My 60th and Bruce's presents!

It's a year of celebrating 60 for us!   And Bruce made mine

really fantastic...  First, he had a great mosquito net made for our room. 

What makes it great is that it is thicker than the old one so the little critters really can't get in and it is designed 

better so it works!  It is perfect!! 

Innocent had this great little table and chairs made for me
for my birthday!   I love it ... The other chairs have now arrived
and they are just waiting for the little grandkids to come sit in them!  They are made from grass and rubber from tires to make the trim.  Very sturdy. 

 But the biggest surprise for my 60th was Bruce sending me to Germany for almost 2 weeks
to visit Uschi and Reiner in their new home!!

Actually I was a little worried that I would have trouble
liking their new place because i loved their old place so
much!  We had so many good memories in
Dortmund and I always loved visiting them at the horse farm.
But their new home, a few hours north in Dersau
is simply perfect for them and I love it!
Reiner designed this great sign to greet every guest
that arrives at their door! What a welcome!!

My beautiful guest room! 

and stairs that led me to my little roost.

    The girls love their new home!  

   

Reiner served quite a German breakfast for
us each morning!   Yummy--Brötchen!!!
This is the dining room with the porch
just beyond the sliding doors.  

 And Uschi has her little nest decorated so cute.
This is the other end of the room... their cozy
living room!!

The porch is totally like a bed and breakfast spot.
I loved sitting out here with the cats!   

 The full entry complete with a US flag!  

LOVE THESE TWO!!!

Their sleepy little street...  

The commuter train comes out of Hamburg.
We don't have any trains in Rwanda so it was 
a surprise when this one came flying by! 

And all around the town is a farming community!

Pöln from the highway. This is the largest town in the area
and where we spent a lot of time shopping. 

In fact, one day we spent about 6 hours just walking these sweet streets and exploring the shops.

And the Bakery!  This street must have had 10 bakeries...  We just checked out one and had a great cup of coffee!

The church and the church bells ringing throughout the day!
Yep...  back in Germany!  

LOV'IN  IT!

Great to be with Uschi and Reiner!!
Best host and hostess ever.

love,
margie

Mimi's "See You Later" Party

Mimi Wilson and her husband, Cal have returned to the States... but before they left we had some special time with an incredibly 

wonderful woman who not only loves the Lord but she teaches

others to love him, too!  Hospitality is Mimi's  first, middle and last name.  She oozes the stuff and this too, she teaches to all 

who will listen.  And we are all so grateful that she does. 

The party was ready and now all we needed was Mimi, and all the people.  When I came to Kigali I  joined a Tues. Morning Ladies Bible Study and these are the ladies we were waiting for....

Mimi arrived--looking beautiful in
colors perfect for her.   

I only met Mimi about a year ago and I'm only sorry that we didn't  meet sooner.  But today was the first time Mihee (L) and Mimi met-- as long-time friend, Laurie looks on at this initial yet... 'immediate friends' moment.

That's just the way Mimi is!   Everyone loves her
because she makes everyone feel like you are the most
important person she knows and that you've known her forever.  

Our ladies Bible Study group threw this party for her... to honor her and let her know who much she is loved.  Not to mention
how much she will be missed in Kigali.
( Note as all relax.. she is getting prepared to lead the group for one last time in Kigali)

 When the Lord gives Mimi words to say... everyone listens!  Intently! 

Even....Little Trinity.

Until she was interrupted!  Trinity and Keza...  
Sharing isn't always fun! 

Keza building with the blocks while we have Bible Study! 

No, that isn't a cast on Mimi's right hand.  It was her
object lesson to teach us just how the Lord fills
each of us, how he covers us and how the Holy Spirit
fills us from within.  ( I don't think I have that exactly the way
she taught it... but it is the general idea).
No matter when she taught, her ideas and knowledge were
so great that my mind would be so stimulated with thought 
that often I would have a hard time keeping everything
straight.  She spawned new concepts and precepts in all of us.  

Each person was reflecting and thinking about what we were learning. 

Baby Hope chewing on Mommy as we were chewing on the Word.

Before lunch we decided to get a group picture.

These ladies sure know how to cook!

     

After our picture, Mimi was allowed to see the feast that everyone brought.  

  Enjoying talking over our lunch!

 This simple message is profoundly deep for everyone that knows Mimi.  Words can't express how we will miss her here.
She has had some heatlh issues... but they have rarely stopped her
from going, teaching and leading!  

