tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48116470952510148522024-02-19T07:27:28.171+02:00Betsy WalkerLovin' Life, Jesus and Preschoolers in RwandaBetsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-35135326390168057722011-11-16T11:48:00.022+02:002011-11-27T16:54:11.620+02:00Beautiful<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tom Allen, B2R Country Director, once said, "The village is as poor as it is beautiful." It's difficult to understand this statement without seeing the village with your own eyes. Until you have the chance to visit Rwanda, let me try to paint a mental picture for you:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To get to the village, you leave Musanze and drive about 20 minutes. You turn right onto a dirt road. You follow the dirt road for about 15 minutes as children run behind your car screaming, "Mzungu, mzungu!" </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_rmXGr1xZkZ6H3wOmBVeHhjDLzHYwFsflZG9wvuLmDLwf81IO0JKwT3EN09teKGHTo_Ej1rU8_WA0VPfi5yt65f5eiLHD3AQwLJi06eukqMxVYMk7sCGaYbZKF-7yv-QFeBjOWZSp1w/s200/IMG_7009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679557222888235026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our part of the village is at the very top of the road, near Mwiko Primary School. As soon as you reach a certain part of the road you don't hear "Mzungu, mzungu" anymore you hear, "Betsy! Betsy!" That's when you know you have reached the village. You are not some foreigner in this remote area in the middle of Africa. You are a friend, a loved one, a family member. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQun8alpr-vHT7UdZ9Ao6yiBAHNk5XRBchUmk3RzB7Uvrw4OV0nuGR4sePf71oT7nT7sz0m9O5GkOAs129-GuCYzUJ8h-ERIGydUCbF0WgeBdBTTAVBmLQjxuRYE1yMFmJJ9aO5YXg3A/s200/IMG_7142.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679553935782432002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The view in the village is breathtaking. I can't put words to it and pictures really do not do it the justice it deserves. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Imagine the most beautiful mountain top you have been on. Look down the mountain and you will see women in their brightly colored kangas working in their crops of beans, bananas, or potatoes. The land is blanketed with patches of various shades of green. During the rainy season, it is like a patchwork quilt God has placed to cover His land. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAXY-N0MAxsAZxB3DqA2s-vHhaH4q9N35sCB6YHmL3sm_zQvazGo41jGG7zoR1FE2Yl6uyeFwefkr84hTt7pOJVz8MIZB3RYKA7hpXerwr2UctSZyyTJoglziUAaZjOXj1BauX7vQLqY/s200/IMG_3596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679555790765608434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The next thing that catches your eye is Lake Burera. The lake is large and hosts three islands, one of which I have visited. The view is remarkable. You look straight ahead and see mountains continuing as far as you can see. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmVP-Ug4U4mrUO8QBicY4bS_8CsEhride083PpRr-IlH8KG6sr8xDHkYP7kuk6Xy_VdjXH0rs0y1GQG5raLiSkuZu9sgYU3unQKorpfULrmTp4HdKy41KBBoWoVBOReEOKGm1EITpUVk/s200/IMG_3800.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679555813293475618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The houses are made of clay, wood and dirt. The water in the village is not clean. The village just got electricity about a year ago but that doesn't mean they all use it. Our friends who live in the village will eat meat maybe once a year. They will walk everywhere they need to go. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmMFWYsB_77kXg8_C79Fc6qkKL5Z8FnUmquoFqY-ZAEbBN3o8ZqAQMu94T-6GgvCnc0bKHn8ofOl2GDybsOxCj0NRYlecHXKtbQDGp4T634cQ5h231pc9JN2gXFuuaX-WViG2pg_c4WU/s200/DSC_0299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679644262970908018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The beauty doesn't just lie in the landscape. The first smiling face you see catches your heart and doesn't let go. The child is most likely wearing his or her school uniform. It might be only one of two outfits they own. Their shoes will will be old and worn out from all the walking they do.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41RpHHeD6ZzSE2Nocfd4V171hBNvZrI30cVTr8sGhZDNeUEC7I5YJ_ual293z1iFCkyTM-psJ0Qh0gRWZOqxarAhM6DBK_asa0sRh5ozcV3JhEUzM9oelt-VwW4oT0sbAX4TmZuYGc48/s200/IMG_7171.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679555770845126706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Everything about the kids might seem dirty on the outside, but on the inside these children are white as snow. Their hearts are kind and pure. They lead a simple life and dream of doing great things. Education is their top priority. They put their faith in God and read their Bible every day. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH26T65To0qsiMMq_fJ-H2VDDcVXMSCMt0eJ4U8UQXcYDScLvGhgVxFfauKlFT6MONXh_330n74AmrYIRMibdKiPwlbp7_4gQWMCWpFZCU5dvmXhBasEMNvPlAV6OZHnE9iRGAKtby274/s200/IMG_7094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679557218874065666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As word spreads that you are visiting, more familiar, smiling faces begin to arrive. The first face I look for is Didier. He is 7 years old and goes to Sonrise Primary School. He is sponsored by my family and was in my P1 class last year. When he sees me, his face lights up almost as much as mine does. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWzYTifhHUpZN_ChZSfJIoJG00sDtjvnL3q0vhhyYYcSNU70cV90V5kzbZjprjS7abJkkh3fcHpb0bDzPn93vc9pLhGDRlqmAZJJOI1j_mGGebYT5RRJmzLyijeCeVaqVGSIapLoXXoY/s200/IMG_7099.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679553911025049570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Two weeks ago was my last visit to Musanze and the village (for a while...I'll be back!!!) I pulled Didier to the side and told him how proud I am of him. He showed me his report card from school-he had great marks!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2x8maWWWSTBdNcui1r3kO4IfMM07RPnlfV2gposervvEDb2AGk2nJ4MPFaE7QcQIPxmoogj-e-fTVaF7o4vuQ1lovfmAQUQrKdu3fq0Y175I1NyqmwMdUDX1BQIsur3tI_Uk_-MGguWY/s200/IMG_7154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679555767075049346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I explained that I am about to move back to America to go back to school. I gave him a small gold coin with an angel on it and told him that even though I won't be in Rwanda, I will be his angel and always pray for him. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJjg-rkOjHTOtKPMgii-lFkk0xO-HLRUGMLiTcmuuw8k5lsnO4rNLe1tgLtwQ-cHjvZGzJhELUGqTIX52Hbsz32UfnMyEaali6t_sOrItYtQuQJd-ecnyUgLhbiY8D1X1jdndIK-hYkc/s200/IMG_7118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679644693337580850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I told him to continue to do very good in school and to pray every day. I gave him a big hug and I felt tear drops on my arm. Sweet Didier was crying. His older brother told me that "he has produced tears because you are leaving." My heart was hurting. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZyXeTCPEIYTAFvVLoAeMB8ELsjFv127TAPrjiCDRNB1jlDn5fJbWXoF9NoqXSwtJhyhKIo7jwIgk7C_bzY7TXT53EAyC47tU0JBXKYKHsvLTJaJhYUdm2stYAac_tbu7JMbz-7vdi00/s200/IMG_7136.