The excitement and anticipation is building up as on Thursday January 5, I spent my time in Musanze fixing a few things at the house. Bathroom and toilets needed some few repairs and Francis (our landlord) was away in Kampala returning on Monday 10. I am glad  I managed to be at the airport on time for the evening flight to receive Luke Parrott, Camp Kivu men’s director with his 9 students and leaders arriving on board SN Brussels flight. Interestingly, one student, Mary Remkus, had arrived on an earlier flight from Saudi Arabia to join the group in Kigali and I was not there to welcome him. Luckily, we (Kids Across Africa) have been able to do our work because of the relationships we have fostered and maintained over time. Dieudonne, a friend of us, who dubs as a tour guide/bus driver/translator was there with his van to pick Mary at the airport while I was on the road from Musanze. That is the nature of my job and I sometimes am perplexed by its unpredictability.

Their flight was on time, they looked tired (of course after such a long flight) and later that evening, we spent some time getting to know each other and shared a meal at the MTN Center Bourbon Coffee Shop that many students loved. Elsie Hitimana, our hostess, managed to squeeze the group at her guest house and they spent their first night in Rwanda (for most of them except Luke and one student).

On Friday January 6, students spent visiting the genocide museum in Gisozi, downtown Kigali and went to Nyamata to visit one church that was affected by the genocide. Here is where students have an opportunity to see first hand what happened in 1994 and get to hear some testimonies of survivors of the genocide. But more than that, it provides a learning perspective to where the country has come from, where it is heading and hopefully gives meaning to what they will be working on in the next 6 weeks. As one student puts it on her blog: ” it is often easy to read books and watch movies, documentaries on Rwanda but it is different when you come and see how people were killed using clubs, machetes and spears”. On their way back from Nyamata, students stopped at the Bonvallats. Gilles and Myriam Bonvallat are Swiss missionaries that have teamed up with Kids Across Africa. They hosted the students for a couple of hours getting to know around a cup of tea and some pastries. Evening ended with a dinner at Chez Lando, a famous place in Remera, one of the busiest suburbs in Kigali.

Gap year students at the Nyamata church genocide memorial

After running a few errands in Kigali, we left for Musanze on Saturday January 7th. Dieudonne’s van preceded our pickup truck loaded with all their luggage. A must stop over at Nyirangarama to stretch our legs but also see that part of Rwanda that speaks for itself. This is a place that one cannot avoid due its unique dynamics. Gerard Sina, a self-man made, thriving business entrepreneur, has managed to create a busy hub half-way from Kigali to Musanze. This place is best known for its passion fruit juices “Agashya” — a concentrated passion fruit pulp –,  its pastries, other drinks and foodstuffs but more than that Mr. Sina employs 450 people involved in all sorts of projects from growing passion fruit, grapes, strawberries, –he even venture into apples — and he owns a restaurant, motel and even a dog-rearing business. What can’t he do? But what makes people stop at Nyirangarama, 45 km from Kigali on your way to Musanze, is the little but well-known barbecue place. Meat kebabs a.k.a “brochettes” with some roasted potatoes or corn  are a MUST!!! I saw some Gap Year students enjoying them thoroughly. We finally reached Musanze and settled. As usual, the girls stayed at the KAAC house and we (boys) established our quarters at the Team Rwanda and they got to meet Jock Boyer and Kim Coats.

There is no better way to start their first Sunday in Rwanda without mentioning Petti’s 25th wedding anniversary. The day started off with a light breakfast because for obvious reasons, Petti, our cook, could not attend!!! It is her big day. Students were excited to attend the service that took over two hours.  At the Cathedral where she celebrated her anniversary with her husband and her children (3 girls and 3 boys), we could not find a seat as it was packed. I didn’t know that she is a very popular figure at the church. When reception was ready to kick off, we were told to go get photographed with her. Colorful ceremonies with dances, speeches, skits, prayers…and the ceremony lasted almost 6 hours in total!!! I must admit that attending such ceremony in its entirety teaches a great deal of waiting…waiting…and waiting…until you wait again. It is my hope that for those of us who are married, such ceremony reminds us that we are committed to one another for life. I trust Petti understands better the meaning of better or worse!!!

Gap Year students with Petti and her family

Petti and Faustin (her husband) surrounded by their 6 children

Gilles Bonvallat had arrived from Kigali just in time to be at Petti’s event. A quick introductory tour to the site was organized as we left Petti’s party. We headed to Musangabo with the group and introduced them to the work that they will be involved in for the next 6 weeks.

