How Can I Return After All This Time?

Back in Kigali after a great long  Christmas break… but an even longer time since I've written or photo "docked" in many months! 

Actually I'm 8 months behind so I will try to consolidate! 

 So.  let's try to catch up… Living in Rwanda has been and is a rich experience with people.  Some, especially from AIC.. the Africa International Club are brief acquaintances but others have become friends of the heart!  The end of June found many of us parting ways for at least a time and others for a long time. 

JUNE!

Some of the girls.

Shana and Erik..  just moved to Georgia
  Georgia. the one closer to USSR not the USA.

Ceren was the President and Marion the VP and
I was the secretary of the club this year. Great ladies!
Ceren and Mirjam have both left Kiglia at this time.. 2015. 
Miss them both more than they can know!

 Bruce had a Birthday!   

Roger and Faith came for his sleep over.. ha!   

 

Then we went to Jangwe Lodge for a short get away. Total peace and quiet..
not even very good internet but asweet place, great owners and interesting guests! 



A SURPRISE VISIT  FOR KOFI! 

Hi mom came to visit him from Burundi..  They hadn't seen each other in over 3 years.
It was a very teary reunion-- but wonderful.  

July --a really BIG MONTH! 

Another new place to visit! 

A visit to Agahoza Shalom School on their Stand Up and be Counted Day!
 A private school set up as small living communities all learning together.
Here with the founders husband and son standing next to JC in the center in the jacket!

A 4th of July Party at the US Embassy

Love this picture of George!   Some have called President Kagame
the George Washington of Rwanda!  The musugu in the blue
shirt is our terrific Consular at the Embassy!  They guy behind the painting, the artist!

And waving the flag is our American Ambassador and his wife, Cindy on the left … along side of Leoni, the Dutch ambassador and her husband…These are two great couples and great friends for all who know them. 

It was a festive evening!




The Kigali Airport Upgrade!  

This is George MacDonald… Manager of the project and my friend Kim's, hubby!

Just getting there….  completeion pictures will show up soon.  Love the Mosaic!


And last but not least the beginnings of the new
Dental Clinic at Urkundo Children's Home

The first new dental chair in its new location.


A gift from a friend in Pa… to open the new clinic. 

 And yes… I'd say Mama is pretty happy about it! 

And this was just the beginning of the summer. 
While all of these things were exciting… it was the end of July that brought great joy to many….

Check out the next Blog to see what happened.

The First Ever….?

love,
margie 

Tim and Sue in Heaven with the Girls!

There's a restaurant in Kigali called "HEAVEN"….  It's always

I love this picture of these two!  

fun to take people to Heaven when they are visiting and Tim and Sue and girls were no exception. So after church…. we went to Heaven! 

Can't remember what this is but the design is cool..
maybe the avocado tomato salad?

The soups here are all puréed.. and this soup was a twofer!! 

After lunch we took the gang to meet Kofi…. at boarding school.
He is now taller than all of us now!  Alexandra was a bit under the weather so we missed her with us today! 

And one last shot for the camera!
We went to a local coop that has many stores… and Tim
who is quite a culinary artist, found his keeper!

What a great reunion we had with the Chou
Family!  We had lots of laughs, discussions,
sightseeing and shopping and in general
just had fun being together!

We are so glad they came to visit…
Maybe they will come back again!
You know you are welcome!!!!

love,
margie

Outfits for Father's Day and Cards, too… from Africa!

Tim and Sue and girls finally returned after almost a week 

in Tanzania on a Safari and camping in the Serengeti!

They had a marvelous time and many memories to take

back to California with them. 

But today..  was the day to head back to the Market 

and get the skirts and shirts that were being made for them! 

Here is the first look and Tim already has his shirt on! 

The seamtresses and the results!

Smiles all around!  Not sure if they will wear these once they are home… but they sure look great on each of them here in Rwanda.

Then we were off to Cards from Africa!  
This is a portable water buffalo… quite clever!
During the dry season they must use these or they would
never have enough water to make the paper! 

The first step in the process is to actually make the paper
that the cards will be made from.  Lots of people donate scrap
paper and cardboard in Kigali and these guys turn it into gold… 

With a blender!!

Then they spread the new mixture on forms that will create the paper sheets!

After they dry they are stacked in racks…
of all different colors…
They use a dry dye to color them. 

Once they are dyed.. they are hung out to dry!
Well, in the rainy season they are hung "in" to dry!

Then once the paper is all done the workers design each card and start to cut out all the little pieces.  They make beautiful cards!
Many of you have probably received one from me. 

After Cards from Africa we headed back to the art studio to
pick up 2 metal animal structures that were to be ready for shipment back to America to the Chou residence but they weren't quite done properly!
On our way down the street….we looked up and saw the back of Telecom house where Bruce office is located.  

We called him and told him we were out back… and he came out on the "porch" with Suzanne and gave her a big hug for the camera.  Is he blushing?

These 2 dolls were watching me take pictures and thrilled we talked with them!

And THESE two packages were wrapped so tightly that i think they could have been
dropped out of the airplane and still arrived safely.
These were the two art objects that Tim and Sue bought…
and even though we all wondered if they would really arrive in
America…  They almost beat Tim and Sue home….
SkyNet was great! 

But it isn't time for them to leave yet…. 
Thank goodness!  

love,
margie

More than Sparrows! Before and After the AIC Visit!

"More Than Sparrows"!  

Mimi Wilson began working with this group of women 

several years ago

helping them escape a life of prostitution and poverty and 

begin to care for themselves and their families.

Since Mimi left Rwanda… Laura and Kristi have  

taken the reigns and have continued to nurture, 

train and love this group of about 30 women. 

Teaching them of the love of Christ and His forgiveness, 

teaching them how to run a business and

 and guiding them in decision making.

Today was our pre-visit for AIC before our scheduled
activity trip here later.   This little doll met
Kirsty and me at the door. 

This woman is making paper beads…
The small motor skills of these ladies…is
astonishing.  They cut slim triangular pieces of colored
paper and then being to wind them tightly…
and in the end the beads are formed!

 Here is the beginning of a little stuffed sparrow! 

This is the signature piece of More than Sparrows!

The ladies stitch them onto dish towels, too! 

They even make little Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus manger sets!

LOTS of Beads and Necklaces are designed here!
Each little bead hand made before stringing.

Another color of the Holy Family!

This huge order had just come in for place mats and napkins…
The ladies were working fast and furiously to complete the order.
These were so pretty and reversible, as well. 

A pile of sparrows and owls with strings of beads!
The African Fabrics are so colorful.

New lampshade designs!

Kirsty checking out the new mirror!  After she helped hang some new "limbs" to have a creative show place.

Then a couple of days later the rest of the gang came to visit!

In case you would like to order something. .. here is their number! 

Coming down to the house/store/workrooms!

 Laura was starting the tour and telling us some of the things i've written above! 

Laura is quite humble about all of this but her leadership is quite
invaluable to the whole NGO! 

Laura showing off some of the ladies' hand work! 

One of the sweet ladies!

Stitching away!
While sitting on the floor!!!!!!

Sitting on the Floor… holding the baby and still stitching away!!!

This is a piece of the triangular paper strips mentioned  
earlier!   This is how they make the beads.

I didn't get enough pictures of all the things these
ladies have designed and done but they are on
their way to creating a great business.

One day I just stopped in to buy some gifts and
the ladies … so happy that i had returned to see them
AND buy some of their products… broke into
spontaneous drumming and dancing!

It was wonderful and just simple joy!
I felt so blessed to see them rejoicing!
And it was fun to dance with them….

love,
margie

Tim and Sue and girls are returning soon…
so look for them next!