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679553913017114802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I gave one last hug to Didier and the rest of the kids before I had to leave. With a heavy heart, I drove down the mountain and away from beauty that is much more important on the inside than it is on the outside. I glanced back once more and I thought to myself, "This isn't goodbye. I'll be back."</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"There are no goodbyes, wherever you'll be, you'll be in my heart." -Ghandi</span></i></div></span><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;color:#646464;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div></div></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-12694793964849603432011-11-05T13:49:00.021+02:002011-11-05T18:40:49.316+02:00Home of Hope<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.</i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i> -Mother Teresa</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: left;">I was recently asked the question: if I could have dinner with any three people, who would they be? The first woman who came to mind was Mother Teresa. It was obvious. She has always been such a fascinating person to me. That response holds much more meaning after my morning at Mother Teresa's Home of Hope Orphanage in Kigali. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I first heard about Home of Hope when I met Gloria, a five year old girl in my P1 class at Sonrise. Gloria spent the first four years of her life in Home of Hope being cared for by nuns-the only family she knew. Shortly after her birth, she lost her parents to HIV. Gloria is also infected. Two years ago, she was taken in by her brother, a friend of ours, who had just found out about his little sister. God has brought this little girl the family she never expected. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfLN5SQTyEe3iZCzguVNdIDEyZ6_hQTlpawLuiBXKUGJ-rGU_Xs_M5r0W0soSjJyMzSCQk5tQxZNmzAvDhiCGFBjpoQ7R1lUqlPQUFgbFUGj1NIL6Q4qahA_LgLMnp6kmGn36ZSqhyR4/s200/IMG_2864.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671479462043505586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My amazing friends, Brett and Keli Shreck, adopted their two boys from Home of Hope. The boys are Nicholas and Benjamin and I have to say, I just adore these kids! When they were adopted, Nicholas was 5 months and Benjamin was 17 months. Now, Nicholas is 4 years old and Benjamin is 5 years old. Today, Keli and I were wondering if Gloria and Benjamin may have been there at the same time as babies. Check out their blog: http://immeasurablymoreinrwanda.blogspot.com/</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Keli and Jamie, my roommate, go every Wednesday morning to love on the sweet little angels at Home of Hope. They usually work with the children in the special needs area. I have heard so many beautiful stories from Jamie about these precious kiddos. I was so excited to meet them for myself! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As I walked in the orphanage I noticed that a few of the "aunties" were outside cleaning about two dozen baby cribs. A few kids were helping out with the cleaning while enjoying the sunshine. We went into the special needs room and my heart was immediately filled with passion and love. There were about a dozen children under the age of 8 and soon more, older kids joined us outside. I met a sweet new friend who could not talk or walk: his feet and hands were clubbed. I picked him up and held his hands as he walked around the room. He was beaming with joy and pride! We took the kids outside and played with some bouncy balls and on a merry-go-round piece of equipment. They had a blast while we pushed them around and around for about 30 minutes. We clapped and sang a lot songs: If You're Happy and You Know It, Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves the Little Children, and Imana Nziza. One boy who was about 12 years old kept singing Jesus Loves Me and I couldn't help but smile at the words coming out of his sweet mouth. Right before we left, I took a little boy who was sitting in the wheelchair outside and wheeled him around. His name was Dameon and he was smiling and so happy as we walked along the sidewalk. I fed him a few bites of a biscuit before it was time to leave. As we were leaving, I was talking to one of the nuns. I asked her if there is a special needs school in Rwanda. There is a school for the deaf and a school for the blind but not one specifically for special needs. She said some brothers who come and work the children three times a week have been thinking about starting a school for special needs in Rwanda. It is needed. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This afternoon I have been thinking a lot about those kids. My mind kept going back to high school when I was involved in Partners Club, an organization that worked with special needs kids in the Fort Smith area. Dianne Baer, former special ed teacher, was there in the beginning when God planted the seed to help children. I have learned so much about loving individuals as they are and that every child, young or old, deserves to be loved. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Each one of them is Jesus in disguise. -Mother Teresa</i></div></span></span></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-87996089937292333072011-11-01T22:21:00.010+02:002011-11-03T18:25:28.104+02:00Kids, Caves, Dancers and.....GORILLAS!<div style="text-align: left;">It's been a few weeks since I have updated, sorry! Here are some shots of some sweet kids at Gisimba Orphanage, my school, our girls weekend in Musanze and THE GORILLAS!!!! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhyxxcqj6JMTrBt-pWZPLYTAGttyWmsMTB-TZ9f7FNVMBQ6YFQVOVeyxD4iEm-ToIA2faXR3Fe4Md0_96utbMV5NJEFpelxqs62ecGBnJcNh7wYedXZWumhYHfBzp6MygNLDhvRa2KF4/s1600/IMG_1211.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhyxxcqj6JMTrBt-pWZPLYTAGttyWmsMTB-TZ9f7FNVMBQ6YFQVOVeyxD4iEm-ToIA2faXR3Fe4Md0_96utbMV5NJEFpelxqs62ecGBnJcNh7wYedXZWumhYHfBzp6MygNLDhvRa2KF4/s200/IMG_1211.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670131491374100226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Milk carton car with bottle cap wheels...so clever. </div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9xZVgsx-uDmFsUV8pWFVdLirhC5ynseP9DMpJnl4_Ti9hjJQcyYg95tUUiArk4S37Yb3-phdD4QXIFEgGvcakgEwHAmaVgKU96Kg2L3WQIhV-793bZYTzF1EBxqls0iH_Baz2NjdEq0/s1600/IMG_1215.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9xZVgsx-uDmFsUV8pWFVdLirhC5ynseP9DMpJnl4_Ti9hjJQcyYg95tUUiArk4S37Yb3-phdD4QXIFEgGvcakgEwHAmaVgKU96Kg2L3WQIhV-793bZYTzF1EBxqls0iH_Baz2NjdEq0/s200/IMG_1215.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670131503553191826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Hopscotch in the dirt at Gisimba Orphanage and Nursery School. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoWt8-3HISLKGktr3c5nxlhwH_r2985hXtVmYtdyd2uahNrmCeplL3MK0S1peiwxh9qT_H4vBYnDpCuOrGGY40v1Y9NyPpJd5NJrQ227DEfJ7PPNeoUFXO_hN8c7JSI64VBE4GjCFyIo/s1600/IMG_1220.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoWt8-3HISLKGktr3c5nxlhwH_r2985hXtVmYtdyd2uahNrmCeplL3MK0S1peiwxh9qT_H4vBYnDpCuOrGGY40v1Y9NyPpJd5NJrQ227DEfJ7PPNeoUFXO_hN8c7JSI64VBE4GjCFyIo/s200/IMG_1220.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670131495373695298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My new best friend learning to drive my car. Love this kid!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhyxxcqj6JMTrBt-pWZPLYTAGttyWmsMTB-TZ9f7FNVMBQ6YFQVOVeyxD4iEm-ToIA2faXR3Fe4Md0_96utbMV5NJEFpelxqs62ecGBnJcNh7wYedXZWumhYHfBzp6MygNLDhvRa2KF4/s1600/IMG_1211.