        

 

This activity was a part of the sequence in building trust. The participants would stand opposite of one another creating a wall of sorts with their hands. One member of the group would create space outside of the “wave” formation and tell the group whether they were going to walk or run. The group would communicate their understanding in response and the individual would either walk or run through the group. “Just before” the walker/runner approaches, the group is suppose to lift their hands up creating an opening while the walker/runner passes by and then they return their hands back to the starting position creating a wave effect. If one member of the group isn’t paying attention or doesn’t raise their hands quick enough, the walker/runner essentially gets clotheslined. SO, there is a risk and element of trust being placed as walkers/runners are dependent upon the group’s alertness and commitment to their safety. At times, the walker/runner “ducks” communicating a breakdown in their trust of the group. Sometimes that is a conscious decision while other times it is simply an untrusting reflex. Plenty to debrief regarding trust as we processed this experience representing other areas in our lives.

In this picture the participants have their hands on their heads participating in a classic adventure activity, called the TP Shuffle.  The participants were trying to organize themselves alphabetically by their first names while standing on a Telephone Pole (in our case, a long log). The trick was that they couldn’t talk and they had to keep one hand on their head. WHY? Because when everyone is doing it, it is an obvious way for people to “share” a similar burden or to recognize a commonality. We had people that spoke 3 or more different languages from Rwanda, the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Simply placing a hand on one’s head and sharing that experience reflects a visual representation that we actually have more in common with each other than we probably imagine…and this was an easy way to facilitate that thinking. 

After the activities the participants did not simply walk away or move to the next activity, but sat for discussion. It was during these times hearts were opened and transformation took place. We look forward to this summer when these hands are helping new hands in the TP Shuffle and the conversations which follow. May the Lord begin to prepare the way and shape those who will attend.

I was struck by all the roles being fulfilled to make the camp run and operate. People were serving in so many capacities and I took a few dozen photos in about 20 minutes of people cutting up food to be used in meals, washing dishes, putting away equipment used, chopping wood, cleaning showers, building, constructing, and so on and so on. Then, I realized some people were around the corner and they had their hands together praying for those serving at that moment. Another individual was playing the guitar in worship. Some other individuals were writing in their journals lessons the LORD was teaching them.

Picture above:  A hand washing dishes after a meal. 

With 44 people I believe, and three meals a day, pots and pans… that is a lot of dishes to be washed by hand. Everyday people were assigned to wash dishes, but what was extraordinary was when people not assigned to this duty jumped in to help to not only make it go quicker, but to make it go better. More often than not, when people were gathered together washing dishes, it involved singing and rejoicing. How I miss the sound of them singing.

Do you find your heart rejoicing as you clean the kitchen after a meal? Are you thankful for running water, if you are fortunate to have it flowing from a tap, into a sink, under a roof? Is it a solo task or one your children are assigned? Do you find yourself singing and rejoicing?

Yesterday we were given a challenge from a pastor: Are you rejoicing and thankful for the tasks you may not find to be tasks to rejoice over? An example he shared was taking his daughter to volleyball for 6 am practice each day. Easily he could grumble, but with a verse from the Psalms, 118:24, on his heart, he is able to rejoice that he has a daughter and a vehicle for transport and her health.

It was not a challenge to put on a happy face when the circumstances of life were crummy, but a challenge to look into that crummy circumstance, finding the place where Jesus dwells. When you find it, rejoice*.

As you clean your kitchen tonight we challenge you to sing a song and rejoice or you could click  here and dance instead.

*It may be a moment of silence and quiet observation and that is perfect. Not all moments of rejoicing are jumping, hands above head, letting all within listening distance see and hear. Quiet moments of gratitude & recognition are powerful and speak deeply to her heart of our God.

“Be the hands and feet of God.”

Have you heard that phrase? If so, have you given thought to the idea? What does it look like? How does it feel? Where does it take you? How do those words change when age, occupation, hobbies, location, attitude, religion, education, gifting, motivation, ________ (be creative, insert a word) are considered? How does being the hands & feet of God look for a banker when compared to a farmer? What about a curious toddler compared to a 67 year old scholar? A missionary on the field compared to the person who is able to help financially support a ministry? 

On his trip Jeff, took a series of photographs of hands. In the next few days we will share a photograph he took and a few words from him about the picture, the memories it brings back and the reason his finger pressed down to capture the moment.

In June of 2011, Jeff traveled to Rwanda to break ground and build a low elements ropes course. Using local materials and some that were carried over form the States, something that was a dream and sketches on paper became reality. In the next week we will share with you highlights and pictures of his trip. Follow with us as we share what so many of you have and are making possible.

