Friday, July 24, 2015

At Home in Kigali and Around Town.

At Christmas time Innocent's Bible Study and Outreach Group 
held a retreat at our house.  One Sunday afternoon a few representatives presented us with a thank you gift.  

We had fun talking
for awhile and then they presented us with…

…a beautiful picture of all of them ( except Innocent-- He took the picture)  There is a spot left for us to photo shop him in!! This is a dear gift from these wonderful young people! 

 You just never know what will cross your path on any given day! 
When we moved to Kigali in 2012 the hillside now covered with houses was empty.
Every month it gets closer and closer to completion. 

More and more roads are being paved.  This is just after school let out for the day and all the blue uniforms are kids that go to that particular school.  You can also see that just across the road is a bumpy one just waiting to be paved. 

Some closer looks at the houses on the hill.



This is opposite that hillside with homes and hotels and restaurants that have been completed long ago. 

What separates them is this small valley where a large herd of cows owned by the Batwa live.

Sometimes they get a way from the herd and head to the road…
Right on the road, as a matter of fact!  I like these times.

Just a pretty late afternoon looking across all the hills of the city.

As you can see there is still plenty of room for development and most of us wish they would build some smaller homes
instead of these giant ones! 

This is a more recent shot of our bumpy, unpaved street during the wet season. 

Each wall is surrounded by beauty inside and out. 

This is one of my favorite landscaping styles…
simply corn and beans! 
And these are shots looking out our bedroom balcony away from the city and into the countryside.

You can see the Rwandan homes up in the hills…They walk a long way to get anywhere. 


 A little village in the valley,

Sun contrast!



It was a pretty late afternoon!


 Our wall and laundry line… and the backyard neighbors. ( not) 
Immediately behind our house is a new crop of beans growing and one lone banana tree.  A guard and worker of the property lives in the little metal shack to the left.  You can only see the roof.  A brand new house almost completed has gone up this year --with the red roof. 
 This orange house has gone up since we moved in, too and the one directly behind it. 
 Our palm tree has grown a ton since we arrived and lost many of its branches.  But it continues to grow. 

I'm sure by the time i return… a lot more will havegrown and even more buildings will be completed and other started construction.  

It won't be long now… 
So looking forward to getting back to Kigali
even though I will miss everyone here in PA!! 

love,
margie


Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Good byes….

The Goodbyes are Beginning and Beulah and Jan will be leaving soon.  Beulah had a wonderful party for her friends and family at her beautiful house!  They will be heading back to South Africa to wait to see what will be next for them.
 But in the mean time…..

What a spread!

Great Friends!

Unbelievable desserts!

Giggles and babies!

 A moment of real talking.
Friends from around the world enjoying each other!


 Beulah and friends!
Jan got home just in time to take our picture! Beulah
and I have had the privilege of teaching the 10-12 year
old Sun. School Class at Church.  That has been such a joy,
learning experience and a rich time with the kids!

Then Mihee had a small party to celebrate their departure.
Mihee is the Korean Ambassador's wife and a dear friend
of the heart, too.
In this picture are her church friends, AIC friends and
also great golf buddies! It is tough to say good bye!

But we always enjoy being together
and lunch at Brachetto's was great!

As we ate lunch …  Mihee filled us in on all
the details of their upcoming move!

 And last but not least, Junko, the Japanese Ambassador's wife
is also taking leave of Kigali!
Caroline set things up at M & M. 

 SURPRISE!!
We did surprise her!

Dima and Sue out front!
The gang's all here.. almost.  
What a spread of friends and food!   Rwandan food and friends from around the world, again.
  Friends from England, the Netherlands, America, Canada, Italy, Australia, Germany, Lebanon, Japan and South Africa seated around all these tables. 
Cathy from America and Daniele, our French Ambassador's wife got there a little late but they only added to the joy and yet bitter sweetness of the day.  ( Daniele will be leaving this summer, and we should have had a double party for her with Junko but at the time we didn't know her departure date was so soon.)


Caroline, having just run our Charity meeting earlier in the morning now wrapping up the lunch receipts. 
Talking and sharing life together!

Anneka and I were talking and laughing and then… 
she started her afternoon nap early! 

Dima gave the farewell and best wishes speech for Junko…


And then Junko said her farewells and made us all cry. 

She opened a gift… a token of our friendships… and 

She loved it..  Aluminum product design from Rwanda.

Time for Cake!

This was the beginning of the so-long parties..  It seems that
we are having more and more of them and that IS sad!
We've had such a great run together for the last 2-21/2 years.
But time marches on and so do folks that serve their
countries.

It has been such an honor, joy and privilege to know
these 3 women… As I prepare to return to Kigali after being gone for 3 months.. I can't even imagine them not being there.

God bless you all in your new endeavors
and in your new countries!  I will always thank
the Lord for allowing us all to meet.

love,
margie