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbRifUoC30U5qY_qGT9A4Gd8J48TkTsBvhtmZAHj5jcU-mokaMoQYNKxcEhHmakdSbehiqRrjc09n4W_iQQc9_6DDyY1n-Wlts3pR7gEN9rJOUpkqo7ZZ-F-q4JMYS1r7ar2AW_ALy_Y/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbRifUoC30U5qY_qGT9A4Gd8J48TkTsBvhtmZAHj5jcU-mokaMoQYNKxcEhHmakdSbehiqRrjc09n4W_iQQc9_6DDyY1n-Wlts3pR7gEN9rJOUpkqo7ZZ-F-q4JMYS1r7ar2AW_ALy_Y/s200/IMG_1482.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670784116550981218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My kids made me this one day when I wasn't at school. I'm going to miss my First Impressions little ones so much! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgPU94Lpw5gNZzxalBMTHaKDC-NPWY-ZpL-6uS3y5hxI8qsP-wtM4jkrw7Wh-tKMKhtc8ODy4G1eNbUKqMhQxBMVjW64rGEccEdYJH0BcRkBgsrSyzP498yINBbDneQhLnZPra1QLg3k/s1600/IMG_1278.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgPU94Lpw5gNZzxalBMTHaKDC-NPWY-ZpL-6uS3y5hxI8qsP-wtM4jkrw7Wh-tKMKhtc8ODy4G1eNbUKqMhQxBMVjW64rGEccEdYJH0BcRkBgsrSyzP498yINBbDneQhLnZPra1QLg3k/s200/IMG_1278.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670784110115328994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">New student, Mark! He did great reading to the kids and walking in a line.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksj7dc96MMA9xuxF66E8ihzJkjHE6v73KLCtv6eClBWj4MiIXbpR0QP4bIEh8U_HXB6LQF66F4EATMrvqTvEtSrYMRBqXa34qG1uMiGPOXK4ByLo63gSJg2FsFLXo9FbbsbCF4BzrQBU/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksj7dc96MMA9xuxF66E8ihzJkjHE6v73KLCtv6eClBWj4MiIXbpR0QP4bIEh8U_HXB6LQF66F4EATMrvqTvEtSrYMRBqXa34qG1uMiGPOXK4ByLo63gSJg2FsFLXo9FbbsbCF4BzrQBU/s200/IMG_1342.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670779908660752082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSOOrAGigHflb02ricK89iAMA_rNS1cInSHxhXk2p7G6sPaFqGkM0LcN9j0ng15GEIojW8aSXF3lEs6J0sIutqxIwhsaRIRiJBQOTWtHUCwnF5svKySYaDzZi67ojfGN4UP0q1sJEGWA/s1600/100_0735.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSOOrAGigHflb02ricK89iAMA_rNS1cInSHxhXk2p7G6sPaFqGkM0LcN9j0ng15GEIojW8aSXF3lEs6J0sIutqxIwhsaRIRiJBQOTWtHUCwnF5svKySYaDzZi67ojfGN4UP0q1sJEGWA/s200/100_0735.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670779902880079570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Rwandan dancers at Virunga Lodge</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHYR1dgu3kcvKXUusRr7MS_bPLPY1RjPG_Sa0OUvcAIJ3Gp3M5V6X3uIrAs9io30L4ZohxAWshZiuOqak5_60XtZfjoJl2o5zVJrt7qPOPSYKQgKOcjmikC0BEfo5cpZRQzic9rLbFsI/s1600/IMG_1329.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHYR1dgu3kcvKXUusRr7MS_bPLPY1RjPG_Sa0OUvcAIJ3Gp3M5V6X3uIrAs9io30L4ZohxAWshZiuOqak5_60XtZfjoJl2o5zVJrt7qPOPSYKQgKOcjmikC0BEfo5cpZRQzic9rLbFsI/s200/IMG_1329.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670779895001031378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Anna, Hadley, Emily, Frances and I went through the Musanze caves. Totally dark and lots of bat poo!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vmfPjErB7FQ1tjrPkMo7KeDA73CqmgPhvI1nvNBeYFc47D0vwSs7WfX8BCy-lO98p7luYIRvNMR_jpkPpgjmovP3QgQe1hkAXpff7lwjgICW1L2Ud_grOwwRmZXqQM6S913ur7Ia5UY/s1600/IMG_1353.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vmfPjErB7FQ1tjrPkMo7KeDA73CqmgPhvI1nvNBeYFc47D0vwSs7WfX8BCy-lO98p7luYIRvNMR_jpkPpgjmovP3QgQe1hkAXpff7lwjgICW1L2Ud_grOwwRmZXqQM6S913ur7Ia5UY/s200/IMG_1353.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670779890292113490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">One of my favs-Lake Ruhondo</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And.....THE GORILLAS!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy78WQFbgQXcK6ybrz1H9dZCH1AtBQpBiMCvyNWtbXFb1ai-9Os30pvrBwEPNQE5aSFASurFlhz_2zwPi3-aCFz-T0A2xNk97j23ucLDm4H9lBfGqmbfz3_hUgsc3l20p2_ofdOIGJoew/s1600/100_0793.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy78WQFbgQXcK6ybrz1H9dZCH1AtBQpBiMCvyNWtbXFb1ai-9Os30pvrBwEPNQE5aSFASurFlhz_2zwPi3-aCFz-T0A2xNk97j23ucLDm4H9lBfGqmbfz3_hUgsc3l20p2_ofdOIGJoew/s200/100_0793.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670792766580540498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUS_c99pnp4yeZkpcof6ppRrHa9DpH46ruNjnQ0ho33_gvDwtWgM1B6OaeJIS8rH7f17NpHjD-GEXzSjh3OTWJxi0ZNFkrYNZS9i14pswZX4OxHM5Lp5A0wFUBpPxFXs4C-7G5IrmsBoM/s1600/IMG_6697.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUS_c99pnp4yeZkpcof6ppRrHa9DpH46ruNjnQ0ho33_gvDwtWgM1B6OaeJIS8rH7f17NpHjD-GEXzSjh3OTWJxi0ZNFkrYNZS9i14pswZX4OxHM5Lp5A0wFUBpPxFXs4C-7G5IrmsBoM/s200/IMG_6697.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670792759442844098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXkVYtrI-iAaoE6S_BOqdCGCiVXzrUbwRiyamDSBaGxvXH47rjHPZFjPHgd24iDPNFXISPJIrY6VldcQLUtGN6CUmCKP5Z0PHk3glWxmE6yBufnlww7r1laJyzIhSA5D6QNlaOhVyg3U/s1600/IMG_6633.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXkVYtrI-iAaoE6S_BOqdCGCiVXzrUbwRiyamDSBaGxvXH47rjHPZFjPHgd24iDPNFXISPJIrY6VldcQLUtGN6CUmCKP5Z0PHk3glWxmE6yBufnlww7r1laJyzIhSA5D6QNlaOhVyg3U/s200/IMG_6633.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670792748783474866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-S-XAQ32cjRK9HTEZb_hZYSWzN25iT1dUu7qqo-bGfhrDoTUrJasHBR5V4-tSV7EUBayWhOiN9HDOl9GsWoAkW3Sf7yw0HRbbMWmn77IHEwDi04y1EHGpIF_kftYYq6YG4FgEBBv6k0/s1600/100_0802.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-S-XAQ32cjRK9HTEZb_hZYSWzN25iT1dUu7qqo-bGfhrDoTUrJasHBR5V4-tSV7EUBayWhOiN9HDOl9GsWoAkW3Sf7yw0HRbbMWmn77IHEwDi04y1EHGpIF_kftYYq6YG4FgEBBv6k0/s200/100_0802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670792740700702818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a></div><div>Emily and I went together to see the gorillas on Sunday October 16. We got to the park office at 7:00 am and were appointed to a group with a guide named Felecia. Then we had to drive 30 more minutes to the base of Mt. Bisoke. We parked in a village area and hired porters to carry our backpacks for 5,000 francs (about ten dollars). Our guide handed out our walking sticks and we started climbing up the mountain. We followed a path to get us to the park entrance then our guide told us that the trackers said that the gorillas we were trekking were coming down to meet us! About ten minutes before we got to the gorillas, we left our backpacks, water and everything with the porters and started the hike to see the gorillas. We spotted the Silverback first climbing on the park wall. We followed him over the wall and found the rest of the group. Our guide taught us how to welcome them in gorilla talk so of course Emily and I are now experts at communicating with gorillas! The guide and trackers tell you that you have to be 7 meters away from the gorillas but at one point I was about 3 feet away. The gorillas had just eaten their breakfast and were taking a mid morning rest. We got to spend exactly one hour with them before we headed back down the mountain. </div><div>Seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat was so breathtaking. It's certainly an experience I will never forget! </div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-22789679907799163902011-09-05T21:14:00.010+02:002011-09-06T15:25:23.833+02:00Make your own colored pasta!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWvGZmjdGqeX-5uX6RW8i054VWo4XlTjdraDb5ASGcKVelMSJSeTQ4K9fzz55kbGqL5KL4G9hfEBUZzQ6HVTyffVxkKQ1-IhGqOo0-tx5hX97xkRohuSm_NLyhcKF19PY13DLWnC02Gk/s1600/IMG_1129.