties non-stop! I am so tired! Lastly, I have decided I am not playing for the National team. Instead, I have decided that I would like to be an assistant coach. I really feel like I will be messing with their chemistry and that is just selfish...I am still going to practice with them but I do not think it is fair to play in games.
See you in 30 days. HOLY CRAP.
I LOVE YOU. I LOVE THE USA. I LOVE RWANDA. I LOVE MY LIFE.
WOAH.
I'm 30 days out, 4 weeks, so CRAZY! I can't believe it. This time is going to fly by so quickly. I am getting excited to come home but I am really going to miss this place. It has been such an amazing experience.
So, back to my original plan...
What I will miss....
My kids. I am going to miss the street kids so much. They have been such a blessing and I will miss not seeing them every week. We have really started to bond and I am not looking forward to leaving them. They are wonderful and I get smothered with hugs every week which I will really miss.
How flattering the people are. People here are so open and flattering. If you look like crap they say you look tired but if you look good, they tell you. The people are just really nice to me! haha, I have never felt so appreciated before (by men in particular) and they are all such good, kind people. The guys here treat me very different than the ones at home. Here if you are big, they think that is how you are supposed to be. No one is trying to lose weight and they just like you as you are. It's really nice. I am not looking forward to jumping back into the American cultures obsession with weight and skinny people.
My patio. I will really miss sitting out on the patio in the morning and at night. It's peaceful and I always sit there in awe of how blessed I am to have the opportunity to have this experience.
What I am looking forward to...
Just the usual day to day chats with friends and family. I am really looking forward to sitting around the kitchen table and just catching up with everyone. I can't wait to hear about all the happenings in everyone lives and share all that I have gained from this experience.
Exercise. I really look forward to going on a run whenever I want and not having to worry about the harsh sun or who is going to be watching me or any of that. I can not wait!
Salads!!!!! I can not wait to have salads, as many as I want. I can not wait for a healthy diet!
OTHER
I am going to have a basketball camp at a school for deaf kids in two weeks! Can't wait!
And, in general, I am exhausted! People are starting to go home so we have had going away parties non-stop! I am so tired! Lastly, I have decided I am not playing for the National team. Instead, I have decided that I would like to be an assistant coach. I really feel like I will be messing with their chemistry and that is just selfish...I am still going to practice with them but I do not think it is fair to play in games.
See you in 30 days. HOLY CRAP.
I LOVE YOU. I LOVE THE USA. I LOVE RWANDA. I LOVE MY LIFE.
WOAH.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
40 days
Since I have done such a poor job of updating lately (for the past three months) I have decided that for my last 40 days I will write one thing that I will miss and one thing that I am really looking forward to when I get home. Since it will be sad to leave, I have to focus on the positives of going home - family and friends obviously but other stuff as well.
So, Day 1.
What I will miss...
PLP peeps. I am leaving my brothers in Rwanda, enough said. No reason to get emotional 40 days out.
What I am looking forward to...
This is a no brainer. I'm sure you all already know that the number one thing I am looking forward to when I get home is smothering my mom and sisters. Not hugs, smothering. As I told my mom, she should think about borrowing one of Pete's spare wheelchairs so I can just sit on her lap for a week or two straight and we can still be productive. The "hug machine" will be coming home in full force! Watch out now!
So, Day 1.
What I will miss...
PLP peeps. I am leaving my brothers in Rwanda, enough said. No reason to get emotional 40 days out.
What I am looking forward to...
This is a no brainer. I'm sure you all already know that the number one thing I am looking forward to when I get home is smothering my mom and sisters. Not hugs, smothering. As I told my mom, she should think about borrowing one of Pete's spare wheelchairs so I can just sit on her lap for a week or two straight and we can still be productive. The "hug machine" will be coming home in full force! Watch out now!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Walk to Remember 2010 - East Africa (Rwanda)
Let's run through my day on 7th of April 2010...
7AM - Up and excited that the day is here (and almost over)
7:30AM - Shower, breakfast and out the door
7:35AM - Drop off torches at the stadium
7:45AM - Load car with banners, water, candles, name badges, etc
8AM - Meet Richard, hang banners
8:30AM - Find out the President will be attending the event
8:31AM - Get excited and realize, crap, everything needs to change
8:45AM - Pick up Herve, Joel, Sam, and some volunteers
9AM - Find out the event has been moved from KBC Roundabout to Parliament (again, crap! all media, our tv/radio commercials all said KBC)
9:05AM - Talk to Presidents office; Call my brother Denis and send him to every radio station to tell them change of location
9:10AM - Head to Parliament; Talk to Presidents Security; Tell Denis do not go to radio stations and tell them about the Parliament
9:30AM - Arrive at Parliament; Hang banners; Talk to Presidents Security; Tell Denis to go to radio stations and tell people to go directly to the Parliament
10:30AM - Go home and paint the President's t-shirt to read - Dar es Salaam rather than Dar el Salaam - THE PRESIDENT'S SHIRT...yego!
11AM - Go to prep speakers; check up on team
11:30AM - Go to tent to see 144 student volunteers - drive some to the Parliament and KBC to direct people to the Parliament
12PM - Back home - SHOWER!
12:45 - Head back to tent - where is the bus for the volunteers? Funny, no one knows?!
1:00 - Drop off more volunteers at KBC - raise my voice for the first time at the "volunteers" who are simply sitting under the overhang letting people walk around aimlessly
1:15 - Head back to the tent with Rachel (130 volunteers still need transport, we have a mini-van)
1:30 - Arrive at tent, NO BUS! Super! Rachel becomes a taxi driver and I notice a massive dump truck two houses down who could take us in two trips; I ask the kids who will translate for me, all the boys are shocked and put their heads down, one tiny girl agrees
1:35 - Tiny girl and I mock the boys for being pansies and go knock on the owners gate; Talk to the owner who calls the driver and offers to pay for gas; Rachel continues to transport them back and forth; Denis tells the kids to start walking while we wait for the driver to arrive
1:50 - Driver arrives but bus finally came and picked up the kids on their way; Rachel comes back to get me
2:00 - President's speech starts; all roads are blocked off, Rachel drops us 1/2 mile from Parliament where they are about the lock the gates
2:20 - Arrive at Parliament; everyone is gone! People continue to trail in; Sam, Joel and I start walking to the stadium to get people organized
2:40 - Meet Rachel half-way; give out water
3:10 - Arrive at stadium; get hit on by almost every very attractive Presidential guard as I am trying to get to the track (I love Rwanda and their love for big, white women)
3:30 - Get onto track; receive 20 phone calls from people who the guards will not let enter (key people, speakers!); Start basically doing laps to make sure everyone can enter - again, pays to be a big white woman
4:15 - Start organizing the people into a ring for the lighting of the candles; Continue recieving phone calls, back and forth...
4:45 - Finally on the track to stay; start moving over 1000 people into on circle with no holes (by myself, thank you team "leaders")
6:00 - FINALLY, we have a circle!
6:15 - Music; make sure everyone has a candle
6:30 - Ceremony starts!
