The Blue Sweater

Very soon now we will be leaving, and with alot of mixed emotion. I am already trying to stop myself from tormenting about coming home from Rwanda, and we haven't even left yet. Most people cannot understand, and never will, what a profound eye-opening, heart and soul cleansing experiance it is being in Africa....and thus for me the anguish. On Sunday we met two men from Rwanda, one of whom is going to help us when we are in country. Almost immediately I was transported back to Africa and the same sense of calm, serenity and joy filled my heart and I could barely contain myself from running out to the airport and jumping on the next plane out! Some say that it is wrong to be so emotional over a culture, a country, especially if it has turned your heart away from your own. I say that it is wrong to close your eyes and pretend that what is happening in other countries has nothing to do with you. As one of the richest countries in the world, we have alot to learn about humility and humanity from one of the poorest.

What tugged at my heart, is that upon meeting those men, I calculated that they would have been anywhere from 5-8 years old during the time of genocide in Rwanda and yet the love, kindness and happiness in their eyes was infectious. The genocide would have touched their lives in a way that we can never comprehend. If we ourselves would have had to have lived even a minute of it, it would have destroyed our lives. We would never have mentally lived through it, on any level. We would need medication , thousand of hours of counselling and then we would make sure that we held on to that hatred forever and tell everyone the atrocities that had befallen us, for the rest of our lives. That is the society that we live in. I have been thinking about those young men and comparing them to a couple of young adults I am aquainted with and I do not understand how two countries, two cultures can be so awry. The men from Rwanda have suffered so much and yet are so peaceful, forgiving, loving and want for nothing and believe that they have a rich life. The young adults that I know here, are always unhappy and have an attitude that life has dealt them the worst cards ever and they deserve more but should do less to get it. I know dignity plays a big part in it, and in our culture, dignity has been been replaced by an attitude of "it is owed to me".

From the book "The Blue Sweater" there is a quote from "Song of an African Woman" (Okot P'Bitek) and it goes like this.....

I have only one request.
I do not ask for money
Although I have a need of it,
I do not ask for meat....
I have only one request,
All I ask is
That you remove
the roadblock
From my path.


I hope that if you follow us, that something stirs your heart and you develop the unquenchable thirst to drink in all you can about what is happening around the world, and to examine your life to see and believe that you are truly blessed. I hope you learn to practice dignity because...

Poverty won't allow him to lift up his head;
dignity won't allow him to bow it down.
(Madagasy Proverb)


Vickie

Serenity Now!

Hello to our followers, time is really winding down -- my list of things to do seens to be growing instead of shrinking! We still have not nailed down a car and driver, which has led me to the conclusion that we will arrive in Rwanda with nothing booked and everything up in the air -- all I can say is, in the words of Frank Costanza "SERENITY NOW! SERENITY NOW! It's all good - really. We were able to meet with a wonderful young man Brandon Boutin, his wife and some friends who just returned from Rwanda and they are going to contact some of their friends back in Rwanda to see if they can help us out! I just have to say a huge THANK YOU to Brandon for being so generous with his time and helping us. What an amazing and inspirational group of young people they are, the world needs more young people like them!

We have had a number of people ask us why they don't get notifications when we post something new to our blog. You have to sign up as a follower -- it is really sinple you just click on the link located on the left hand side of the page and it will walk you through it. Once you become a follower you will automatically receive an email notifying you of a new post, and we will also be able to see who is following us!

I guess I better run, my daughter decided to take up skate boarding today and I couldn't bear to watch so I've been hiding in the house. I am sure by now Rob needs some "SERENITY NOW! SERENITY NOW!" I better go take my turn; even though she is covered from head to toe in protective gear watching her is kinda like watching a train wreck in slow motion! He just came in and told me she's getting better -- I think it's safe to go and watch now.

Later!

Carol

Car for Hire

The time seems to be flying by now; I can't believe how many little things I have to take care of before I leave. We have really been struggling to hire a car and driver for our time in Rwanda. There are no car rental agencies -- and the ones they do have are all privately owned and operated. Vickie has been sending emails to various places in Rwanda but no one ever responds back! Except today she received a response from the Hotel we want to stay at (we are booked in there for our time with World Vision) so we thought it would be a good place for us when we first arrive. Vickie had asked about rooms for us from the beginning of our trip up until our time with World Vision - she had also asked about hiring a car with a driver and a few other questions about various places in Rwanda that we want to see. Their entire response was "I will find you a car I think you will be happy with" OMG! I can't wait to see that! She had also asked about pricing and this is the other response she received "Hey dear Vickie! I have your reservation and I think everything will be on a good range so don't worry about this please I'm here for you. See you! JB" I think I am beginning to be afraid! Very afraid! They must be telepathic and able to see the sitting duck tattoo on our foreheads!

Can't seen to figure out what type of foot ware to bring, I was going to bring flip flops or sandals until my friend who's been to Africa many times told me about JIGGERS! They are a tiny red tick that burrows into the skin between your toes and lays eggs while feeding off your blood -- lovely! Seriously we did discuss the possibility of bringing a pair of hip waders, just in case we decide to leave the hotel! Well back to the trenches, Vickie and I have much more planning to do -- kinda hard though when working from a recently updated Rwanda road map that shows only one road on it!

Carol