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWvGZmjdGqeX-5uX6RW8i054VWo4XlTjdraDb5ASGcKVelMSJSeTQ4K9fzz55kbGqL5KL4G9hfEBUZzQ6HVTyffVxkKQ1-IhGqOo0-tx5hX97xkRohuSm_NLyhcKF19PY13DLWnC02Gk/s200/IMG_1129.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649235825187235602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcu0avgN1PkVryFUHEK12nUI1qcHoMRk8DdY36LldeT4N7vmoErA0URqVQpiK17YM__Pf5taUVYdxjLS51Dp6iZJ-lnzLB47XrS8Eq3ao-ehLLfE7MxVB_DvJbioS421pfl19qtixItA/s1600/IMG_1128.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcu0avgN1PkVryFUHEK12nUI1qcHoMRk8DdY36LldeT4N7vmoErA0URqVQpiK17YM__Pf5taUVYdxjLS51Dp6iZJ-lnzLB47XrS8Eq3ao-ehLLfE7MxVB_DvJbioS421pfl19qtixItA/s200/IMG_1128.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649235815501171730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxamgcDmmckJ90HyD6mReQtawwCsGl2vSmgFcX_gOoJ0bg6eATijFUGA1D83i_pR5LGVMEnPEQ3ixQVWKb7JnFeqwrKc3S12cX8YL_pjsnDi4MX6EniF4-JsTNnL3anC2g7PwQev5g78/s1600/IMG_1125.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxamgcDmmckJ90HyD6mReQtawwCsGl2vSmgFcX_gOoJ0bg6eATijFUGA1D83i_pR5LGVMEnPEQ3ixQVWKb7JnFeqwrKc3S12cX8YL_pjsnDi4MX6EniF4-JsTNnL3anC2g7PwQev5g78/s200/IMG_1125.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648962541072777122" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YYym-YZUipKoGoMzQpblTEqfVueNmd4Q-pFlglaM_9rzpw5r0nPn7F29sVa1jL6VPpaesFqUlapHIU-hQT4NaNVrQRVFfPT6US70uTDHKf1AOdlkRObEXydx7XsdQZLZFNZuocWWI_U/s1600/IMG_1124.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YYym-YZUipKoGoMzQpblTEqfVueNmd4Q-pFlglaM_9rzpw5r0nPn7F29sVa1jL6VPpaesFqUlapHIU-hQT4NaNVrQRVFfPT6US70uTDHKf1AOdlkRObEXydx7XsdQZLZFNZuocWWI_U/s200/IMG_1124.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648962537092700754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkU3fMCqmMyzP3PPlsQHwtzlUg20esaChQTqYg1OyP_FMcH6lDthKuVyshx3_Mzyt4b9s8A_r8QrrRbB62DjH1vZvVTzwtzY0SI6u2zOJLy6LPEcGwD6xCC8609g9WByDkIu1T4_C-2w/s1600/IMG_1126.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkU3fMCqmMyzP3PPlsQHwtzlUg20esaChQTqYg1OyP_FMcH6lDthKuVyshx3_Mzyt4b9s8A_r8QrrRbB62DjH1vZvVTzwtzY0SI6u2zOJLy6LPEcGwD6xCC8609g9WByDkIu1T4_C-2w/s200/IMG_1126.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648962531039147378" /></a><br />And that's exactly what we did today! I found this idea on Pinterest and it was a perfect way to transition into our new sensory tub. Every child got one zip lock bag and I added some dry pasta, a few squirts of hand sanitizer with alcohol and the food coloring of their choice. Then we shook it all up and squished it all around! Once the noodles were colored, we let them dry in the sun. We added them to our sensory tub and each child got to take some of their colored pasta home.Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-92016060680056496392011-09-03T12:03:00.009+02:002011-09-03T16:10:01.716+02:00Magic Wands<div style="text-align: left;">I have a class full of little girls who love to pretend they are princesses! I read Cinderella every day for a week and I think I can recite the entire book by memory now. I got the idea to make magic wands one day when we were outside reading Cinderella. When I read about the Fairy Godmother, I picked up a stick to use as the magic wand. The girls went crazy! They loved it. Last week we made our very own magic wands. Even the two boys in the class loved it (but they quickly turned theirs into swords)! We went outside and picked up sticks off the ground, painted them, added glitter and wrapped pipe cleaner around them. It was a hit! </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9gCbo401YNhToXT5GYp8TX3j5vPq5Ihyl0XWWOVnUL5EblCZexasVBAlMHPMlHt4jiVNpxi7UTpp57ZlDvKvooB7tWRruUqwGy9nn63TyAF2vDMM2EO1OaWEEd8Er7h4vi1MGf1lJ64/s200/IMG_1099.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648082447857863362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMs6_P6XLsbOj_DgCOM4oD0HKkETC6uXDKvTy3vavJ1ZdCbvkbu59vlO40TXRfQzHZIxJ03fnWFMu2-6gIjEczLRXaBbmxiA3S1RkmHtTFSscTYJ8tDdw3Ajb3WbcA41jt8v9bi86WVQ/s200/IMG_1100.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648090879307934578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG9y8Nu5kwf96k3qKrlb4PJDLGaA7e09FzZQ56iNlL_RiM4rvoZuJ0QEhOYUNHIK63lnwqEF5j1-avU0a0A3avHe40_RhKhdfB9qMKnSY108Er9VnuCFeMClkCb479uo6Z3eNIKiII3c/s200/IMG_1101.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648090882010649330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ-3tiPGSr6DG48noWVI9MM-e5K2tkXpkN9clif0BD5iqA6ifTQk3SiZezhZyy6vF19uD0hF7uacvR92kQEZG70azNYAdHNMhXNLywSGJO1Nw8uAH1dTktthzmpJPf6ZKVoA-pFSCnZ0/s1600/IMG_1105.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ-3tiPGSr6DG48noWVI9MM-e5K2tkXpkN9clif0BD5iqA6ifTQk3SiZezhZyy6vF19uD0hF7uacvR92kQEZG70azNYAdHNMhXNLywSGJO1Nw8uAH1dTktthzmpJPf6ZKVoA-pFSCnZ0/s200/IMG_1105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648110653995518610" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs7BcTJAelZvi_JduAkqfQ8Y_vm3bHW1EeaVdITTUnM3vo7lqh5yOWjFNncUxXf79wxyO-yauTkZoL7dMQ8MSsKWvwPZ-d9be7LKCzGYzShbMdtoYAZJdTfmcsRuygZ2dhlpTTtP7Qs8/s1600/IMG_1104.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs7BcTJAelZvi_JduAkqfQ8Y_vm3bHW1EeaVdITTUnM3vo7lqh5yOWjFNncUxXf79wxyO-yauTkZoL7dMQ8MSsKWvwPZ-d9be7LKCzGYzShbMdtoYAZJdTfmcsRuygZ2dhlpTTtP7Qs8/s200/IMG_1104.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648096868309410322" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIoAvtGnvJbQiyQoKV8RIbqsCbtkyWBsQXUCChE-YEoABbPbDQdVcSLINf441tQ-QFLsfnqDFXRBON-e8PqBDnfRfvDNE_tK-9o_pgxKevRQ-IN2_zxji4hSkq-oci8KsANY9igIm2kU/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIoAvtGnvJbQiyQoKV8RIbqsCbtkyWBsQXUCChE-YEoABbPbDQdVcSLINf441tQ-QFLsfnqDFXRBON-e8PqBDnfRfvDNE_tK-9o_pgxKevRQ-IN2_zxji4hSkq-oci8KsANY9igIm2kU/s200/IMG_1103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648096864229174050" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2cTK6AN1YfRT122Ttwxcl5KnH7Gu9bUb2BHA8Suk-me_Fd6gOr8eTfhBy6Hh8U8jTsC9grVjQtaW2DINERt0XC-3uiNP_gL9o9ToDdmdtlYt6j2o9hUileaNyyPr7R721n6-M9_8904/s200/IMG_1106.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648110655618631842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">
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<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Our new school sign!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEgDn0Yz71ES5DzlEOSquJ-wFLgLKRal7x95N1uhui4RRzx4n5F5oN8tRBZhtTZiMS_JxdT_RdJrzo2ngmitBNCgzDkueH5SdUsmxwVxICTSplw5B6_D8kMNgiSpax6gsAUB1tQVM5zs/s200/IMG_1109.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648110659908290146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>