6:31 - I breathe and start taking pictures; really enjoyed the remainder of the event
Many, many other things happened but those are the basics.
Highlights - Approximately 9,000 participants (4x last year's event); President made a speech and lead the walk; TONS of media coverage; VERY HAPPY sponsors; Majority of the audience was youth - they came out in full support of the event; I am still alive and unwinding.
All of it made it easy to lose focus on why we were there. The actual ceremony really made it real. It is amazing what these people experienced only 16 short years ago. It's devastating.
MISS YOU!
7AM - Up and excited that the day is here (and almost over)
7:30AM - Shower, breakfast and out the door
7:35AM - Drop off torches at the stadium
7:45AM - Load car with banners, water, candles, name badges, etc
8AM - Meet Richard, hang banners
8:30AM - Find out the President will be attending the event
8:31AM - Get excited and realize, crap, everything needs to change
8:45AM - Pick up Herve, Joel, Sam, and some volunteers
9AM - Find out the event has been moved from KBC Roundabout to Parliament (again, crap! all media, our tv/radio commercials all said KBC)
9:05AM - Talk to Presidents office; Call my brother Denis and send him to every radio station to tell them change of location
9:10AM - Head to Parliament; Talk to Presidents Security; Tell Denis do not go to radio stations and tell them about the Parliament
9:30AM - Arrive at Parliament; Hang banners; Talk to Presidents Security; Tell Denis to go to radio stations and tell people to go directly to the Parliament
10:30AM - Go home and paint the President's t-shirt to read - Dar es Salaam rather than Dar el Salaam - THE PRESIDENT'S SHIRT...yego!
11AM - Go to prep speakers; check up on team
11:30AM - Go to tent to see 144 student volunteers - drive some to the Parliament and KBC to direct people to the Parliament
12PM - Back home - SHOWER!
12:45 - Head back to tent - where is the bus for the volunteers? Funny, no one knows?!
1:00 - Drop off more volunteers at KBC - raise my voice for the first time at the "volunteers" who are simply sitting under the overhang letting people walk around aimlessly
1:15 - Head back to the tent with Rachel (130 volunteers still need transport, we have a mini-van)
1:30 - Arrive at tent, NO BUS! Super! Rachel becomes a taxi driver and I notice a massive dump truck two houses down who could take us in two trips; I ask the kids who will translate for me, all the boys are shocked and put their heads down, one tiny girl agrees
1:35 - Tiny girl and I mock the boys for being pansies and go knock on the owners gate; Talk to the owner who calls the driver and offers to pay for gas; Rachel continues to transport them back and forth; Denis tells the kids to start walking while we wait for the driver to arrive
1:50 - Driver arrives but bus finally came and picked up the kids on their way; Rachel comes back to get me
2:00 - President's speech starts; all roads are blocked off, Rachel drops us 1/2 mile from Parliament where they are about the lock the gates
2:20 - Arrive at Parliament; everyone is gone! People continue to trail in; Sam, Joel and I start walking to the stadium to get people organized
2:40 - Meet Rachel half-way; give out water
3:10 - Arrive at stadium; get hit on by almost every very attractive Presidential guard as I am trying to get to the track (I love Rwanda and their love for big, white women)
3:30 - Get onto track; receive 20 phone calls from people who the guards will not let enter (key people, speakers!); Start basically doing laps to make sure everyone can enter - again, pays to be a big white woman
4:15 - Start organizing the people into a ring for the lighting of the candles; Continue recieving phone calls, back and forth...
4:45 - Finally on the track to stay; start moving over 1000 people into on circle with no holes (by myself, thank you team "leaders")
6:00 - FINALLY, we have a circle!
6:15 - Music; make sure everyone has a candle
6:30 - Ceremony starts!
6:31 - I breathe and start taking pictures; really enjoyed the remainder of the event
Many, many other things happened but those are the basics.
Highlights - Approximately 9,000 participants (4x last year's event); President made a speech and lead the walk; TONS of media coverage; VERY HAPPY sponsors; Majority of the audience was youth - they came out in full support of the event; I am still alive and unwinding.
All of it made it easy to lose focus on why we were there. The actual ceremony really made it real. It is amazing what these people experienced only 16 short years ago. It's devastating.
MISS YOU!
Friday, April 9, 2010
O how I loathe thou...
Dear Mean Green Machine:
My hatred of you grows more and more by the day. I, who have never experienced such hatred in my life, struggle with the feelings I have for you. You break down on a daily basis, run out of gas on hills in the middle of the city, and your brakes momentarily fail on my way down hills (that is when you can actually make it up). I despise you and even if given the opportunity do not believe I would even try to make it work between us. I am looking for dependability and you, unfortunately, can not provide me with that basic request. The end.
NOT yours truly,
Kate Kelley
My hatred of you grows more and more by the day. I, who have never experienced such hatred in my life, struggle with the feelings I have for you. You break down on a daily basis, run out of gas on hills in the middle of the city, and your brakes momentarily fail on my way down hills (that is when you can actually make it up). I despise you and even if given the opportunity do not believe I would even try to make it work between us. I am looking for dependability and you, unfortunately, can not provide me with that basic request. The end.
NOT yours truly,
Kate Kelley
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Seriously, like seriously! - Update #4
Ok, so let me preface this with I should probably not put this on the world wide web because I will be gossiping and it's not good to talk about other people and all that jazz so I will make this short and sweet.
I, Kate Kelley, am a sucker. I REFUSE to believe that people are as incapable as they appear. These "people" include whites, blacks, cubans, and asians. I just don't get it. I refuse to believe it. Rather, I choose to believe that people know I will get it done so are just too lazy to do it themselves but when there is too, too, too much to get done, nothing ends up getting done if it's only one person. It seems that only my mother and I truly understand what I have to work with (meaning my mental capacity). If I can do it people, you can to!
Lesson #1 - A good team is invaluable.
Lesson #2 - Most people are either stupid or lazy (and I don't believe anyone is stupid, so, ya)
Lesson #3 - I am quite possibly the worse delegator in the world (but see #1)
Lesson #4 - I have so far to go in terms of management skill (but I am so much closer than I was)
Lesson #5 - A good team is invaluable.
Lesson #6 - When I have too many tasks, I don't do anything well, and I mean, anything!
Lesson #7 - See Lesson #1 and #5
So, that was me venting, thanks!
I, Kate Kelley, am a sucker. I REFUSE to believe that people are as incapable as they appear. These "people" include whites, blacks, cubans, and asians. I just don't get it. I refuse to believe it. Rather, I choose to believe that people know I will get it done so are just too lazy to do it themselves but when there is too, too, too much to get done, nothing ends up getting done if it's only one person. It seems that only my mother and I truly understand what I have to work with (meaning my mental capacity). If I can do it people, you can to!
Lesson #1 - A good team is invaluable.
Lesson #2 - Most people are either stupid or lazy (and I don't believe anyone is stupid, so, ya)
Lesson #3 - I am quite possibly the worse delegator in the world (but see #1)
Lesson #4 - I have so far to go in terms of management skill (but I am so much closer than I was)
Lesson #5 - A good team is invaluable.
