Bible Study and Beans!

Tuesday we finished our study with Mimi Wilson on Hospitality 

on how the Trinity teaches us and welcomes us in this area. 

It was held at her house and since this was our last study for the year

and 3 folks are moving back home... we took the "Group Picture"!!!

As you can see this is a multi-generational group from all over the world. By comparison
though, to our aerobic class,

most of these women are from the States, but have lived in Africa many years.

This is Mimi, our leader of the last few weeks on the left
and her cohort, Kristin.  Mimi is 65 and has Parkinson's but
is a great Bible teacher.

Just shots from around the room.... although the one with the baby girl,
runs a boy's home for 36 street kids.  That little girl is never without a hug.

 These three are all here in different ministries and businesses.
It was a fun morning and after Bible study we had a brunch.
Youngkyoung, from Korean walked home with me, since Mimi's house
is close to ours and we talked for an hour or so.  She is a new believer
and an elem. teacher in Korean.  Really delightful young girl 
with 2 small children of school age.  She wants to improve her English
 so it looks like she might be added to the tutoring list, too!
I think what we need here are
ENGLISH TEACHERS!!!

ANYONE GETTING THE CALL???

FROM BIBLE STUDY TO BEANS

 Working in the yard in the afternoon I heard a funny sound...
Looking over the fence i could saw this.  So i went up to our balcony
to take this picture.
Here's the story... all the crops that have been growing on these little plots of
land are now being harvested.  First, the Beans.. the corn isn't quite ready.
So, this big pile of "brush" is all the bean plants that have been beaten
and beaten with just a big 'ole stick about 6' long.
When they are beaten the beans fall off the plants.
So, as Innocent is telling me this he said --"Do you want to go see"??

SURE.. so off we go!

Here you can see this lady throwing the beans into the air to separate them.

This is on the rooftop of the house next-door that isn't completed.

Check out how we get to the top of the unfinished house....
GREAT STAIRCASE!  Really an 'open' staircase!

 From here you can see our brick house next-door but
i don't know if you can tell we are on the 2nd floor of this house.
So here are the dead plants.... that have been beaten.

To demonstrate the process... they scraped up some left overs

on the ground and began to separate the beans from the chafe!

With this big flat tray they throw the contents 

up into the air and keep doing it and doing it until there

is nothing but the beans left. 

Still a little sifting to go... but you can see the beans..

They are the reddish ones. 

This man planted 5 kilos of beans and harvested 75 kilos.
He was very pleased.  Now he will take these to market to sell.
These are beans to eat.. similar to kidney beans but much more tasty!
So, I bought beans from him before they went to market!
The beans sell for 400 RWF for a kilo.
That is about 70 cents for 2.2 pounds 
or a LOT of work for a little amount of money.
Don't worry... I paid him more than market price!

Another "GROUP PICTURE" today!

 AND NOW TO GO DOWN THIS UNSUPPORTED STAIRCASE!

I can't imagine what is holding this up....

 but we made it back down.

Took this picture just to show you how tall the corn is.

They will have a great corn yield, too! 

Mostly to take to market after they make flour

out of it. So, that was my lesson on Farming 101 in Rwanda.

 After tutoring we went to dinner with some CMU architectural students
and their professor,
visiting here for a week and with Michel and Isabelle, too.  
We went to Heaven!
Heaven is a great little place that is open air.
Had an enjoyable evening with them....

You can see the city light off in the distance.  
Great view of the city from here. 

Then home to crash!

Even if you ARE a people person...
this was a lot of people
for one day!  HA!

love,
margie

CMU/Rwanda Nearing Completion

THE FURNITURE HAS ARRIVED AND THE 

CLASSROOMS ARE READY!

This is what it looked like April 15!

This is what it looks like now!

Furniture just put in the rooms this last weekend.

 Most of the desktops aren't on yet.

 Professor Ready!  Just need the screens and white boards
and all the professors to move here to Kigali!

 Wesley and Bruce..  Wesley has been the overseer of the project!

 Remember when I decorated 
Bruce's office?              


Well.. this is his great orange
temporary office until they finish his..

  New Office... New Colors and he'll even have new furniture!
Michel's office will be the same colors.  

 This is the kitchenette for the staff office wing.

                                                                        I think this is Crystal's office

  

This is the student center. It will have different furniture.

This is Susanne and Lillian's 
temporary office.

 Soon they will all be moved into their proper places and 
the Doors of CMU/ Rwanda will officially open!


I might have more pictures next weekend--
so be on the lookout!  


There will still be more changes by the end of next week! 


love,
margie

Have a Great Memorial Day!

President Kagame spoke at one of the local sectors on Umuganda last Saturday and this is a quote from his speech!  