<br /></div></div></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-91510725958907210402011-08-22T20:03:00.004+02:002011-08-22T20:38:36.957+02:00Week 2 of the new year<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbZEKKSUoP9yxQjAews54SQBYXuTEtjZ83Ok4C48bEj_CObQmArHJcAFqoqAHtv0QQbiEC6q8vWTVcLnBs3eXvtvA1_R1TEfRp-J6xRx3WdhMeRktlfpSnmHP2BpYybWo9o_pPxxMtUI/s200/IMG_0896.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643747892673479282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">First day of Interactive Writing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOxJcriRxxVU0yiGdlPkGGtaexgCfzcN4NjGDgCIY6eWP0aGi8QMMBb5YyprnFwhSrNsDQWWEW_q3TIkS1rU8Q_hzl2hZ73FFZLZ1gXaC9BOkVwy387RosJW1S7K8E465nSpiV_XXpPc/s200/IMG_0898.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643747896611371394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Behavior apples and worms.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z2Sj57E_DULElxozTDFzsCxGkNdkhxbYW84Za_OQXqblDEks6a2huwPA0td9oNkxr3OteVevUmFcJ5Tu8mZOx9xGfupSCIa56RUgK8MLHqeMooaQatVg8zhg01zB8GUe_1karWlOjGc/s1600/IMG_0902.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z2Sj57E_DULElxozTDFzsCxGkNdkhxbYW84Za_OQXqblDEks6a2huwPA0td9oNkxr3OteVevUmFcJ5Tu8mZOx9xGfupSCIa56RUgK8MLHqeMooaQatVg8zhg01zB8GUe_1karWlOjGc/s200/IMG_0902.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643747918183740290" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Isaac!</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39lku16GTBK6tgaWMXrazurCG2bOOV4vsZcOVAMXHTitEXuJE_GI2ABsqWRY_91YPIpTAi6aRUnpFOvxLsb5AwwKANwd9OcgGRPAl9hVCpgByosYlUOIQ0d1CL8yJW3nm3AsJr9Fs7IM/s1600/IMG_0899.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39lku16GTBK6tgaWMXrazurCG2bOOV4vsZcOVAMXHTitEXuJE_GI2ABsqWRY_91YPIpTAi6aRUnpFOvxLsb5AwwKANwd9OcgGRPAl9hVCpgByosYlUOIQ0d1CL8yJW3nm3AsJr9Fs7IM/s200/IMG_0899.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643747919801823554" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Keza at the block center.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheStPnUozsN0DfcO8yO2b8I-G_r6psntHhZvFzeQGv2WN6Uum4M_q3H0IYHqAzzZjT7p1wI09dUWpjl6s5riOzpdWBocuyDPwI8Gd3bToGVhoGUBLcxd4FrOfk7tNgn_R-DTMq4Zy68pU/s1600/IMG_0897.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheStPnUozsN0DfcO8yO2b8I-G_r6psntHhZvFzeQGv2WN6Uum4M_q3H0IYHqAzzZjT7p1wI09dUWpjl6s5riOzpdWBocuyDPwI8Gd3bToGVhoGUBLcxd4FrOfk7tNgn_R-DTMq4Zy68pU/s200/IMG_0897.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643747907353551138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sensory tub. Using clothespins to pick up puffy balls and organize them by color.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13E1Hq3lMiQUglr3tORIxMalsnbpmRgULko8-mrN7uCH1MCv48Fgamf6Xo4DaeA5wx7PsBiW_rpzCBf2rkgzdNJxmJHmEZxDxq-Wndm_EvOvGtdXe40omCbOf_yxiQ9_C8WaEzcrklc4/s200/IMG_0892.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643750546977345650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Painting</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-20568034242740831172011-08-16T15:39:00.010+02:002011-08-17T21:01:40.598+02:00Back to school!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6l5yPdtOpAyEUI-p6hulenyRCeWdleujmeXjZO83KMu92oPWxCZnBo-a2tcc2sAGwcNub1m_ZvWiXYPs95Qox99poKAfVm6Go1rkL-CJdJXcCbZd_tO4WcDSsyqC2Q-NEkIr0MsaHfw/s1600/IMG_0868.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6l5yPdtOpAyEUI-p6hulenyRCeWdleujmeXjZO83KMu92oPWxCZnBo-a2tcc2sAGwcNub1m_ZvWiXYPs95Qox99poKAfVm6Go1rkL-CJdJXcCbZd_tO4WcDSsyqC2Q-NEkIr0MsaHfw/s200/IMG_0868.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641896502856836098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Welcome to First Impressions!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fhn4K5mPxfypOygi0tXdL290bHlXeGNLLebx_J9a9pjaAsES-8MbHjXOa9BMRMVA6n5Dkd5K7D7CJw_yWhai6Pno7GA-UfTWvaQC6MioYGAvuk5UmlDTMZsZ-T2gEXZk7kcX9eas1tk/s200/IMG_0876.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641896498070456530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Awesome tree made from fabric and little birds Jamie left in Rwanda.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPqLWL4a0-jQi610OcTJwOHiWG_zBXyUKM3KkVWBBVGpVdBRfuXIO9kmV0QWBsQ7UsMZWuwRAbpuONhKq1o5ONpIxQiel2enXy8q5pyxMifDXNeItjrI0d2PM6_ARpTyiStR3EAN0c9g/s200/IMG_0870.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641896512167501618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Zebra painting made from elephant poop.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOhEgpv64ejvChqpE8Lo2lyROi7VsNLw22fC5zPKynJY-kT3SVmwBSya11aBgqx9VZtjrxYg4ddyXFxZI_4-UvWKTFNaphIiU0X3QLa4llm-uz-WzicINiQLJZwzgbGRYhJ-6H63cHnw/s200/IMG_0869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641896508709530754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Parents board.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0BoiELZw7n5OkGcAJaXFNQySka_SH9ln63PCuVcdTP38RpdDUqbP9CSWSjFFH7uCfICpTdhdQ8SSK5-Ynceb9ORU_VpT-jYUMjGuupAfid-QjJqaDo5yDG-Ri5t19gM0B-tH_UIB-PM/s1600/IMG_0874.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0BoiELZw7n5OkGcAJaXFNQySka_SH9ln63PCuVcdTP38RpdDUqbP9CSWSjFFH7uCfICpTdhdQ8SSK5-Ynceb9ORU_VpT-jYUMjGuupAfid-QjJqaDo5yDG-Ri5t19gM0B-tH_UIB-PM/s200/IMG_0874.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641899291540965858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Reading tent in the 3 year old class.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgds2GTtvIP4-ma0TVXxmsrKZyYpuFYKiTnu50hNp8HmO15HM4MmuCrKQFACVhivdWQ6NjndAJCOIq70CQqe7TpapIQQyMkbhoImF8X1J1y_PVPu7bzM8Gf7oKUzBBiJgDZ-DjL2gXew1w/s1600/IMG_0873.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgds2GTtvIP4-ma0TVXxmsrKZyYpuFYKiTnu50hNp8HmO15HM4MmuCrKQFACVhivdWQ6NjndAJCOIq70CQqe7TpapIQQyMkbhoImF8X1J1y_PVPu7bzM8Gf7oKUzBBiJgDZ-DjL2gXew1w/s200/IMG_0873.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641899281407425650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_WlqdK3W7-hbYirggNe-QNGhshibLVf_hFd0heioQjLrJyb-cqSRreHjEi3gMk8Ls4GtTp7zagdHKNdDhHxofgqD4WczyCCs_5UytHkwgyrkFS0jvfW-OkoCNYbtZOgDjp4cVQnTQRE/s1600/IMG_0872.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_WlqdK3W7-hbYirggNe-QNGhshibLVf_hFd0heioQjLrJyb-cqSRreHjEi3gMk8Ls4GtTp7zagdHKNdDhHxofgqD4WczyCCs_5UytHkwgyrkFS0jvfW-OkoCNYbtZOgDjp4cVQnTQRE/s200/IMG_0872.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641899284168737362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXasZqxPbmGohmebA1A1q7WZxKrDjKVn3NTtvzKMcbFNedi_4u6_9f8YTrQkd96rRauKWZWETh3e0F1dkYHskt-sLeW1OZFo8Z1bl8l11cXr7X_ettUKF3UHWu9uQ5XVRxRhfbtByWPo/s1600/IMG_0871.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXasZqxPbmGohmebA1A1q7WZxKrDjKVn3NTtvzKMcbFNedi_4u6_9f8YTrQkd96rRauKWZWETh3e0F1dkYHskt-sLeW1OZFo8Z1bl8l11cXr7X_ettUKF3UHWu9uQ5XVRxRhfbtByWPo/s200/IMG_0871.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641896521663208546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl-3eTDs1WIcdtd_8qwzBB3v8CH_CpF_wvRrSAOSJYPfsCQjbwfUQUgwGQIvxx_w-8kMs8-vy6byV-jzb3nA2feqJD6CsLmrAZSqMarFsFhyphenhyphenRzw0pp9RCzvWlr8Dr5YAg0K9Q2_QwUgQ/s1600/IMG_0864.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl-3eTDs1WIcdtd_8qwzBB3v8CH_CpF_wvRrSAOSJYPfsCQjbwfUQUgwGQIvxx_w-8kMs8-vy6byV-jzb3nA2feqJD6CsLmrAZSqMarFsFhyphenhyphenRzw0pp9RCzvWlr8Dr5YAg0K9Q2_QwUgQ/s200/IMG_0864.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641451466133309042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Fabric scraps!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmPFbPfGIjjP_kPWJ4A4vNST8t5GxHvNjhfuqOE4J28Gyyj2SYIT8mAwc1K0uxqz2iOwulXaQkq8Cr8h7PIzeUv6Wybn-eqzO3gZORLQ8BofXPQtU2tZqy_0ZZ1Pz2avDCRm4C-N2Y3k/s1600/IMG_0863.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmPFbPfGIjjP_kPWJ4A4vNST8t5GxHvNjhfuqOE4J28Gyyj2SYIT8mAwc1K0uxqz2iOwulXaQkq8Cr8h7PIzeUv6Wybn-eqzO3gZORLQ8BofXPQtU2tZqy_0ZZ1Pz2avDCRm4C-N2Y3k/s200/IMG_0863.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641451462554830290" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5DWgloi8B4f_xfgcXI9L6lIRYhwHX7j42sZYCVnLnsdsdC_1Dtbuczjr8p9VITmMjmEv9XYDJN6RDFnL843JFCqFgjplw3obWzqVIiH1i2vU39bk-0fByElExtAXhah87XeyR894HXU/s1600/IMG_0862.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5DWgloi8B4f_xfgcXI9L6lIRYhwHX7j42sZYCVnLnsdsdC_1Dtbuczjr8p9VITmMjmEv9XYDJN6RDFnL843JFCqFgjplw3obWzqVIiH1i2vU39bk-0fByElExtAXhah87XeyR894HXU/s200/IMG_0862.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641451459089375858" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEks6DtS5avtx_jCCTKZdjtLjcEfbGXM31JvwT5jUMp0zwt8X3VK8tkuSLt3gkRzG-7mkZyqnhiLqH1a3gMlxV6GE8IpWWbNd0XlMGWnLOSr9XP6Pn_R_e50LpZDg4sabheKhuWwvXN1I/s1600/IMG_0861.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEks6DtS5avtx_jCCTKZdjtLjcEfbGXM31JvwT5jUMp0zwt8X3VK8tkuSLt3gkRzG-7mkZyqnhiLqH1a3gMlxV6GE8IpWWbNd0XlMGWnLOSr9XP6Pn_R_e50LpZDg4sabheKhuWwvXN1I/s200/IMG_0861.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641451450892272034" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYUkaNMdyv7YelgwIZaL2K17f9Cc5yPrGEeiHHHOMGlUDeE3pBwUh7MoVFaBeWIJbrCUrdj5h37sA6AOUQPFcukXxLZOsaLf-OMBu0U5XMS4mqxGot-ognZKZi52TbUuHVZc3KZQOI-U/s1600/IMG_0860.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYUkaNMdyv7YelgwIZaL2K17f9Cc5yPrGEeiHHHOMGlUDeE3pBwUh7MoVFaBeWIJbrCUrdj5h37sA6AOUQPFcukXxLZOsaLf-OMBu0U5XMS4mqxGot-ognZKZi52TbUuHVZc3KZQOI-U/s200/IMG_0860.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641451447946217378" /></a>