Lesson #6 - When I have too many tasks, I don't do anything well, and I mean, anything!
Lesson #7 - See Lesson #1 and #5
So, that was me venting, thanks!
My Family WILL BE a Basketball Playing Rainbow - Update #3
If there was any doubt before I came to Rwanda that I would be adopting multiple children from any and all nationalities/ethnicities, let this serve as the official documentation that it is going to happen (and I cannot wait).
Basketball camp has been a blessing. Last weekend was the last session (until the closing ceremony in May). The kids are just amazing. We have really had the opportunity to build a relationship and I intend to continue it by visiting them at Prison Fellowship until I leave. Working with them has been so rewarding. They have been a blessing my life and I am just so thankful. I wish you could all be there for the camps. You would love it!
The kids are just starting to catch on. Per usual, some are better than others and some of the boys have really picked it up. During our scrimmages, they actually look somewhat organized (emphasis on somewhat). We have four teams and when the two teams are playing, the other two have to stand around the court and cheer. We sing songs and make up cheers and you should see them all when someone scores. It's hilarious. The games are usually only 10 minutes long so the score is usually 4-2 or 6-4 if they're "on". Scoring a basket is basically like scoring a goal in futbol, when it happens, it's rare and it's exciting! When they score, it is usually followed by fist-pumps, skipping, jumping and a whole lot of cheering. It's hard to manage the kids on the sideline because after one basket they all want to storm the court. I can't really describe it accurately with words, it's just pure joy.
The kids are changing too, which leads me to my "basketball playing rainbow colored family." Being with these kids gives you the chance to see that all children are the same. All they want is some good lovin! Me, being the "hug machine" that I am, am all about it. The kids are just aching for some affection and luckily, that is easy for me to give. It's amazing to see that all they want is someone to care about them and offer some structure. For instance, I have one guy who is about 24. We are always joking around and, as of late, as been very helpful with managing the younger kids. Well, like many of the older street kids, he uses drugs. They all smoke some kind of ganja plant (I don't know what it is called). Anyway, he has a necklace with the leaf on it that he wore to camp one day, every time I was near him, I would put it in his shirt so you could not see it. He would take it out, I would put it back. Well, the next week, another one of the boys had a sweatband with the plant on it. I took it from him and wore it myself, inside out. The other boy saw me take it, ran up to me with a big smile and showed me that he was not wearing his necklace that week. He also scolded the other boy for wearing the band, explaining it was bad. Will they smoke this week? Are they smoking now, probably! But, at least they know that I care that they don't and somewhere in their minds, maybe in a very, very small way, that matters.
Back to my family, being with these kids has once again showed me that I really want to have my home for kids between the ages of 7-19. There is so much there and they are just forgotten because they are not as cute and cuddly has the young ones. Working with them is so rewarding. People always say how rare it is to see real transformation and/or how difficult and potentially disappointing it can be to work with teens but I think change is possible. I know that if I had their experiences and survived what they have survived, I wouldn't be transformed over night either.
All you need is love people!
Speaking of love, if anyone knows any men between the ages of 25-32, preferably tall (at least 5'11) with some meat on their bones, who would also like to have this kind of non-traditional (but awesome) family...hook-it up (some basketball skills preferred but not required).
Basketball camp has been a blessing. Last weekend was the last session (until the closing ceremony in May). The kids are just amazing. We have really had the opportunity to build a relationship and I intend to continue it by visiting them at Prison Fellowship until I leave. Working with them has been so rewarding. They have been a blessing my life and I am just so thankful. I wish you could all be there for the camps. You would love it!
The kids are just starting to catch on. Per usual, some are better than others and some of the boys have really picked it up. During our scrimmages, they actually look somewhat organized (emphasis on somewhat). We have four teams and when the two teams are playing, the other two have to stand around the court and cheer. We sing songs and make up cheers and you should see them all when someone scores. It's hilarious. The games are usually only 10 minutes long so the score is usually 4-2 or 6-4 if they're "on". Scoring a basket is basically like scoring a goal in futbol, when it happens, it's rare and it's exciting! When they score, it is usually followed by fist-pumps, skipping, jumping and a whole lot of cheering. It's hard to manage the kids on the sideline because after one basket they all want to storm the court. I can't really describe it accurately with words, it's just pure joy.
The kids are changing too, which leads me to my "basketball playing rainbow colored family." Being with these kids gives you the chance to see that all children are the same. All they want is some good lovin! Me, being the "hug machine" that I am, am all about it. The kids are just aching for some affection and luckily, that is easy for me to give. It's amazing to see that all they want is someone to care about them and offer some structure. For instance, I have one guy who is about 24. We are always joking around and, as of late, as been very helpful with managing the younger kids. Well, like many of the older street kids, he uses drugs. They all smoke some kind of ganja plant (I don't know what it is called). Anyway, he has a necklace with the leaf on it that he wore to camp one day, every time I was near him, I would put it in his shirt so you could not see it. He would take it out, I would put it back. Well, the next week, another one of the boys had a sweatband with the plant on it. I took it from him and wore it myself, inside out. The other boy saw me take it, ran up to me with a big smile and showed me that he was not wearing his necklace that week. He also scolded the other boy for wearing the band, explaining it was bad. Will they smoke this week? Are they smoking now, probably! But, at least they know that I care that they don't and somewhere in their minds, maybe in a very, very small way, that matters.
Back to my family, being with these kids has once again showed me that I really want to have my home for kids between the ages of 7-19. There is so much there and they are just forgotten because they are not as cute and cuddly has the young ones. Working with them is so rewarding. People always say how rare it is to see real transformation and/or how difficult and potentially disappointing it can be to work with teens but I think change is possible. I know that if I had their experiences and survived what they have survived, I wouldn't be transformed over night either.
All you need is love people!
Speaking of love, if anyone knows any men between the ages of 25-32, preferably tall (at least 5'11) with some meat on their bones, who would also like to have this kind of non-traditional (but awesome) family...hook-it up (some basketball skills preferred but not required).
Ohhhh Technology - Update #2
My computer is broken (as of approximately 10 days ago)...I spilt NanoGreens (its a powder that you shake in a cup with 8oz of water. It alledgedly has 10 servings worth of fruits and vegetables per scoop)
Anyway, I was shake, shake, shaking it and the cap popped off soooo, I got NanoGreens all over my clothes, my bed and ahhhhh my computer. Supposedly it got in the motherboard...who knows. All I know is that it is not working, it has all my pictures on it and I am NOT very happy about it.
Maybe it can be fixed at home? I hope so, I don't really trust the effort here, not a whole lota pride in the work going on...
Anyway, I was shake, shake, shaking it and the cap popped off soooo, I got NanoGreens all over my clothes, my bed and ahhhhh my computer. Supposedly it got in the motherboard...who knows. All I know is that it is not working, it has all my pictures on it and I am NOT very happy about it.
Maybe it can be fixed at home? I hope so, I don't really trust the effort here, not a whole lota pride in the work going on...
