UMAGANDA DAY!

Umaganda Day is the last Sat. of the month in Rwanda where from 8-12am citizens meet in their local neighborhoods/sectors to do their civic duty in order to keep Rwanda Clean!
Jobs on these days vary from picking up trash, trimming hedges, cutting grass, to filling in huge water filled pot holes on the roads.  Anything that the local leader deems important to do... is what gets done.

Our neighborhood has very bad streets (no constructed streets at all) since there is so much construction going on and there really haven't been any proper roads graded or leveled or anything.  So.. our job on Sat. was to fill GIANT Water-Filled Pot Holes... (some 10-15 feet long) with dirt/sandy dirt and anything left along side of the road.

 The young guys started filling wheel barrels full of dirt.
Yes, that is the road with all the water on it.  

Our Leader:  Our neighbor from 2 doors down, Jean Bosco telling us what to do.
He was king on the mountain for the day!



You can see we've already filled in a lot of the water hole.. 
but there is a lot to go!  

This fresh dirt is about 1 foot deep... and still we aren't holding back the water.

 Down the road we pretty much leveled the whole street area with new dirt...
again, quite deep.

 These guys worked very hard moving all the dirt to us to distribute.

 Quality of the wheel barrels didn't make this job easy.
Some of the guys were just standing around so i got them 
to start "dancing" on the areas we had filled to get the dirt trampled down
and to see where we needed more if the water started coming up through the dirt.
  They were all laughing.  It was fun.

In the process a guy named Kenneth... the Dad of the little boy in green
asked me if i would like to join them for a discussion group on Wed. at
Eugene's house.  I said sure. Is it a Bible Study and he laughed and said yes!
He is Ugandan and Eugene is a Colonel in the Rwanda Army.. both very strong believers.  Bruce and I hope to join them on Wed.  Different church but they said that didn't matter.

This is what we ended up with.  Deep, deep dirt
on top of water... and a walled up dam beside it all
to keep it from getting back on the road.  Drainage
was also dug to get some of the water off the street.  At least it is passable now.

This was the leveling at the 2nd site.
 This looked very good when we finished. 

 By 11 o'clock we were very tired, sweaty and thirsty!
The lady drinking sent for some water.
Leoni, is from Canada and has decided to retire here.  Smart lady!
After working ---the community meeting is held.
This is Jean Bosco giving a lecture on how not all people come to help.
"The intellectuals stay home and won't help us", he said. How will we get
others here to work?  I suggested they charge the people who don't come double for the monthly security fee.  They loved the idea and JB
said that the government wants some kind of fined attached to people who don't show
up and that would be perfect!  I don't know what they will do but they all got excited with the suggestion.  And we will make flyers to pass out, too!  

It was really neat to hear young and old discussing solutions
about improving the neighborhood.  Joseph, an older guy said...
"What we are doing today is a waste of time... When it rains this will just all
be one big mud hole."   He is so right!  He wants us to petition the government and all the home owners to put up money to put real streets in.  Each street costs around 3 million Rwandan Francs.  I'm not sure, but i think that is about $500,000.  So, I'll keep you posted if that actually happens.

Seeing Umaganda Day upfront and personal was quite an experience.
Can you imagine if we could do this in Penn Hills?  Or in Pittsburgh or in PA. or all over the US???  We'd have the streets that are covered in trash cleaned up in no time and the cool part is you'd get to know all your neighbors in the process.  
Well, at least the ones who come! 


We told Bruce that Jean Bosco had scolded him for not coming.. ha!  Actually only one person per household is expected to come and 
so we were well represented with two of us there.  


And just to let you know, Joseph was right on.  We had about 2 inches of rain last night and in checking the street today... We now have two more giant mud holes!  


Can't say we didn't try!  
love,
margie

Here I AM! A Rather Long Reflection.