I took this picture of Mimi and Cal on the day of their moving sale!   They had been working so hard and had done so much work and organizing but they still looked terrific together.

 Very happy and looking forward to going home
to see their family and find out what
lies ahead.

 I am personally so grateful for having the opportunity of knowing these two.
NEVER could you have enough time with them.
They set the bar so high in Kigali for opening their home
to so many people that everyone lost count. 
They truly lived in a house with an open door to all. 
And i'll close this blog with words from Oswald Chambers
that so mirror this lady and her husband. 

"All things work together for good to them that love God
and are called according to His purpose"
--Romans 8:28

" The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God.  In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance.  God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands.  God is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the intercession of the Spirit in you may take a particular line.  NEVER put your hand in front of the circumstances and say ---I am going to be my own providence here, i must watch this and guard that.  ALL your circumstances are in the HAND OF GOD, therefore never think it strange concerning the circumstances you are in.  Your part in intercessory prayer is not to enter into the agony of intercession, but to utilize the common-sense circumstances God puts you in and the common-sense people He puts you among by His providence, to bring them before God's throne and give the Spirit in you a chance to intercede for them.  In this way God is going to sweep the whole world with his saints.

--O.Chambers

Thank you, Mimi and Cal for letting God sweep through Rwanda
with and through you!  Look out Colorado!!!
God bless you wherever God puts you! 

love,
margie 

/

September Highlights in Kigali

You have figured it out by now... 

I am behind in my blogging.... a lot! 

So, this blog will just be snapshots of life and events the 

first 2 weeks in September!!   

The Dry Season has been particularly dry... No rain since May therefore,  the curtains and drapes resembled the color of the outside soil!
Innocent took them all down and washed them in the tub...
An amazing process... Sort of like making grape juice.... by stomping out the dirt.  No grape juice though.
 Just a really dirty tub.   

Then he hung them on the back wall.. by climbing the ladder and
lifting them over the wall a bit to dry! 

The result was fantastic!   Beautiful window dressings
and much less sneezing in the house!
Thanks, Innocent!! This was one big job!!
(We did the upstairs the next week)

Body and Soul also started up with new classes ---a TON more people and a party to start the new session off.  Yes,  I am
pretty sure that I'm the oldest in the class!

The church lobby was filled with women
from all parts of the world.

Yvonne, Onawa, Natasha, Kiki and Andrienne..
our old and new instructors!

It's a Guhemba!
A party for mom at home with her new baby.
A time to bring her some things she might need and 
just have fun being together. 

Ines from CMU staff had a baby recently... not this little doll.
She is the big sister.

And this guy is the big brother! 

And this is Mommy and Baby.

Gramma had fun feeding this little bundle while Ines
and the kids opened presents.

Susanne had a baby this year too..
but she is still enjoying the baby stage.

 More of the CMU gang and Ines standing in back...
in her home. 

One of the newest employees,  Dayo!
Yes,  he is a TALL guy! 

Seriously, does everyone in this photo have a
cell phone in their hands---
Except the baby??? ( Just give it a couple months)

Right Crystal?  Susanne thinks the same!
Just in case you are wondering, that is not
a big glass of whiskey... it is apple juice!
All things are not as they appear.

This was Bruce's highlight of the night!
TELETUBBIES!

NEXT WE WERE ON TO THE AIC COFFEE
AT CINDY'S HOUSE--AT THE US AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE! 

THANK YOU, CINDY FOR A GREAT COFFEE MORNING. 

The Official China!

Mirjam and I manning the sign in table and
having lots of new members sign up! 
What a crowd

Our Pres, Ceren!!

We had a very large coffee this morning.  And it was great!


Then downtown shopping....   

Simply could not believe this guy was carrying 
this much Coke on his head!

How much coke can you carry on your head?

And how many mattresses can you fit on one little truck?
Many mattresses.

A "motor" bike!  Hand designed. 

More Mattresses

Most mattresses!

 Last spring we tore this garden out.. In
Sept. it looked this. 

Today-- Nov. 3... It looks like this.
Things like to grow here!

And friendships like to grow here, too!

From Aerobics, to coffees, to kid's parties and
shopping life is rather full-- full of friends and fun!

Mind you... this is just the beginning of September.
There is a lot more to go but I'll cover that
in the next few blogs.

love,
margie