Ready, Set, GO - Update #1
Ok, so, as you may have noticed, I have not been writing in my blog at all lately. I apologize!! I'm sure you're all at the edge of your seats everyday to hear the latest of Kate's life in Rwanda (kidding, Paula!) But, all joking aside, I have not been great with keeping in touch and I promised I would. To make up for it, I am going to bombard you with blog posts. So much as been going on that I haven't had the time to sit down and just write.
In the interest of saving you time and not boring you to pieces with a rambling books worth of content, I am splitting up the posts...you will see the headings, Update 1, 2, etc. That way it will just make sense and they will be short(er) reads…
Basically, I have been doing so much learning here that it's just unbelievable. I never in a million years expected to have these experiences and I have no idea what God has planned for me but I think it is more than I ever imagined (otherwise, He is really just toying with me).
Anyway, most important parts of this update are: 1) I'm alive; 2) I'm sorry; 3) I'm shocked how busy I am and how much I'm learning; 4) I really do love you all more than you would think given my absence from blogging; 4) Thank you Jesus for rising from the dead today to save us from ourselves; 5) The Easter Bunny did NOT come or he did an exceptionally fabulous job this year hiding my basket.
HAPPY EASTER!
In the interest of saving you time and not boring you to pieces with a rambling books worth of content, I am splitting up the posts...you will see the headings, Update 1, 2, etc. That way it will just make sense and they will be short(er) reads…
Basically, I have been doing so much learning here that it's just unbelievable. I never in a million years expected to have these experiences and I have no idea what God has planned for me but I think it is more than I ever imagined (otherwise, He is really just toying with me).
Anyway, most important parts of this update are: 1) I'm alive; 2) I'm sorry; 3) I'm shocked how busy I am and how much I'm learning; 4) I really do love you all more than you would think given my absence from blogging; 4) Thank you Jesus for rising from the dead today to save us from ourselves; 5) The Easter Bunny did NOT come or he did an exceptionally fabulous job this year hiding my basket.
HAPPY EASTER!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Life Without My Computer
My computer broke and I am not happy about it! I love it. Love.
Aside from that, I am doing a lot of self-reflecting and realizing what a psycho I am. Or, I should say, how warped my mentality is. I am a crazy worker, like non-stop (and I don't think I even accomplish that much). I am here in Rwanda, stressed out and I cannot figure out why I allow things, like work, to get to me. It's truly amazing how worked up I can get. You'd think that I was responsible for everything and anything in the world. I must just have a major ego problem. Everyone around me is so capable but so very few actually take the initiative which is really frustrating. But, starting next week a couple more of the PLP guys will be back so they will help a ton. I just have to focus on r-e-l-a-x-i-n-g or at least managing my time better. There is enough work between W2R, AWF and the bball camp to stay busy for 24hrs a day and so far, I am letting it take over. I have actually made myself sick! I've got a headache, borderline swollen glands and no voice (but I have been told I talk too much so that could be the reason as well). It shows me that I have to prioritize. In my head, I think a hard worker is someone who is constantly working and usually stressed...I don't think that is the only way to be. I think I can still be a hard worker...in moderation (haha, story of my life, moderation and I are not friends). So, basically, Rwanda has been a mirror and I'm not loving what I see. Thankfully I know I'll never be prefect but I sure hope someday soon I will be relaxed. I'm learning so much here!! I'm so thankful.
For bball camp, I am a slacker and am behind on my newsletters but like I said earlier, I am working like crazy and there just aren't enough hours. So, it will get done and I'm sorry for the delay.
Basketball yesterday was the best one yet. The older boys have really started to step up. They were directing people to the right positions, being vocal, enthusiastic, and so helpful! We had a dance/rap session and played games. I am so proud of all of them. As for the younger ones, 4-9, it was not as positive of an experience. Yesterday it was a sob-fest. According to Rachel, they cried the entire time. We had a counselor working with us and she was saying one of the reasons they may have acted like that is because now they know they will get the attention. They are so used to being ignored or turned away that now that they know we are here and we care, they can let it out and cry. They know their crying will get them some loving so they do it. Knowing that breaks my heart that next week is the last week! We’ve just started our relationship. I can't believe it...
I miss you all and LOVE you.
Aside from that, I am doing a lot of self-reflecting and realizing what a psycho I am. Or, I should say, how warped my mentality is. I am a crazy worker, like non-stop (and I don't think I even accomplish that much). I am here in Rwanda, stressed out and I cannot figure out why I allow things, like work, to get to me. It's truly amazing how worked up I can get. You'd think that I was responsible for everything and anything in the world. I must just have a major ego problem. Everyone around me is so capable but so very few actually take the initiative which is really frustrating. But, starting next week a couple more of the PLP guys will be back so they will help a ton. I just have to focus on r-e-l-a-x-i-n-g or at least managing my time better. There is enough work between W2R, AWF and the bball camp to stay busy for 24hrs a day and so far, I am letting it take over. I have actually made myself sick! I've got a headache, borderline swollen glands and no voice (but I have been told I talk too much so that could be the reason as well). It shows me that I have to prioritize. In my head, I think a hard worker is someone who is constantly working and usually stressed...I don't think that is the only way to be. I think I can still be a hard worker...in moderation (haha, story of my life, moderation and I are not friends). So, basically, Rwanda has been a mirror and I'm not loving what I see. Thankfully I know I'll never be prefect but I sure hope someday soon I will be relaxed. I'm learning so much here!! I'm so thankful.
For bball camp, I am a slacker and am behind on my newsletters but like I said earlier, I am working like crazy and there just aren't enough hours. So, it will get done and I'm sorry for the delay.
Basketball yesterday was the best one yet. The older boys have really started to step up. They were directing people to the right positions, being vocal, enthusiastic, and so helpful! We had a dance/rap session and played games. I am so proud of all of them. As for the younger ones, 4-9, it was not as positive of an experience. Yesterday it was a sob-fest. According to Rachel, they cried the entire time. We had a counselor working with us and she was saying one of the reasons they may have acted like that is because now they know they will get the attention. They are so used to being ignored or turned away that now that they know we are here and we care, they can let it out and cry. They know their crying will get them some loving so they do it. Knowing that breaks my heart that next week is the last week! We’ve just started our relationship. I can't believe it...
I miss you all and LOVE you.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
But she's pink!
So, I finally met Rica, the woman that is the reason I came here. We met at Bourbon Coffee (the hot spot in Kigali) randomly last Saturday. I was with Marc and Dadi because we were supposed to meet with the Mkting Manager and a young girl came up to our table and started rubbing my hair (which was down) and said "are you called Kate?" As she continued to run her fingers through my hair, I looked at her and was trying to figure out who she was. I had no idea so just answered, "yes" and as I looked up I saw her mom, Rica. It was so great to see her. She is such a wonderful lady and we plan to meet up soon for lunch.
Anyway, the girl (6), I forget her name, and her brother (7) came back over to our table and started playing with Dadi and Marc. The son went through his homework with Dadi and the girl was busy basically beating up Marc. After about 10 mins, the girl looks at me, then looks at Marc and says to Marc, "is she your sister?" He said "yes" and then without a pause she asked if I was older or younger and then she got a very puzzled look on her face...she looked at Marc, she looked at me, and then said, "but, she's pink."