Each Tues. morning I've been attending a Bible study with about 25 other women.  Most of them are missionaries and a vast majority have been here for a long time... 10-30 years.  Some were here through the Genocide...left briefly and returned.  The support among the women, both young and older is wonderful.  W'eve been doing the video series "Loving Well" by Beth Moore.
(yes, she is even here, Steff)...and the last session was on Loving "Far".....
This issue is close to all the women's hearts here and we had a tremendous discussion about how to Love Well ( digging deep into the well--into the Lord's love well in order to love those around us well!)  Having the insight and wisdom to know how and who to help is  the question.  One of the most difficult issues, when you are surrounded by people with great needs, is how to best meet those needs.

 Questions arise:  How can I meet even some of these needs?  Is giving handouts really the best thing to do?  What if i get taken advantage of?  What if i get burned?  How do I know who to help?  How do you choose one over another?  Who should i invite to my house and are there some i shouldn't ask into my home?  


By the time I started asking these questions, I had already fallen in love with so many people here in need.  And with those in not as much need, too---for that matter.  But the  reality for me was seeking the Lord's desire for me here.... The 'Here I Am, Lord'--
I'm ready for you to put me to your service here in Rwanda.  What do you want me to do for you?  Every day there are new opportunities to give; children in need of money for school, people in the streets injured or blinded during the Genocide that can no longer work, even people who are working... and working hard, are barely paid.  Our teenagers wouldn't work for their pay.  The construction workers building all these big houses around us...

are paid $8.00 a day!  They start at 6 a.m. and 

               

                                    end at 6 p.m...when it gets dark.  That works out to what?----
          About 67 cents an hour!!!
    Imagine that?

I have learned that the family clans take care of each other here.  There is no welfare or social security... so whichever person in the family has the most means....they take care of the others.  One in a family might pay for a child's school, help repair the family house, buy the food, or whatever the need is.  So, even when one is making some money... THEY aren't the ones the money is spent on.  They are meeting the needs of their family members!  A pastor told us that when people see Rwandans driving their own car they think "OH... they have made it!!  They can give more to church"!   But in reality their extra funds are providing for many around them..family members and friends.  What a picture, huh?  And why don't we in America live like this?  Maybe our need really isn't great enough.  I don't know.. but i'm just thinking about all of these things. What do you think?


What I want to share in this blog is something the Lord is speaking to me about.  We read selections of Psalm 58 last Tues.  In the first part of the chapter...the Lord is not happy with the fasting and the way the people are delighting in approaching God... He isn't happy because even though they seem to be doing the right thing.. they are ignoring the Lord and serving their own interests (vs. 3)  In fact... the Lord says in vs. 4 "on such a day the fast you are keeping is not one that will carry your voices to heaven."

So what then will carry our voices to heaven?   And  this is what scripture says..
Vs. 6-9...
"Rather, is not this the fast I require: to loose the fetters of injustice, to untie the knots of the yoke, and set free those who are oppressed, tearing off every yoke?  Is it not sharing your food with the hungry, taking the homeless poor into your house,  
clothing the naked when you meet them, and never evading a duty to your kinsfolk?"  (Sounds like the family clan concept, doesn't it?)
 "Then your light will break forth like the dawn and new skin will speedily grow over your wound; your righteousness will be your vanguard and the glory of the Lord your rearguard.  Then when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry to him,

 he will say, 'HERE I AM'."

But wait, i thought i was the one that was supposed to say that to Him.  Is the Lord telling me that the great I AM is waiting for me to call upon Him and He will answer, Here I AM?

He goes on---with the conditions for his listening:  "IF you cease to pervert justice, to point the accusing finger and lay false charges, IF you give of your own food to the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the wretched, THEN light will rise for you out of darkness and dusk will be you like noonday, the Lord will be your guide continually and will satisfy your needs in the bare desert; he will give you strength of limb; you will be like a well-watered garden, (maybe from the LOVE WELL?) like a spring whose waters never fail.  Buildings long in ruins will be restored by your own kindred and you will build on ancient foundations; you will be called the rebuilder of broken walls, (around here there are many walls... broken and ones being rebuilt)-the restorer of houses in ruins."