<br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X3LrKbwEI1mu0Mmouj8fCGEADYNi2IOa2cpQ_shZ2M5SuI3fgzwlSZ3QpGoMJchm_DYixu5VNp7_HrWTOuSgdolefs2eZodiFP7PVV8WaShCoB0GgGobF0Vwz7HirJ5PTMCC8ONnEJg/s200/IMG_0865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641901519113146818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The book nook!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrfA3nmS2jz5FB4PoSN3izDiOe7VjVAA6NHaKejBmauaCYQi_c4qGii3fIo6qPKLI34mLwIdX1xAe_sS5GNjYpa6BAF6Bu3t7dCdJPfE3YMiR0vOfHpHJDOfSK_dXJkwp1aRzv2-iXkk/s200/IMG_0883.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641899298811898930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglP36DnjQqn4QEue0eqGYcO9OND1hsqUNgKJXESoOw90FYVvWqfGHTQpVVARo9yHG60XZ_E9nVzqLHHcSGfWmBmyEjhX5OOyGFqOvO6PcXlRNANZTYU4D8MUrGinwsJDryIRkdNimFodA/s200/IMG_0880.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641899295990399618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div>
<br />Yesterday was the first day of school. Onawa and I spent hours upon hours over the weekend fixing up the school. We organized, decorated and crafted like crazy! We are so proud of our work and parents and kids certainly noticed today. It's amazing what you can do with African fabric, a hammer and nails, glue and cardboard boxes! We are so excited for this new year and we have tons of sweet new students starting at the Preschool. <div>
<br /></div></div></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-43124780325676436792011-06-30T22:04:00.007+02:002011-07-01T22:13:08.867+02:00Just another day<div style="text-align: left;">When I first moved over here to teach I tried to google, "How to teach in Africa". haha I wanted ideas and ways to be creative with little to no materials. Well, I've made it over that hump and now I'm turning into a creative machine (thanks to Onawa Linden, Jamie Ankenbrandt, Pinterest, The Crafty Crow and many other great websites)!!! I have used a lot of my own "Western" classroom ideas and made them amazing works of art in the middle of Africa.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div><br /></div><div>I am going to try to post a lot of pictures of what we are doing at school. I figure it will be great for future teachers in developing countries as well as teachers in American who are on a budget!</div><div><br /></div><div>I will, of course, throw in some pictures of the cute kiddos I work with! I sure can't leave them out. =)</div><div><br /></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4EiERkXZGhVHwKjcVz8X2BC6LrIte1F8RV517l3_1wj5LBQK50c7kby6eO9psBtDZhkBJQmmri1s-kguqi4cSPcfVyUdikdzxeMmJ5-xqwHb0UDUdBozgCrVObEliLUHfHL0YrLmqao/s200/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624112494795029650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Daniella came to school with a teddy bear tied on her back!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5WfaWd1YRqzU_EA470yhgzZ4yEwS2uxUMzrN5odQGYO08juanb3XRqvL6Zhz7zjqY0qZxqcDcI6GHT8B1QmWtkRxM0XfGYwLhffxr7vGBHgAyASQPuG8oqxsG0Devql5clQJNA5o_dI/s200/IMG_0525.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624112506167901090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our school of fish-paper, scissors and crayons! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5R7CE3cLdhklCTidknSfL30TCV-OLwRZi_CVB5To5sMxlrH6-o5wy9iFn7D6_CGShZUnOYFNW4HICijIE4k-3QC9sBN8auYMA4FuVGJmsS2e3qXZJhBSVou-m_D52VcWkOO7XmEO31s/s1600/IMG_0527.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5R7CE3cLdhklCTidknSfL30TCV-OLwRZi_CVB5To5sMxlrH6-o5wy9iFn7D6_CGShZUnOYFNW4HICijIE4k-3QC9sBN8auYMA4FuVGJmsS2e3qXZJhBSVou-m_D52VcWkOO7XmEO31s/s200/IMG_0527.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624112526842847826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Hannah playing at the Pattern Center-pocket chart from America and anything can be used to make patterns.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mXMug_LtgiTX9LYVd-0BDqSSaEfdSCyKynBIvnOUyQjVfpxXe-M8JYID5bPbk8rMHvlxxZXnSxDRUT-JJf-kPXMbOFcdzm1hyphenhyphenQIB-xXbyTzNRcGHu6Q4fvXRVBvCOYE66zcDnlO8ATI/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mXMug_LtgiTX9LYVd-0BDqSSaEfdSCyKynBIvnOUyQjVfpxXe-M8JYID5bPbk8rMHvlxxZXnSxDRUT-JJf-kPXMbOFcdzm1hyphenhyphenQIB-xXbyTzNRcGHu6Q4fvXRVBvCOYE66zcDnlO8ATI/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mXMug_LtgiTX9LYVd-0BDqSSaEfdSCyKynBIvnOUyQjVfpxXe-M8JYID5bPbk8rMHvlxxZXnSxDRUT-JJf-kPXMbOFcdzm1hyphenhyphenQIB-xXbyTzNRcGHu6Q4fvXRVBvCOYE66zcDnlO8ATI/s200/IMG_0530.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624112516869177858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Countdown to the last day of school-paper, crayons.</span></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPZ7jg2Uc55CVYS7LtpsMN0KFgv2GmcD7NhRTOeNbvTzua7CdLUXaIXlBFTQzihMtAb6rplVjAoFpaugVjL47YBdxDrdL-_VsjX5P8W-l7nB4zsmr_-e-4eE49I2GyLIBu0kWexhbhzE/s200/IMG_0532.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624112537221601410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Sink of Float?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscJ6FMb3EvxxUc6n4XbRkYL3_P64q45osqCVTXXZ7Ccj1pYZj0YNrUai0_qF5taULtkel5XU-Q0DVPSY0POTvGHiBlGcv_QYxTukqKTmr628eKGiutUbOJeaFJ08fNwBX2Fygk2wB5rU/s200/IMG_0533.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624474809401165378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">What sinks and what floats? We used a leaf, foam letter, bead, rock, foam dice, sticker, crayon, and paper clip</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-16483232983767121052011-06-17T16:52:00.008+02:002011-06-18T17:59:48.726+02:00Field Trip!<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Field Trip to Kigali Museum of Natural History</span></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcYi3DtSMdWAuxF-5Agd6d8365mv6FxmIkSAzJvi3dq_lADIOimYNNcQkgJEnTpZhP1HN_wo3rsSaPs0w2MOZdBjkTvq9QBrPddLgO9aauaEpKHd7crxpc3Nph5uzM_XSvpB-o6gTKmU/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcYi3DtSMdWAuxF-5Agd6d8365mv6FxmIkSAzJvi3dq_lADIOimYNNcQkgJEnTpZhP1HN_wo3rsSaPs0w2MOZdBjkTvq9QBrPddLgO9aauaEpKHd7crxpc3Nph5uzM_XSvpB-o6gTKmU/s200/IMG_0451.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619582019148822962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLEphj3OWLZ4GdPxNYMbfmvnw9JEZdd4vdq_gAxTfYmGiSYD-OfIW3wBYNwBGkG5cuwLFHN0QOWC3asd6I7lxrv47CUmhM-qnoW8yAl8x96cASsjigw_xEV2UfMiGQeUMi7uspR5QG4g/s1600/IMG_0450.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLEphj3OWLZ4GdPxNYMbfmvnw9JEZdd4vdq_gAxTfYmGiSYD-OfIW3wBYNwBGkG5cuwLFHN0QOWC3asd6I7lxrv47CUmhM-qnoW8yAl8x96cASsjigw_xEV2UfMiGQeUMi7uspR5QG4g/s200/IMG_0450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619582015126061490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJucoa3M5HhmVvVnkB6loGA7s9yM1XEjgVCyTEwB550YQGuhwuG5ayMbtXEal7Eo9wexpN9On7fj9G5LgKwco24A0j2ikn53OobCZp1v3awzWxUHH8ZVr4Z4PbPS6KbtQ8lcBZth-Hr8g/s1600/IMG_0447.