It was great! We all started laughing because she was so serious and so confused. I completely forgot that story until I saw Marc today and he reminded me, I knew you guys would like it so I thought I'd share!
I am so happy here. I feel like I have been given the gift of brothers. GLeo is my numero uno brother but now I have a couple. It's so great and I am so blessed.
LOVE YOU.
Anyway, the girl (6), I forget her name, and her brother (7) came back over to our table and started playing with Dadi and Marc. The son went through his homework with Dadi and the girl was busy basically beating up Marc. After about 10 mins, the girl looks at me, then looks at Marc and says to Marc, "is she your sister?" He said "yes" and then without a pause she asked if I was older or younger and then she got a very puzzled look on her face...she looked at Marc, she looked at me, and then said, "but, she's pink."
It was great! We all started laughing because she was so serious and so confused. I completely forgot that story until I saw Marc today and he reminded me, I knew you guys would like it so I thought I'd share!
I am so happy here. I feel like I have been given the gift of brothers. GLeo is my numero uno brother but now I have a couple. It's so great and I am so blessed.
LOVE YOU.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Have I told you lately how much I LOVE the kids at the basketball camp? If not, I do. Every Saturday I leave thinking I cannot wait to have my chubba lubba babies! Also, I am officially adopting. I think I'll have one, adopt one, have one, adopt one. I will obviously have to clear that with the future hubby (wherever he is) but I think we'll be on the same page and if he needs convincing we can just take a quick trip back here. I'm thinking I'll adopt from the US and from Rwanda but, only time will tell. Per usual, I've got big plans! But, I will admit, that the best times in my life so far were not part of my plans so I’m going to just go with the flow.
Also, everyone has said that Rwanda is lucky for love...meaning that there are a bunch of stories of women coming here and then going home and BAM they meet their man sooooo, yeah, watch out now. I obviously have no expectation but I am quickly approaching 26 so it's time to get focused! I will say that it will be weird to see all those umuzungu men around but I will adjust.
Other than that, we had a training session today in preparation for Walk to Remember. We had the Rwandan Representatives come to the Kigali Memorial Center to do a tour and participate in various discussion groups – one on counseling trauma cases , another on their feelings/concerns, and one on the history. It was so interesting to hear their thoughts. Many of the participants are survivors who lost their parents in the genocide and everyone in the room had lost a family member or friend. It was fascinating to hear them speak. A couple had mentioned their fear of traveling to the other countries unprotected. As survivors, they fear the perpetrators who fled to those countries will attack them. Unfortunately, it is a real fear and it never crossed my mind. It shows me how limited my understanding is of the real issues here. Even here it is so easy to get lost in the day to day activities and ignore the fact that only 15 years ago over one million people were murdered here. I read a quote today at the memorial today that really struck me, “But the genocidaires did not kill a million people. They killed one, then another, then another… day after day, hour after hour, minute by minute. Every minute of the day, someone, somewhere was being murdered, screaming for mercy. Receiving none. And the killing went on and on and on…10,000 each day, 400 each hour, 7 each minute, That’s approximately 100 murders since you started this exhibition…another 200 murders before you leave the building…24 hours a day, non-stop for 100 days.” It’s just so unbelievable to me. I cannot believe that it was possible and the experiences of these people my age and younger. A third of them witnessed this kind of violence; some of them potentially saw their parents and siblings murdered at seven. At seven, you have your memory, they carry those images with them…it’s too much to think about and I will never understand. I will say though, from the group that I have met so far, they smile, they laugh, and they are just wonderful.
So, this blog went from light to heavy but that was my day.
I heart you all BIGTIME.
Also, everyone has said that Rwanda is lucky for love...meaning that there are a bunch of stories of women coming here and then going home and BAM they meet their man sooooo, yeah, watch out now. I obviously have no expectation but I am quickly approaching 26 so it's time to get focused! I will say that it will be weird to see all those umuzungu men around but I will adjust.
Other than that, we had a training session today in preparation for Walk to Remember. We had the Rwandan Representatives come to the Kigali Memorial Center to do a tour and participate in various discussion groups – one on counseling trauma cases , another on their feelings/concerns, and one on the history. It was so interesting to hear their thoughts. Many of the participants are survivors who lost their parents in the genocide and everyone in the room had lost a family member or friend. It was fascinating to hear them speak. A couple had mentioned their fear of traveling to the other countries unprotected. As survivors, they fear the perpetrators who fled to those countries will attack them. Unfortunately, it is a real fear and it never crossed my mind. It shows me how limited my understanding is of the real issues here. Even here it is so easy to get lost in the day to day activities and ignore the fact that only 15 years ago over one million people were murdered here. I read a quote today at the memorial today that really struck me, “But the genocidaires did not kill a million people. They killed one, then another, then another… day after day, hour after hour, minute by minute. Every minute of the day, someone, somewhere was being murdered, screaming for mercy. Receiving none. And the killing went on and on and on…10,000 each day, 400 each hour, 7 each minute, That’s approximately 100 murders since you started this exhibition…another 200 murders before you leave the building…24 hours a day, non-stop for 100 days.” It’s just so unbelievable to me. I cannot believe that it was possible and the experiences of these people my age and younger. A third of them witnessed this kind of violence; some of them potentially saw their parents and siblings murdered at seven. At seven, you have your memory, they carry those images with them…it’s too much to think about and I will never understand. I will say though, from the group that I have met so far, they smile, they laugh, and they are just wonderful.
So, this blog went from light to heavy but that was my day.
I heart you all BIGTIME.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
$100 Can Change a Life!
BASKETBALL CAMP IS AWESOME, more to come in the newsletter.
All I have to say is…I do not know how I am going to end it in four weeks. I am getting very attached to the kids and the coaches are so great. I have so many wonderful pictures that I cannot wait to share!
Aside from camp, but still related, we have a five year old boy who came to camp the first week with a terrible burn on his forearm. He was pushed in a fire and the skin was basically gone. Someone put bad medicine on it and left it open so it was infected and very dirty. Rachel, my roommate, noticed it when one of the other kids was annoyed with him and grabbed it, which lead to screaming and a lot of tears. Anyway, we have been taking him to the hospital every four days since 13 Feb and it is healing nicely. My roommate and I were talking about how if this went untreated, he probably would have lost his arm and/ died from an infection. It’s amazing what proper medical attention can do. To “fix” him, all he needs is the wound to be cleaned with saline and the bandage changed every four days or so. In order to get this kind of treatment, it costs only $10 a visit, something his family cannot afford. He could have lost a limb or died for less than $100 worth of treatment. This attention is something that we take for granted and I makes me realize how important access to medical care is for developing countries (or anywhere really). It’s just sad to think that a mother would have lost her child for less than $100.
I would like to thank everyone who donated to the camp. Part of your contribution is paying for his hospital visits…you saved a kids limb and, most likely, saved him from a future of begging on the streets.
All I have to say is…I do not know how I am going to end it in four weeks. I am getting very attached to the kids and the coaches are so great. I have so many wonderful pictures that I cannot wait to share!