This is a country under construction---being restored on so many levels and there are many believers helping make that happen... This particular scripture simply comes to life here in Rwanda for me.

 New walled in houses on the left.
New walls being rebuilt from old stones. 

 

This is not a tool shed tucked in-between the walls...
 It is home for the guy taking care of what lies within the 4 walls.
It is an empty lot! 

Restoration for babies left--just left along the road.
These walls of restoration at the children's home are being built to protect and restore children's lives!


From this point on to the end of Psalm 58 the Lord tells us how we are to keep the Sabbath... another topic.. but this chapter ends with "The Lord himself has spoken."   
And indeed He has and still is!


I hope this is making sense to you...it is hard to articulate all the things spinning in my head. The Lord is speaking to me!!!   Last night i went to sleep thinking about the young kids that Bruce and i have just met.  My question to the Lord was " Should we have them for a meal?"  I woke this morning with the Great I Am saying 'Why wouldn't you'?

And now re-reading Psalm 58... why in the world would i even ask the question in the first place???

We do need wisdom and insight as we deal with all the needs here.  The Lord will let us know because when we cry out he says "Here I Am!"  My prayer for the time we are here is that we will continue to be eager to say "Here I am, Lord" as he puts us where we need to be and with the people he wants us to be ministering with and to!

Take time to read Psalm 58 and if you have time... let me know what it says to you?  These are the thoughts that filled me after reading it on Tues.  Let's stay faithful to Him and i pray we will dip into the LOVE WELL so that we can LOVE WELL--no matter where in the world we live.
Keep on loving well!
loving all of you!
margie


By the way..... Bruce and staff just finished the first 5 interviews of students for CMU/Rwanda.  They were extremely impressed  and at least 3 of the 5 will be accepted!  Keep praying for Bruce and the whole staff and school and for the students applying as this new adventure continues to unfold!  

A Visit to the Village School!

Shortly after we moved here I was sitting outside one day and heard children filling the air with music... Singing, Clapping, and I could just imagine them all Dancing!  It must be a school I thought, but I couldn't see a school anywhere around.  Once i met the kids from church, the mystery was solved.  William attends this school along with a lot of the other kids, too.   So,when William asked me to come visit his school, I walked down to the school and found it  tucked away securely within high walls!  That's why i could never find it!   I talked with the  Headmaster and asked if i could attend a music class.  After asking me all kinds of questions that made me feel like a spy... he said, sure!    

OH, i forgot to tell you that when i came through the gate.. of the school i could barely get to the office.  The kids came in hoards to see the munzungu ( the white person)... and say hello and touch my hands....All ways to greet.  Both their bright eyes and big smiles were just too cute.  

 By the end of these pictures we will get to music class!

 The Rwandan Flag in the center of the school yard.

This is the upper level of the school... 

and here you can see the lower level.  Between 4,000-5,000 students attend here.
The assistant headmaster wasn't sure exactly how many.

 The campus from the far end-- right outside the music classroom.

 Actually, i had taken most of the pictures so far on Sat. when i went to the photography
class that William is in.  He didn't come because he needed to go with his grandfather.  But it was on this day that i met a girl named Linda, from the US that teaches the class and also met the music teacher who just happened to be there. 

 These are a few of Linda's students.  She volunteers here and teaches
at the local University. 

What each classroom looks like... NO resources, NO books.
3-5 students at each beach and the tables are only about a foot wide.
I spoke with an English teacher and he told me that he writes the lesson on the board and the children just copy everything he writes.  I don't even know if they understand what they are writing.  And I cannot comprehend how they can learn each subject.  But the teachers were excited about their jobs and their students. 

 Didn't see in this building.... but this is the computer lab and the
yellow building is the headmaster's office.

 A huge siren went off and each group of children went to the door of a classroom.
But they did not go in.  Only after the teacher had them line up in rows and march in
together did they move. 

The classes gathering.  Note the cloudy skies.. it has been raining a lot
and causing much mud!!