"The difference between Rwandans and other people is the fact that we have decided to find solutions to our own problems. When people decide to come together and work for their common good, there is nothing they cannot achieve. Let us all mobilize our energy, own and embrace these homegrown initiatives so that we can rapidly transform our country.”

I find these comments refreshing.... 

 

 Before--large ruts and lumps

And so we tried to find a solution for this road!
The same one we worked on last month but we need machinery and rock... We need help and $$'s. We
did have a pick-up truck and car drive over it after
this picture was taken...so it was some better.

After---level.... until it rains! 

Today is Memorial Day in America!  

It is an important holiday in the States as we honor those who have 

fought and given their lives to uphold the freedoms we hold dear. 

Thank you soldiers, families, leaders, and fellow US citizens for fighting to 

keep America strong and to bring back the focus on things that

matter instead of all those material things that don't! 

Being in another country and especially in Rwanda... makes me keenly

aware of things that have changed in the States.  

On Sunday here you see almost everyone heading to church.

On Saturday you see all the 7th Day Adventist on their way to church. 

During the week you hear the Muslims in prayer several times a day. 

God is the greatest resource in this country.  Without Him the hope of 

the future is dim. With Him there is great hope, reconciliation, mercy and 

a new day dawning here for Rwanda.   

In America, it has been that way too, but now trying to ignore or at best 

shove God to the Background of our cultural lives as well as our personal lives, we are seeing things crumble in our society.  

The Kagame quote.. at the beginning could have one thing added... "When people come together and work for the common good, there is nothing they cannot

achieve"----And I would add....when they don't rely on their own power, but on the Lord's. 

There are so many tremendously strong believers here and they never hide their faith.   They never wait for someone else to speak up to honor the Lord or praise Him for things in their lives.  

I simply want to say that i wish that was still true in America.   Due to political correctness....or not wanting to "hurt some one's feelings"... many don't declare their faith or honor the one who has given them life!

I pray that today people will honor those who have died, those who are living who have fought for our freedom and for the Lord who has helped us build our great nation.  

As Rwanda continues to build this nation... i think the history books will record that

it took many Christian believers, trusting in God's strength to put this place back on its feet through the power of God's forgiveness and mercy.  

So, as you are parading and picnicking with family and friends take time to

thank the Lord for all He has done for you, your family and our nation! 

And give HIM all the glory! 

Have fun at the 5K Romp all you runners!  

Wishing you well!!

love,

margie

  

What Are You Going to Do in Africa?

Before I left Pittsburgh, everyone was asking me, 

"What are you going to do 

in Africa?  

Everyone knew that Bruce would be quite busy in his job as

Director of CMU/Rwanda but they wondered what in the world

I would do here!!  

I believe the answer I gave to most everyone was...

"I don't know... but the Lord will show me."

Since arriving here many opportunities have shown themselves!  Everything from

teaching a study skills course at a local organization, teaching Sunday School, teaching

piano lessons, being secretary of the AIC, tutoring our South Korean neighbors in 

English, baking with them, helping the village kids with English, the women's Bible study and on and on. 

There is also just having the time to visit with people, since "people" is what folks do

here.  Entertaining, dinners and just having folks over for coffee have already been a part of our time here. 

But this last week on Thursday evening I believe i got a glimpse of 

what He wants me to do here in Africa!   

When William Koffe.. (whom we now call Koffe)... knocked on the gate i went out and said, "What are you doing here?  You and Patrick were supposed to come on Wed."

"OH, he said, I'm sorry.  We couldn't remember if you said Wed or Thurs."

The reason this was a problem was because Pillip comes at 4:30 on Thurs.. usually... except on this Thurs-- he was late.  Koffe had brought his books and so i said, "Come in and we'll work at least until Pillip comes over."  ( Patrick hadn't come along this day)

On the way into the house we looked up and this is what we saw.

 So after we took pictures we came into the house and started reviewing Koffe's lessons.  He actually came with his written notes, and a text book on the history of Rwanda.  This was the first book i've seen from a public school.  He told me that in order for Patrick and him to be able to go to boarding school they will have to improve their English.  So, we spent the next hour and 1/2 on sentence structure and correct usage of pronouns.  Then there was a bang on the gate.  It was time for Pillip's lesson. 

 No, that isn't Koffe's computer.. it is mine.

Pillip came in and while we worked on his Math and English....Koffe was still
continuing his drawing of the computer keyboard.  His teacher told him to do
that if he could find a computer.  In the beginning and in between all of this activity,
the boys slowly and carefully began to ask each other questions.  I left the room to
see what would happen.  They continued to speak in English.  So, throughout the evening
they continued speaking and i would just correct their English now and then.  It was wonderful & they both said they liked speaking to one another.  Koffe is 14 & Pillip is 12.