Aside from camp, but still related, we have a five year old boy who came to camp the first week with a terrible burn on his forearm. He was pushed in a fire and the skin was basically gone. Someone put bad medicine on it and left it open so it was infected and very dirty. Rachel, my roommate, noticed it when one of the other kids was annoyed with him and grabbed it, which lead to screaming and a lot of tears. Anyway, we have been taking him to the hospital every four days since 13 Feb and it is healing nicely. My roommate and I were talking about how if this went untreated, he probably would have lost his arm and/ died from an infection. It’s amazing what proper medical attention can do. To “fix” him, all he needs is the wound to be cleaned with saline and the bandage changed every four days or so. In order to get this kind of treatment, it costs only $10 a visit, something his family cannot afford. He could have lost a limb or died for less than $100 worth of treatment. This attention is something that we take for granted and I makes me realize how important access to medical care is for developing countries (or anywhere really). It’s just sad to think that a mother would have lost her child for less than $100.
I would like to thank everyone who donated to the camp. Part of your contribution is paying for his hospital visits…you saved a kids limb and, most likely, saved him from a future of begging on the streets.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
There's a leak....
So, we're approaching rainy season (which I thought just passed) and there have been a string of rain storms over the past three days (like, legit rain) which has been beating down on our roof, which apparently has a leak, which happens to be directly over my bed and since I tend to sprawl out in the middle, it dripped right next to my head until I woke up in a puddle of water (that's an exaggeration but you get the picture). So, not cool.
Aside from the leak, life is good. I am obsessed with the basketball camp, obsessed! I am so excited for Saturday and I really like the people I am working with. It's a great group and I always find it amazing how quickly I like people....haha it's a problem! They are just a good group which makes it easy for us to work together. Usually we meet once a week, before camp, and write up the schedule. They decide what drills we should do and how much time each should take. We then do a walk-thru. This week we went over defensive positioning. They had NO IDEA. They did not know what on-the-ball, help or denial defense was and most of them played basketball in school. I have no idea what they are teaching them in terms of the principles of defense if they do not hit on those three positions. The problem here is that no one learns the fundamentals because their is no one here who can really teach it. There is a huge gap that needs to be filled...
Now, on to filling that gap...I met a guy at the grocery store the other night when I was in my Bentley sweatshirt and he asked if I played. I said yes (obvi) so he gave me his card (He is one of the assistant coaches for the national team as well as a manager). I called him and set-up a time to meet because I was curious how we could work together to improve basketball on a national level and see if he wanted to be a speaker at the camp. Well, we met at Bourbon (the hot spot in Kigali and the place where I had my first full cup of coffee...monumentus occasion for me) and we had a great conversation. He is from Kenya and it was really interesting to get his perspective on the Rwandan culture in general and the current sporting environment. We had a lot of similar views and we are going to work together to start-up a few camps in Kigali with the Federation (maybe). My goal is to have a open session where everyone in Kigali interested in learning how to play comes to the National Stadium for a coaching session. It would be an all day event and the first 50 participants would be on the floor as the players and the remaining participants could just fill the stadium and watch. I’m going to work closely with him to figure out the best approach and if that is even possible. Either way, I’m excited. After talking to a couple local officials directly involved with Rwandan sports, I have decided (with no research or experience to back it up) that the problem lies in the lack of exposure. If you don't have access to the sport or any knowledge base whatsoever, why would you care? And, if the general population does not care, then they do not attend games, if they do not attend games, teams cannot get sponsorship, if they don't get sponsorship, they have no money to fund activities...it’s a vicious cycle!
WHO KNOWS?!?! So much to do, so little time AND, I have to start to relax, per usual. I’m working like crazy and one of my colleagues gave me some good advice…she said you should never care more than they do….food for thought! And she also said that sometimes we spend too much time on the urgent things but not enough time on the important things….all true statements.
Sending huge hugs (I can’t say massive anymore because I over use it)
I love you.
Aside from the leak, life is good. I am obsessed with the basketball camp, obsessed! I am so excited for Saturday and I really like the people I am working with. It's a great group and I always find it amazing how quickly I like people....haha it's a problem! They are just a good group which makes it easy for us to work together. Usually we meet once a week, before camp, and write up the schedule. They decide what drills we should do and how much time each should take. We then do a walk-thru. This week we went over defensive positioning. They had NO IDEA. They did not know what on-the-ball, help or denial defense was and most of them played basketball in school. I have no idea what they are teaching them in terms of the principles of defense if they do not hit on those three positions. The problem here is that no one learns the fundamentals because their is no one here who can really teach it. There is a huge gap that needs to be filled...
Now, on to filling that gap...I met a guy at the grocery store the other night when I was in my Bentley sweatshirt and he asked if I played. I said yes (obvi) so he gave me his card (He is one of the assistant coaches for the national team as well as a manager). I called him and set-up a time to meet because I was curious how we could work together to improve basketball on a national level and see if he wanted to be a speaker at the camp. Well, we met at Bourbon (the hot spot in Kigali and the place where I had my first full cup of coffee...monumentus occasion for me) and we had a great conversation. He is from Kenya and it was really interesting to get his perspective on the Rwandan culture in general and the current sporting environment. We had a lot of similar views and we are going to work together to start-up a few camps in Kigali with the Federation (maybe). My goal is to have a open session where everyone in Kigali interested in learning how to play comes to the National Stadium for a coaching session. It would be an all day event and the first 50 participants would be on the floor as the players and the remaining participants could just fill the stadium and watch. I’m going to work closely with him to figure out the best approach and if that is even possible. Either way, I’m excited. After talking to a couple local officials directly involved with Rwandan sports, I have decided (with no research or experience to back it up) that the problem lies in the lack of exposure. If you don't have access to the sport or any knowledge base whatsoever, why would you care? And, if the general population does not care, then they do not attend games, if they do not attend games, teams cannot get sponsorship, if they don't get sponsorship, they have no money to fund activities...it’s a vicious cycle!
WHO KNOWS?!?! So much to do, so little time AND, I have to start to relax, per usual. I’m working like crazy and one of my colleagues gave me some good advice…she said you should never care more than they do….food for thought! And she also said that sometimes we spend too much time on the urgent things but not enough time on the important things….all true statements.
Sending huge hugs (I can’t say massive anymore because I over use it)
I love you.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Just Call Me the Enabler...
Hello my friends...so, had a minor breakdown last night...well, actually not really, I was just frustrated. We had a huge meeting at CNLG (National Commission for the Fight against Genocide) this morning for Walk to Remember. In order to make this project successful, we need to get sponsorship or endorsements from CNLG and a couple of the gov't ministries. Well, in preparation for the meeting, we had planned to meet up the night before and do a run through of the presentation. Of the four of us, only two people showed up...me being one. Let me take a moment to explain how important this meeting was....as far as we were concerned, the room would be filled with Ministers, other gov't officials, and the CEO's of three major telecommunication companies...granted, since we are in Rwanda, only three people showed up but still, that's not the point.