 A class ready to begin the line up! 

 1/2 of the music class!

The other 1/2 !
The teacher had them sing some songs in both languages and then asked if i would sing some songs with them.  Well, since the songs they were doing were very simple in English, with lots of repetition for 9-12 yr olds i thought it would be fun to see what they would do..So.... hold on... we started with
"If you are Happy and You Know it"  moved to the
"Wheels on the Bus".... They loved it.. and even made up verses...It was good to help
them learn English words and they loved the motions and sound effects.  ha!

Then they sang me Shake the Mango Tree..  and that they did.. They were really moving and lots of clapping and swinging hips! Very cute.
My favorite song they did was when the teacher would sing "I'm a teacher" or "I'm a lawyer", or" I'm a business man"..  and all the kids would follow in rhythm after each verse with "It's all because of my education."  Education is the key!  

This is the music teacher.. he asked me if I would take his picture... It was a fun to be with them.  Each class is 40 minutes and the teacher asked me if i would come back next week... It is about a mile walk and another mile back.... but it is worth it.  The only problem on Tues, was the mud.  There were literally places where you just had to walk through the puddles to get down the street.  

As I sat in class enjoying the Incredible Voices and the Perfect Rhythm of the kids singing and clapping,  I couldn't help wonder what we would do in America for music class without music books, instruments, a piano or keyboard, rhythm instruments, individual desks and chairs, etc.  But the joy of music and singing in the room on Tues. superseded any resource or equipment.  I'm anxious to be able to go back again next week!

Anyone have any song suggestions for me to take to class next week?
Thanks for sending ideas!

love,
margie

Innocent's First Birthday Party

Innocent turned 31 today, April 23!  But yesterday he had the first birthday party of his life!  It was a wonderful celebration! 

The party was from 2-4. Everyone finally arrived before  4!! ( Last one out at 8pm)

                               
                           Anlaura and Innocent waiting for everyone to arrive. 

 Members of the worship team came to honor Innocent and to bring great music!

Samuel, Anlaura's husband in blue jeans, Eva from Innocent's church
on the couch with 1 of I's brothers, Benny
 

Innocent's family arrives!  His mom on right!

BUT only 2 sisters,  1 niece and 4 brothers
and his mom were able to come.

Papa was sick and 1 sister in boarding school and other brothers elsewhere..  He has 11 brothers and sisters and he is #2.
They are all so good looking!

Another Brother and Sister....

The guys from the worship team!

Plus Eva and Bruce. 

Lionel and his girl friend, Isodele...She has a beautiful voice, too! 

When the reggae worship song started everyone got up and started dancing the
Traditional Rwanda Dance.  Lots of clapping and moving of feet and arms.
Very beautiful.  

Time for the cake!  A chocolate one made by the Belgium Baker!
We sang Happy birthday abut 5 times.

 Looks like he'll get his wish!  

A final goodnight.... and closing song "O Happy Day!"
A perfect song to end with.

After this song, Emmanuel the guitarist asked all of us to reach a hand out
to lay hands on Innocent for a prayer of blessing for his life.  It was great...
and then Innocent gave a little speech thanking all the people who have blessed him in his life.  It was all very moving.  A great tradition to start in the States... or anywhere. 

We forgot to open presents so did that when almost everyone was gone. 

What else could we share with him except a CMU t-shirt and sweatshirt?
He has an Ohio state one so we thought he should represent CMU/Rwanda!

After everyone left... even Bruce --( he took Lionel and his friend home)---Innocent
helped me put the house back together.  As he did he talked about what a joy and blessing the party had been for him.  He did really enjoy himself. And having his
worship team come was a real highlight for him and for all of us!   I tried to download the video i took, but it just takes too long.  Sorry.  The music was just wonderful.

So, Happy Birthday to Innocent.  It will be a year filled with growth and change for him as he continues to study and learn and reach his goals.  It was a "Happy Day!"

love,
margie

Ready to go to sleep!!