We will leave you with a preview picture. What do you see?

 This photograph was taken on a hike while the group from Crested Butte was in Musanze. A beautiful afternoon winding in and out of the local homes, ending at a spring which provided water for families. Children flocking to their sides and holding hands, climbing on backs, each grinning and laughing.

As we looked back at photographs taken this year, this one was a reminder that our journey continues. We are so thankful for the gifts of 2011 and with great anticipation look to the gifts 2012 will bring.

For your support and prayers we thank you. There have been many of you who have been consistent in your prayers and a handful who have been consistent in both prayer and financial giving. For those who send the occasional email, phone call or social media word of encouragement, thank you. It is each of you that keep Kids Across Africa moving ahead.

May you know that you are thought of often, appreciated and remembered in our prayers. Let’s make 2012 a year that Kids Across Africa will never forget!

Wishing you and yours a very safe and happy New Year’s Eve and all the best in 2012.

• Jock, Rwanda national cycling team coach, invited Jonathan, KAAC board president, to dinner
• Michael,  dentist from Crested Butte, CO, went for a bike ride in Musanze
• Jock noticed Michael riding, stopped him, visited, invited him to dinner
• Jonathan & Michael went to Jock’s home for dinner
• All visited, shared a meal and extended invitations
• Jonathan invited Michael to stay in the extra room at the KAAC house while he was in the area, Michael accepted
• During his stay Michael, invited Jonathan and his family to visit Crested Butte, Jonathan accepted

{months pass}

The timeline above gave birth to a new friendship and a connection between a little mountain town in Colorado and a town in the northern part of Rwanda. Jonathan accepted the invitation from Michael and took his family to Crested Butte in June of 2010. During their stay in CB Michael connected Jonathan with local churches, business owners and friends. Over dinner and in homes Jonathan shared the vision and work that KAAC was doing in Rwanda. Person by person, family by family, congregation by congregation, Crested Butte began to connect with Musanze, Rwanda.

Michael, a world traveler with a giant heart, wanted to bring high school students from CB to Rwanda. He decided to have students create a service project benefiting the local area and present their work to him. From the students who participated, he would choose one. The student chosen would accompany him to Rwanda for 2 weeks over Spring Break 2011. Students applied and one was chosen, but 4 students and 4 adults would eventually come together, forming a team;  four high school students, a yoga instructor, a Realtor from NYC, a trauma therapist and a dentist.

In April 2011 a board member of KAAC, ‘becca Nimrod,  traveled to Rwanda to prepare for their arrival and host them on behalf of  KAAC. After hours of flight time and crashing on the floors of airports around the world their plane landed and she welcomed them to Rwanda.

The days to follow would be filled with a day camp, dental hygiene clinics, trauma therapy sessions and yoga classes. Pick up games of soccer and walks into town for a Fanta happened with regularity. Times of prayer and conversations about the difference in daily life challenged and encouraged. Crested Butte met Musanze and it was exactly the way it was to be. Not perfect and not easy, but right.

Months  have once again passed. We talked with Michael this weekend and asked him to share about the trip and a defining moment. These are his words:

I think the whole time in Rwanda with the kids was nothing short of amazing. I always think it interesting when you get to see young people go to a new place with preconceived notions, then realizing how off they were. I remember before we left for Africa all the parents and kids asked, “Is it safe?” or some variation of that statement. It was clear that no matter what we said, deep down they were all slightly uneasy and fearing  the unknown. Like many places and cultures in the world today……unfortunately there is much more bad news, and sensationalism when you do research on the Internet, or watch “the news” on TV. One of the main reasons I love taking kids on these trips is to watch them see with their own eyes that the world is actually much kinder that what they’re taught by our schools and our media. I would have to say that the defining moment for me on that trip was watching the kids make friends with the local children, gain knowledge and trust from locals who they met, and most important of all…..they came home with nothing but amazing stories that forever changed their lives for the better.

Michael, the team from Crested Butte and NYC who gave 2 weeks of your time to serve the people of Rwanda with Kids Across Africa, THANK YOU! Know you are most welcome to join us again. As you look at the jagged skyline of the Rockies, may you see the rounded skyline of Rwanda, remember and smile.

It all happened because of an extended invitation. Shall we extend that invitation to you? If you are interested in KAAC hosting you in Rwanda, let us talk. To begin the conversation, please send an email to kidsacrossafricacamp@gmail.com.