The point is that I am an enabler! I looked through the documents and I did way too much. I am running this project. As "International Coordinator" I guess that is my job but I am having a battle in my brain as to whether or not this is the right thing for me to do. I want to be a teacher, not the person doing all the work (unfortunately, I love it but still).
So, yeah, that's the problem. PLUS, we are having major issues with time. According to some Rwandans, they run on social time, which means that their time is based on events not the actual clock....lame excuse for ALWAYS being late to me. (Of course it is not all Rwandans but I would say at the very least 83% of them). Nothing ever starts on time and even major events don't start when they are supposed to. Everyone says that you have to say an hour earlier than you mean but if you do that then there is no such thing as real time. If I say it starts at 6 but really starts at 7, everyone knows that it really starts at 7 so show up late for 7...whereas if I say it starts at 6, and it really starts at 6, no one shows up for an hour or so but the ones that do actually show up at 6 have to wait around...so there is no reason to be on time because if you are on time, you have to wait and if you are late, you are on-time. Basically, from now on I am starting all meetings when I say I am and that's that. We set up some rules and are going to start enforcing a time policy. If you are more than 10 mins late it counts as a missed meeting, two missed meetings and peace out! We'll see, wish me luck.
Other than that, loving life. Still have so much to work on personally in my own heart but I am trucking along. I really, really love the people. I have been blessed with some great friendships here. AND, rumor has it that when you come back from Rwanda, you get a man. Last five girls that stayed here for awhile and then came home found their man if they didn't have one or got engaged....watch out now!
O, and the meeting at CNLG…it went really well. I kind of wish we bombed it just for the lesson but they are going to endorse us, we have support from the Ministry of Sports and Culture (not official, official but will be soon) and one of the organizations told us we have to come to them as soon as we are ready to start our sponsorship push. All in all, pretty good….now we have less than 50 days to raise $310K USD…God better be behind this project
I miss you all and love you lots!
The point is that I am an enabler! I looked through the documents and I did way too much. I am running this project. As "International Coordinator" I guess that is my job but I am having a battle in my brain as to whether or not this is the right thing for me to do. I want to be a teacher, not the person doing all the work (unfortunately, I love it but still).
So, yeah, that's the problem. PLUS, we are having major issues with time. According to some Rwandans, they run on social time, which means that their time is based on events not the actual clock....lame excuse for ALWAYS being late to me. (Of course it is not all Rwandans but I would say at the very least 83% of them). Nothing ever starts on time and even major events don't start when they are supposed to. Everyone says that you have to say an hour earlier than you mean but if you do that then there is no such thing as real time. If I say it starts at 6 but really starts at 7, everyone knows that it really starts at 7 so show up late for 7...whereas if I say it starts at 6, and it really starts at 6, no one shows up for an hour or so but the ones that do actually show up at 6 have to wait around...so there is no reason to be on time because if you are on time, you have to wait and if you are late, you are on-time. Basically, from now on I am starting all meetings when I say I am and that's that. We set up some rules and are going to start enforcing a time policy. If you are more than 10 mins late it counts as a missed meeting, two missed meetings and peace out! We'll see, wish me luck.
Other than that, loving life. Still have so much to work on personally in my own heart but I am trucking along. I really, really love the people. I have been blessed with some great friendships here. AND, rumor has it that when you come back from Rwanda, you get a man. Last five girls that stayed here for awhile and then came home found their man if they didn't have one or got engaged....watch out now!
O, and the meeting at CNLG…it went really well. I kind of wish we bombed it just for the lesson but they are going to endorse us, we have support from the Ministry of Sports and Culture (not official, official but will be soon) and one of the organizations told us we have to come to them as soon as we are ready to start our sponsorship push. All in all, pretty good….now we have less than 50 days to raise $310K USD…God better be behind this project
I miss you all and love you lots!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
UBUMWE Basketball Camp - Day 1
Day 1 / Weekend 1 is complete! Lots of things went wrong but it was awesome (seriously). Being in Rwanda has really taught me to roll with the punches and just figure it out. Despite my constant follow-up and contact, the woman that was supposed to give us the balls was unavailable, the t-shirt factory burnt down in an electrical fire so we did not get the shirts (and will not until Monday), the restaurant did not have transport, the coaches all showed up 45 mins late, the kids showed up an hour late, we had to take one of the four year olds to the hospital two minutes into camp because he came with no skin on his right forearm (literally), and I only applied sunscreen once so look like a tomato BUT, aside from all that, I think the kids really enjoyed themselves.
I really think we can make an impact on these kids lives. Some of them were pretty good and they are very quick learners. It's really impressive. The girls especially did a great job but there were a few guys that played really well. I am really looking forward to tracking their progress. We had 60 kids, 50 that were old enough to coach, and they all seemed really into it. My roommates were so helpful. I do not know how this would have worked without them. I have a ton to improve on in terms of implementation because it could have run a lot smoother but I feel like I was mobile...a lot of things were out of my control but we bounced back well. I'm really looking forward to next week.
Other than camp, I'm really happy. I have some great friends here (miss you all of course!). The PLP guys are just amazing. I have become so close with a couple of them and I just know they will always be a part of my life going forward. I really feel blessed. This has been difficult at times, because I committed to too many things, per usual, but today was one of those days that makes it all worth it. I am just so lucky. I don't know why I do the things I do but I'm liking God's plan. I have to be more trusting...so far, this has been an awesome life and I feel like I am just getting started.
I really think we can make an impact on these kids lives. Some of them were pretty good and they are very quick learners. It's really impressive. The girls especially did a great job but there were a few guys that played really well. I am really looking forward to tracking their progress. We had 60 kids, 50 that were old enough to coach, and they all seemed really into it. My roommates were so helpful. I do not know how this would have worked without them. I have a ton to improve on in terms of implementation because it could have run a lot smoother but I feel like I was mobile...a lot of things were out of my control but we bounced back well. I'm really looking forward to next week.
Other than camp, I'm really happy. I have some great friends here (miss you all of course!). The PLP guys are just amazing. I have become so close with a couple of them and I just know they will always be a part of my life going forward. I really feel blessed. This has been difficult at times, because I committed to too many things, per usual, but today was one of those days that makes it all worth it. I am just so lucky. I don't know why I do the things I do but I'm liking God's plan. I have to be more trusting...so far, this has been an awesome life and I feel like I am just getting started.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
It's Almost Time!!!!!!!!
I have so much to report! With the basketball camp coming up this Saturday (T-2 days), I have been running around like crazy making last minute preparations. In my last blog I talked about me having to make a "contribution", and I am happy to report, that all went very well!!! We have the courts for all six weeks for FREE. It was a great lesson for me because I realized that I am capable of handling these types of situations in my own way. I do not need to create some jerk persona to get what I want / need. I met with the headmaster on Tuesday to see the grounds and negotiate what my contribution would be and after a rocky start, it all worked out very well. I realized that in order to get what I need, I have to spend more time with the "target" outside of an office setting. I'm not great in that environment, something I definitely need to improve on. Anyway, after giving me a spiel about how I was not giving him much time and how he needed to clear it with his "board" we went for a walk around the grounds and got to chatting. After a thirty minute convo and promising to give him 10 basketballs for his own program, we walked away in agreement that I would host this camp and any future camps there. My prayers were answered!