 Older brother Juan/John arrived around 8 and we were still doing work.

After John joined us in the dining room they all still kept talking. 

Koffe took off for home shortly after because by now it was really dark and not good for him to be out walking---gramma's rules... His gramma's rules.  Koffe is an AIDs orphan but his grandparents are raising him and doing a great job. 

Pillip is doing well with his work and his written English.  Juan did really well on his
last two tests... even the one where i had to teach him the Human Body and the Reproductive System...That was a bit awkward... but at least now he knows all about everything!  His response was "you mean a baby can come from just that little tiny zygote"?  I said yes, and he said "it must be is a miracle"!  He's also asked what it means to pray and who Jewish people are.  You never know what kids know or don't know until you start dialoging with them.  I'm learning a lot!

You are probably wondering why i am telling you all this.  Well, today at Umaganda day
I met 2 more kids.... Rwanda's who live in and own one of the big houses just 2 doors down from us. Eunice is 12 and her brother Aimee, 10- speak English very well and are very personable. We all walked home together and it occurred to me that it would be great to have ALL of these kids once a week just come to the house and speak English together.  Might have to have some fun conversation starters but I think it would be very enriching for all of them and me, too!  It would give their English speaking a context and be fun, too.

So, why were these clouds right above us the night Koffe showed up on the wrong day?
I don't know --but i felt like they were opening up something new.... Shedding light on what i should be doing in Africa.....and then i read Oswald Chambers reading the next day on Friday.





Based on the text-- Gen. 13...of Abraham having been given so much... but allowing Lot to                      choose the land he wanted so there would be no quarreling,  I quote:

"As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and luxurious prospects will open up before you, and these things are yours by right; BUT if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God choose for you....
Whenever right is made the guidance in the life, it will blunt the spiritual insight. 


Many of us do not go on spiritually because we prefer to choose what is right instead of relying on God to choose for us.  We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eye on God."


This is a high calling... and one i don't always "choose".  But right now in this place, at this time, I feel like the Lord is letting me in on a secret of what i should be doing in Africa.

Time is an issue in the States and here... and i know that this will take lots of time... since it already has been taking a lot of time.  So, it will be a bit of a sacrifice to spend time with these kids.  But I do trust that in the process there will not just be English being taught but that discipling will happen in a very natural way with all these kids!  After all.... they are His!  I wonder what He has planned for all of us?  And if this isn't what God has for me to do in Africa, I'll let you know.  In the meantime....I'm willing to let Him choose and I pray that I will carry out His choice the way He wants me to.

love,
margie

From Cow Horns to Jewelry!

What an amazing way to use cow horns!  

Thursday, The AIC---African International Club

took a field trip to a place that makes jewelry 

out of cow horns. 

 Some ladies in the group.  Jan and Gerta in 2nd row.
7 car loads of ladies and 1 man went. 

                                                   This co-op was started by the Japanese to help Rwandan

                                                street kids have jobs and earn their own way! 

                                               It is housed in one little village house. 

This is the buffer and grinding table.. 

The bracelet in his hands is dark brown and he is polishing it. 

They cut bracelets and necklaces from this kind of horn.

For larger pieces they obviously use larger horns. 

 This was our guide telling us how it all worked.

                              First they take the horns... These are smaller than most.

Actually, these might get be used as forms for making bracelets, I'm not sure. 

Then to make different shapes they first boil the horns or
pieces in old Boiling Motor Oil... Look how the color changes.

          After that they use another horn to shape the bracelet while it is soft.

 Emi and Kyoko helping explain the process in French and English.





Fresh out of the boiling oil....

 The horn after boiling is so flexible
that it can be completely flattened.

In this vice grip there is a concave form so that
when the horn is placed here it forms to be a small
rounded out bowl.

 

     Here you can see the little bowls..( bottom of picture)
   Although the color isn't showing up very well.
       Lots of earring, bracelets, bangles, etc.

                               

                        Some of the necklaces! 

This one was quite interesting!

Wouldn't be surprised if some of you might see these for real someday.... 

when i bring them home. 

They are very unique gifts. 

If anyone out there would like to have something from here-

please tell me and i will try to get it to you!  

They are much prettier in person than in the pictures!

 These are just straight earrings.. i don't know what you call them
but they look like little icicles!  They come in yellow/golds, greens.
blacks and browns.  Each one is totally unique because no 2 cow horns are the same.


The things you learn, huh?

Hope you enjoyed this little field trip today!

love,
margie

ps.  I'm sorry about the overlapping pictures.  On my page they don't appear
that way, but when i look at the review i can't get them in correctly.  Maybe once
published it will correct itself.