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJucoa3M5HhmVvVnkB6loGA7s9yM1XEjgVCyTEwB550YQGuhwuG5ayMbtXEal7Eo9wexpN9On7fj9G5LgKwco24A0j2ikn53OobCZp1v3awzWxUHH8ZVr4Z4PbPS6KbtQ8lcBZth-Hr8g/s200/IMG_0447.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619582007228915970" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuFqBU7YK6T4kjVlPmIW48so2PIoClYFkYAVAqGx3AcbUsEMCvV7gMZHMfvV_HTkqaKYrUI-Jts07U35wwhRKwvMVCLyPwqa7IpsmIaAXAOPp1UnUNF4ndgxFaG4O6E19TVkFAJZItOI/s1600/IMG_0446.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuFqBU7YK6T4kjVlPmIW48so2PIoClYFkYAVAqGx3AcbUsEMCvV7gMZHMfvV_HTkqaKYrUI-Jts07U35wwhRKwvMVCLyPwqa7IpsmIaAXAOPp1UnUNF4ndgxFaG4O6E19TVkFAJZItOI/s200/IMG_0446.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619581997473354274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBkP0qRAvmbHHhottpoO-P9HWH96J1nga3pglrRtIK1YlykZ_pkddpqdlzC7r93bK3dcRuce17LAbd9LvhGoq2QUAzXbFnwGHk_IfN8U1PXBOoDFQQL1uiGsmH5Mg7WnaE7YRJ-HZs_8/s1600/IMG_0444.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJU5r2tYrVe293dwpzVeOQwYPaWnBleg1suC8K_Fq0kyBSJzu8xpE_xCCCznpOCflNhCS4WkxKukzlW_XDaOEubb37AhghBmPC91WxLm0fymMdELr3K-tavWb601kUy9zB5ZpCDRBuak/s200/IMG_0428.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619577287291674546" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFa_LSU4hyQbschS4WzvMMxVcGsoxyiiNQ4ZPel5EM9lV1t-YNDoUwA5wqNCsgG7ZAqemg6EjhwaH2i4k9q4w0853OdJ1AXTVPV8Eb9jUQZ9hiIluVXd30Kt845IP0Uzda8lgS2zfnSU/s1600/IMG_0423.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFa_LSU4hyQbschS4WzvMMxVcGsoxyiiNQ4ZPel5EM9lV1t-YNDoUwA5wqNCsgG7ZAqemg6EjhwaH2i4k9q4w0853OdJ1AXTVPV8Eb9jUQZ9hiIluVXd30Kt845IP0Uzda8lgS2zfnSU/s200/IMG_0423.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619577272242870050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_58blx_u0JPHpnQ6KD-ItieNkvfnwVXPCKubCkosKHQmeJctQjNMIyjS19ShTYDqM1fqv4Qe4ze1LDAJFeB51xMmhIHOTgzJidv5aKHRfqNkq6ldC5jlmSaCWeA9ySYu55jcRz-uoy14/s1600/IMG_0418.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_58blx_u0JPHpnQ6KD-ItieNkvfnwVXPCKubCkosKHQmeJctQjNMIyjS19ShTYDqM1fqv4Qe4ze1LDAJFeB51xMmhIHOTgzJidv5aKHRfqNkq6ldC5jlmSaCWeA9ySYu55jcRz-uoy14/s200/IMG_0418.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619577256496512834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5S6cP8bVUSVkHzVd-jJF_ZojUNfA6o_FbPLXIotLG5sU7k5YJ1DRyda93nzSOjUtnuFSNEF50SttnkkujwhC3hGhm_wu641j_W0PTVegypl9zsWhg1eCfWyl80VXWZCZTtYkKbA4WjE/s1600/IMG_0415.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5S6cP8bVUSVkHzVd-jJF_ZojUNfA6o_FbPLXIotLG5sU7k5YJ1DRyda93nzSOjUtnuFSNEF50SttnkkujwhC3hGhm_wu641j_W0PTVegypl9zsWhg1eCfWyl80VXWZCZTtYkKbA4WjE/s200/IMG_0415.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619577245542701026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm-Bf0eVdGuE_E91rEGeXC4zP5d-3RzQ66EOnyGQrOgGQW8SrlLPYn92OuJEnbP-tvnApheQyqTPsqwWZ_IK4201q7UlTCTXSBSwC4oOvH1etWOacxh-CRWe9u2gp2ZfbwGTY7krQnWw/s1600/IMG_0407.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm-Bf0eVdGuE_E91rEGeXC4zP5d-3RzQ66EOnyGQrOgGQW8SrlLPYn92OuJEnbP-tvnApheQyqTPsqwWZ_IK4201q7UlTCTXSBSwC4oOvH1etWOacxh-CRWe9u2gp2ZfbwGTY7krQnWw/s200/IMG_0407.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619204758172854626" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7N6eV9jjKAVWKaiQT77ao4nTD3ZpggEoFanYthiq3b3_IS4_7dQpirtIlIRR79gFj2hkaqpS94xinWKxTWaclXYOLlvLbUnAzfTNgZ8WHLqvYW9DaWtJ8aXEm81GkWBwAg693jKum4ZM/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7N6eV9jjKAVWKaiQT77ao4nTD3ZpggEoFanYthiq3b3_IS4_7dQpirtIlIRR79gFj2hkaqpS94xinWKxTWaclXYOLlvLbUnAzfTNgZ8WHLqvYW9DaWtJ8aXEm81GkWBwAg693jKum4ZM/s200/IMG_0395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619204752155038162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9CULcig6RKRR2KHgJ5_uAcMM0fKB0C2Q5feimC9vto3mNZDgHEp7IEZfJ3_pIA2GCZiS7DlvksTDzjKzkvVvOYcVV3zaDxs3-V_Q7QvMwC2k9JqEAFJyTbmZf7-VSQS_BS5PaqeSP3g/s1600/IMG_0396.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9CULcig6RKRR2KHgJ5_uAcMM0fKB0C2Q5feimC9vto3mNZDgHEp7IEZfJ3_pIA2GCZiS7DlvksTDzjKzkvVvOYcVV3zaDxs3-V_Q7QvMwC2k9JqEAFJyTbmZf7-VSQS_BS5PaqeSP3g/s200/IMG_0396.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619204744207487154" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbJtPXary4yp3KkRpF2FXKxG4xGSMNUaYWYKDote-ilyngH3qEQcNIQIQBhmStPOJhH9jPXQswtu3tTMq-Q373NxpEcaA8JKceo_ORTlwnEiI0NFzzH9hB3ia7BnBbtVW5uTGogriwJg/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbJtPXary4yp3KkRpF2FXKxG4xGSMNUaYWYKDote-ilyngH3qEQcNIQIQBhmStPOJhH9jPXQswtu3tTMq-Q373NxpEcaA8JKceo_ORTlwnEiI0NFzzH9hB3ia7BnBbtVW5uTGogriwJg/s200/IMG_0392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619204730331818594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiEovlgEMAWJL3VPYkOCB2JH2ojmuXe_yBX2RqXaZ6Px6jvibp9inz0hAN3azNMx4uQFWsTCs0NQ5m7L_qIVnozXKAKd2485Tia126wkXqfpEaRF9QWwrCwYBOEeQAie3i8M6Kh-VycE/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiEovlgEMAWJL3VPYkOCB2JH2ojmuXe_yBX2RqXaZ6Px6jvibp9inz0hAN3azNMx4uQFWsTCs0NQ5m7L_qIVnozXKAKd2485Tia126wkXqfpEaRF9QWwrCwYBOEeQAie3i8M6Kh-VycE/s200/IMG_0386.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619204726778317026" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9EsfOaoyjJmsFLZR3XDUlYkGGr-9aURVu0F7e6MtSm7ShUgBactvgEzzMlMbUFwX-Lml4nmnkS8zOrlyrQMQQSxe7Gk4xL06FWractYezs_NRGUTn_KxXwatbDSDFs6YX6YZ2-xVnbo/s200/IMG_0436.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619579821047176386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-47582580541464716552011-05-15T14:57:00.006+02:002011-05-15T15:13:36.115+02:00A Walk in the Neighborhood<div>Wednesday evening I went on a walk through our neighborhood. Here are some of the things I saw:</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCUF41wEB70Yx1wsBs2mvE3JuqzNFDht1SsQxOhq9uiWsyBEEKRptfr91b__kXAHANnUTV-QFZVUYik7qah-X1LbnniXLkiHpXBtMgmg05g03psERPuSgrXTGnbIFiR5XZ5G73mKh3B8/s1600/IMG_0083.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCUF41wEB70Yx1wsBs2mvE3JuqzNFDht1SsQxOhq9uiWsyBEEKRptfr91b__kXAHANnUTV-QFZVUYik7qah-X1LbnniXLkiHpXBtMgmg05g03psERPuSgrXTGnbIFiR5XZ5G73mKh3B8/s200/IMG_0083.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927693674759170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYj_ik2AZgzkk1cWCnbxySE-ahi5EYwoC9Q9VH3eaSz_DcAdWEmnN1nWkirp3h26TTK5LNBAo6-CKklOaOYS6xZQZRmK-glV_yRHbkdm9Wlddrs5C8gwfzDyuZF1tZwlck8alE8qYCyw/s1600/IMG_0084.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 116px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYj_ik2AZgzkk1cWCnbxySE-ahi5EYwoC9Q9VH3eaSz_DcAdWEmnN1nWkirp3h26TTK5LNBAo6-CKklOaOYS6xZQZRmK-glV_yRHbkdm9Wlddrs5C8gwfzDyuZF1tZwlck8alE8qYCyw/s200/IMG_0084.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927686696622306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTkk4l8zPiSuwffPMIcNGeh2Y3TJ17tIVwX8W1_F5usbUDQ_wWTLlJNeNbATGbxF5Cm7_cMl1y9SoeI-w7ooYRcoiSFxqToGpKv8NHLkt1dBuOvxUsTJCwvKLOlOTCUFyQpM4qvCy5hA/s1600/IMG_0085.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTkk4l8zPiSuwffPMIcNGeh2Y3TJ17tIVwX8W1_F5usbUDQ_wWTLlJNeNbATGbxF5Cm7_cMl1y9SoeI-w7ooYRcoiSFxqToGpKv8NHLkt1dBuOvxUsTJCwvKLOlOTCUFyQpM4qvCy5hA/s200/IMG_0085.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927688406345410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDk4l7Hu7-SO7NXp6of1-3GXtt1y97-s4ARvEXby4EbVD4YxRLv4R_WDRf3x457mHjNOafwA1i_nXUBki2P5PK_xrOgOJJm6jdvBgOJVBQQysooQkjhsu2ChIqk8_L9lXwMXDKydOavak/s1600/IMG_0086.