Well I didn't get a chance to prepare this in advance, so it's going to be pretty simple and boring, but I wanted everyone to know that we made it back safely! Gashora was so incredible! In case people don’t know, my sponsor child (World Vision) lives in a small little mud hut on the edge of a small town near a lake about 20km away from any major roads. On Tuesday we left Kigali and spent the day and night in Gashora. It kinda reminds me of many of the small towns in Sask. The World Vision staff toured us around to the many community projects they have started. World Vision works almost strictly community approach. When you sponsor a child you are paying for his or her basic needs of school and medicine, but almost all the rest goes into infrastructure within the community. I was amazed at how proactive in the struggles of Rwanda the organization is, truly making a huge difference! (sorry, I’m going to be sparse on the details for now… I’ll try to prepare a good report of the different projects later).
Then we spent a great deal of time trying to figure out where we where going to be staying for the night. There seems to have been a miscommunication and the head office basically told us that the local site would find lodging and everything. Well turns out that the community has never had visitors stay over night! Rwandan or other! (Upon leaving the staff comically said “yeah, you guys are the first white people ever to stay here… and probably the last!”) So after much deliberating and reassurance that as long as there was a roof over our head our expectations where met… they allowed us to stay in one of the staff’s lodges. Walking throughout the town and meeting the children and people was incredible! We played with kids, talked to the adults… Bryan took many pictures… it was great. We then ate at one of the only places for dinning in the town… I tell you in all honesty… one of the best meals I’ve ever had! WOW! Now granted I’m sure it has a lot to do with the fact that us visiting was a very special occasion, but that being said… their best meal that they can prepare is truly on of the best meals I’ve ever had! Wow!
Wednesday we traveled south to Anne-Marie’s village. Wow, she is really becoming quite the beautiful woman. We learned of some of the struggles the family has had, blessed them with gifts, and prayed… pretty much wraps up the whole day. Her ambitions in life have changed… instead of wanting to be a mayor or politician, she wants to be a professor. (I’m equally impressed and pleased with both of the big dreams she has!)
Thursday we thought was going to be a simple goodbye and drive back… to our surprise they had gathered ALL of the school kids on the play ground of the school. The had brought out all the desks and made a meeting area. We where welcomed to sit down while they proceeded to bring out traditional dancers (children who have formed an anti-aids support group who have also learned the Rwandan style of dance). It was fantastic! I can’t wait to get the video edited and pictures sorted! They even got Bryan and I to dance with them! Haha! It was a sight to see assumably! But the surprising thing was in hearing people say “wow! He knows how to dance traditional!” So I think I was able to pull it off decently! (all those hours of just watching the people have paid off I guess!) I of course then brought up all the school’s administrators and World Vision Staff… I later mentioned to them “if you want to play that game with me, I play back!” lol… I then was asked to speak to the group and gave a pretty fun message all about encouraging and loving on their teachers (it’s a shameful career here in Rwanda… people do not grow up aspiring to be teachers here)… I gave them a homework assignment where they had to give each and every teacher 5 hugs in the next week… (great thing about translators… they must say exactly what you say!) haha! So yeah, lots of laughs, learned a lot... incredible. Unfortunately I need to get going, I’ll try to prepare something ‘eye-candyish’ later… Love you all… God Bless!
Joshua
ps.
Steven just sent me a link for some info on the Blog...
Steven Brown says:
FYI: http://joshua.jortosh.com/awstats
Some real interesting info in there! haha! Romania eh? Who is that? Well I just hope this thing encourages and blesses you all... even the people I don't know! haha!