So, the camp will take place at Kicukiro College of Technology. Like many other places in Rwanda, this too has ties to the genocide. This college was used as one of military bases for the French troops. Although I do not have the full history, I was told that towards the end of the genocide the French harbored several hundred Tutsi’s who had escaped from the Interwame. This camp was supposed to be a safe haven for survivors but that all changed when the French turned them over to their enemy. As a result of the French militaries actions, or lack thereof, this is the site of mass killings. It is ironic to think that we will be hosting a basketball camp on unity and reconciliation on a mass grave.
Aside from that, the college has beautiful grounds…or the potential to have beautiful grounds. There are multiple basketball courts and soccer fields all over the place. They are all very rundown and barely usable but they have enormous potential. The headmaster had explained to me that before the genocide, the courts and fields were maintained and used on a regular basis but the combination of the genocide and lack of funding has turned it into a wasteland. Yes, if you know me, you know what I am thinking….this is my project!!!! This is my life project for Rwanda. I am going to use this area as the home base for camps and recreation in Kigali. I am going to get funding and rebuild these facilities. It may take ten years but it will get done. The space is perfect. Now, I need a job and a plan…it’ll happen.
Another bball related thing is, fingers-crossed, I think that I got a couple members of the Men’s National team to commit to coming, weekly!!! I am not going to get my hopes up and I am not going to tell the kids until the guys walk through the gate but it will be so great if they follow-through!
That’s it…haha that’s all I got for today. I am exhausted. I actually took a nap today because I legit could not keep my eyes open so I need some rest. Please, please, please send your prayers for a successful day 1 of camp!
Lots o love.
So, the camp will take place at Kicukiro College of Technology. Like many other places in Rwanda, this too has ties to the genocide. This college was used as one of military bases for the French troops. Although I do not have the full history, I was told that towards the end of the genocide the French harbored several hundred Tutsi’s who had escaped from the Interwame. This camp was supposed to be a safe haven for survivors but that all changed when the French turned them over to their enemy. As a result of the French militaries actions, or lack thereof, this is the site of mass killings. It is ironic to think that we will be hosting a basketball camp on unity and reconciliation on a mass grave.
Aside from that, the college has beautiful grounds…or the potential to have beautiful grounds. There are multiple basketball courts and soccer fields all over the place. They are all very rundown and barely usable but they have enormous potential. The headmaster had explained to me that before the genocide, the courts and fields were maintained and used on a regular basis but the combination of the genocide and lack of funding has turned it into a wasteland. Yes, if you know me, you know what I am thinking….this is my project!!!! This is my life project for Rwanda. I am going to use this area as the home base for camps and recreation in Kigali. I am going to get funding and rebuild these facilities. It may take ten years but it will get done. The space is perfect. Now, I need a job and a plan…it’ll happen.
Another bball related thing is, fingers-crossed, I think that I got a couple members of the Men’s National team to commit to coming, weekly!!! I am not going to get my hopes up and I am not going to tell the kids until the guys walk through the gate but it will be so great if they follow-through!
That’s it…haha that’s all I got for today. I am exhausted. I actually took a nap today because I legit could not keep my eyes open so I need some rest. Please, please, please send your prayers for a successful day 1 of camp!
Lots o love.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Ahhh...Africa
Today was an "ahhhhh Africa" day even though I am not supposed to say that. I am not supposed to say that I am in Africa, I am supposed to say that I am in Rwanda. Africans are all very different and their countries are different so they do not like when people say they are in Africa or make huge generalizations like that...but this is my blog and they were hating on my people (in a joking way) so I can hate on theirs (in a joking half-serious way).
I was so annoyed today. I am trying to get all of the details of the camp finalized and it is proving difficult. It will happen and it will be a huge success but ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. "What is your contribution?" - seriously? like seriously? What is my contribution? My contribution is an empty bank account, a lot of unnecessary stress, and my heart....for your people, your countries future...not mine, yours. Some people here see white and see dollar signs. It's annoying and it's getting old. After a whole day of meetings last week with Marc or Innocent leading, I was not asked once for money for the program but today, when I was leading the meeting with a quieter friend, I was asked what my contribution would be because of the "wear and tear" of the courts....the outdoor, broken down courts. I told him in the meeting that it was a possibility but called him immediately after and told him it was not an option. I have volunteered to coach their women's team a couple nights a week for the length of the program or a class regarding business plans / entreprenurship...I refuse to pay money just because I am white. It's ridiculous. They can see my bank account and credit card bill if they need proof!
But, besides that, had a big meeting today regarding Walk to Remember and the team looks good. It will take a lot of work but this will be amazing. How do I get involved in these things?!!? I don't get it.
OOO, and it's costing me an extra, unexpected $500 to leave in May...put that on the list of WTFs. But whatever, who needs money anyway?!!?
I was so annoyed today. I am trying to get all of the details of the camp finalized and it is proving difficult. It will happen and it will be a huge success but ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. "What is your contribution?" - seriously? like seriously? What is my contribution? My contribution is an empty bank account, a lot of unnecessary stress, and my heart....for your people, your countries future...not mine, yours. Some people here see white and see dollar signs. It's annoying and it's getting old. After a whole day of meetings last week with Marc or Innocent leading, I was not asked once for money for the program but today, when I was leading the meeting with a quieter friend, I was asked what my contribution would be because of the "wear and tear" of the courts....the outdoor, broken down courts. I told him in the meeting that it was a possibility but called him immediately after and told him it was not an option. I have volunteered to coach their women's team a couple nights a week for the length of the program or a class regarding business plans / entreprenurship...I refuse to pay money just because I am white. It's ridiculous. They can see my bank account and credit card bill if they need proof!
But, besides that, had a big meeting today regarding Walk to Remember and the team looks good. It will take a lot of work but this will be amazing. How do I get involved in these things?!!? I don't get it.
OOO, and it's costing me an extra, unexpected $500 to leave in May...put that on the list of WTFs. But whatever, who needs money anyway?!!?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Ahhh
For the second time my blog got erased. ANNOYING. I will write again but I do not want to rewrite it right now. It was brilliant, per usual (so just kidding)!
It was about Walk to Remember, lots of work, dictatorial vs. authoritative vs. consultative leadership styles, me questioning my leadership abilities and then me saying I would be fine, the kids bball camp starting next weekend and me being excited, it being incredibly HOT lately but then getting a beautiful day today with a nice breeze and lastly, telling you all how much I love and miss you.
PEACE
It was about Walk to Remember, lots of work, dictatorial vs. authoritative vs. consultative leadership styles, me questioning my leadership abilities and then me saying I would be fine, the kids bball camp starting next weekend and me being excited, it being incredibly HOT lately but then getting a beautiful day today with a nice breeze and lastly, telling you all how much I love and miss you.
PEACE
Friday, January 29, 2010
No Shoes, No Shirt, No problem.
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.
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.
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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