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDk4l7Hu7-SO7NXp6of1-3GXtt1y97-s4ARvEXby4EbVD4YxRLv4R_WDRf3x457mHjNOafwA1i_nXUBki2P5PK_xrOgOJJm6jdvBgOJVBQQysooQkjhsu2ChIqk8_L9lXwMXDKydOavak/s200/IMG_0086.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927682454255842" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5H4EK2WHI7c/Tc_PBGEmByI/AAAAAAAAAaY/0-60cFvIn7E/s1600/IMG_0087.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5H4EK2WHI7c/Tc_PBGEmByI/AAAAAAAAAaY/0-60cFvIn7E/s200/IMG_0087.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927678816257826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbNBLAZLYfPG0DTTY-tNo1y08sHs0K7r-jQPIuZqjsaJTS9FN3uMFPcjd5j3RYY2st80ZsAFC8p5_-ronLhSMzNrLnlwJv5TdKxNXMQsN-Ip3vGrjn9Tqo5JRbmKjNoHWqgAa1A7r7-k/s1600/IMG_0088.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbNBLAZLYfPG0DTTY-tNo1y08sHs0K7r-jQPIuZqjsaJTS9FN3uMFPcjd5j3RYY2st80ZsAFC8p5_-ronLhSMzNrLnlwJv5TdKxNXMQsN-Ip3vGrjn9Tqo5JRbmKjNoHWqgAa1A7r7-k/s200/IMG_0088.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927530941176066" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtUDYNI0DhrnWp6PMEOc1mMdL-QMtZiyg1l8ffGQNpVrEIjEl_4ntbExV6XfQXsUBtE-pNjPmOTgEkiySN1mDP8gZDRw8mTjvLlGlm1HoRqmOtt1xeraaUY4uRZMARCs6FBju7_WZj4M/s1600/IMG_0089.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtUDYNI0DhrnWp6PMEOc1mMdL-QMtZiyg1l8ffGQNpVrEIjEl_4ntbExV6XfQXsUBtE-pNjPmOTgEkiySN1mDP8gZDRw8mTjvLlGlm1HoRqmOtt1xeraaUY4uRZMARCs6FBju7_WZj4M/s200/IMG_0089.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927524857920242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpulu_lMBJIi5Gz4ltMjrns9D_NnlHbWM-3VK5wjDxo80mFh5DT6bSsKn0EUoYX455tOxL1kC7HhdsWOcMwt67huWTefOCT-OVdvmuqgBcKZgnBrlZ05et9WWrXCp2gA243zwBVQFeWFg/s1600/IMG_0090.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpulu_lMBJIi5Gz4ltMjrns9D_NnlHbWM-3VK5wjDxo80mFh5DT6bSsKn0EUoYX455tOxL1kC7HhdsWOcMwt67huWTefOCT-OVdvmuqgBcKZgnBrlZ05et9WWrXCp2gA243zwBVQFeWFg/s200/IMG_0090.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927521709126002" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NAzc2daKG7ucy3l8XOzyTNmn-ru9fZ41yTM5Ads2VG-QmzKNM2gqDJ38WXejXwyAqz6uqRjxgPXf6gP-JuUXfBCSyyBHFifaEVoWtbxG6Fd5CxbsP2G0z690J_o9kSGRCSfQbxb_8pA/s1600/IMG_0092.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NAzc2daKG7ucy3l8XOzyTNmn-ru9fZ41yTM5Ads2VG-QmzKNM2gqDJ38WXejXwyAqz6uqRjxgPXf6gP-JuUXfBCSyyBHFifaEVoWtbxG6Fd5CxbsP2G0z690J_o9kSGRCSfQbxb_8pA/s200/IMG_0092.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927220593391810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRch3SO5_PfFPLYgXpz3geH8fZ5ls-5N421dFvqXkkrU2xDkd-6z0V-P_JhYFqyPSndVfOGUo8oQXtP6M-JmrtAIAtSiG04rCjJntVYndc_hjrzuZ8g_BZof4UYVHqL2O3b2rvMwdBMxk/s1600/IMG_0093.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxmlNJMHlXrdX33v15vub8RnoOYB3qTXGomhGEcmgJcqKQ4FEM47yfMUbITLMaLoKEv7fPpRWnYbNemz0UV3yqX-8Z8BV2lsOVkK0G1uyL8GxqxvrumncOTWr33eC-vmhIBFeqDaYYSA/s200/IMG_0100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927009663654738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi2qn3TNyUmHgc-nI4HtAuZJRM7I4c0WCTise9zxlbOcj8PPM3HniBVEPF3SEovDAPgI3WIm0oNMAuNAUDRNMRqr1r008s2NWgvaKcsJJmkrcf9BNojOUJcLRiTXQWxgjY3WQm09j10w/s1600/IMG_0101.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi2qn3TNyUmHgc-nI4HtAuZJRM7I4c0WCTise9zxlbOcj8PPM3HniBVEPF3SEovDAPgI3WIm0oNMAuNAUDRNMRqr1r008s2NWgvaKcsJJmkrcf9BNojOUJcLRiTXQWxgjY3WQm09j10w/s200/IMG_0101.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606927003206223522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4ONZmpa0HcVvmPigqUUwDXQSNc8jvEO22dqJ8feye6oHP6K0JFPCRKRpTUqkVT7Tjw4eo82L8wwy8xApesY-8zQckOnpOoWTNsrgLGvLDH9PxTrCLJ5w1P7-6RZl5g0SOdmKoZn9uSE/s1600/IMG_0103.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4ONZmpa0HcVvmPigqUUwDXQSNc8jvEO22dqJ8feye6oHP6K0JFPCRKRpTUqkVT7Tjw4eo82L8wwy8xApesY-8zQckOnpOoWTNsrgLGvLDH9PxTrCLJ5w1P7-6RZl5g0SOdmKoZn9uSE/s200/IMG_0103.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606926787663741890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7rjron-PXMHCmNH-er7qGHv7DYxQn2gSVYixRDlUvPko8hghiZ5xENS-WVQENyBEuh1sN06FxQH-s-7qZ92DYOVR_yxY1WptHeSPw2tUtQzK-UsnRts7vdqYKUf7ZhFwLWT7pB5DRHI/s1600/IMG_0104.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7rjron-PXMHCmNH-er7qGHv7DYxQn2gSVYixRDlUvPko8hghiZ5xENS-WVQENyBEuh1sN06FxQH-s-7qZ92DYOVR_yxY1WptHeSPw2tUtQzK-UsnRts7vdqYKUf7ZhFwLWT7pB5DRHI/s200/IMG_0104.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606926783206061826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NOgkQ-4UTk3EIKOsglA11X57YCcTMai7jPez9Zavj_CyMVYshRQQdt8so_fc6jru34ditKB9y77JpX1QkUtzSDnekrsximURz3o8njWnzZKAjlK8U6k5mP0shkbP0WTpR_EB-TzbyDs/s1600/IMG_0105.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NOgkQ-4UTk3EIKOsglA11X57YCcTMai7jPez9Zavj_CyMVYshRQQdt8so_fc6jru34ditKB9y77JpX1QkUtzSDnekrsximURz3o8njWnzZKAjlK8U6k5mP0shkbP0WTpR_EB-TzbyDs/s200/IMG_0105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606926776090489202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYqL_RdLfEooZF8o3oMgbJ5h8i3KKEz9_v-yzqwwBgqvxHXfMHXhrlqLnhHyFy4gWlwtplW_LxK9KZ5demtOyJvKBWXw9UhNASqGbOMpi4OVhbNCL5V4bgOi_6N3nO-NwIo67BGZmN0w/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYqL_RdLfEooZF8o3oMgbJ5h8i3KKEz9_v-yzqwwBgqvxHXfMHXhrlqLnhHyFy4gWlwtplW_LxK9KZ5demtOyJvKBWXw9UhNASqGbOMpi4OVhbNCL5V4bgOi_6N3nO-NwIo67BGZmN0w/s200/IMG_0106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606926776873901874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Home, sweet home!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-33128210431435645512011-05-03T16:38:00.008+02:002011-05-05T20:26:55.141+02:00Teaching Pre School in Africa<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I accepted a job two months ago in Kigali as the Supervisor/Pre K teachers at First Impressions Day Care. </div><div>There are about 30 children at First Impressions and I have ten in my class. The children are from all over the world: Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Eritrea, Libya, Burundi, Holland, Bolivia, America, Korea and India. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMydH5b91_lxBY48WFN53IuyEYnP5w_fkDvyF4yWhAUZ5OE9brgNProvz30SYBjvXCdxRDhTPHagVys4YP07PpK_Fl94xtPeZdHZZo4Mwpxx5APBWiTrcSKQUfAEjIn2c3hfZi-A3p6E8/s200/IMG_2720.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603232350557232354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">My sweet class</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0sQFHlm1IeNUNjQC9IbxRrxSjNgAmOua4k8PbQ9bh5srT1wX7NxdlqxgHKUpyukjR9x2-eUnHgeO38YxVpVt6PKHo9iS3baIvh1Fk2ID7ef8hJTlpSyMCGfmFHMB6LxuAGd7ur1Xryw/s1600/IMG_5517.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0sQFHlm1IeNUNjQC9IbxRrxSjNgAmOua4k8PbQ9bh5srT1wX7NxdlqxgHKUpyukjR9x2-eUnHgeO38YxVpVt6PKHo9iS3baIvh1Fk2ID7ef8hJTlpSyMCGfmFHMB6LxuAGd7ur1Xryw/s200/IMG_5517.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603279642674302242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmtIPkhHZS8byitpLTeubJEAEU0BXuw5MNbpYoUlYoVZPqstEmmQBYPmHDzuCjXI9agQKFwcL12-Y87MDl9xsf2H2R4b_CAkCrNwlxc9NCqPz99SaXAQTCBjWDIXKyiHUV1mFs9YAoCE/s1600/IMG_5522.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmtIPkhHZS8byitpLTeubJEAEU0BXuw5MNbpYoUlYoVZPqstEmmQBYPmHDzuCjXI9agQKFwcL12-Y87MDl9xsf2H2R4b_CAkCrNwlxc9NCqPz99SaXAQTCBjWDIXKyiHUV1mFs9YAoCE/s200/IMG_5522.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603279635298887234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Rainy Season bulleton board (there are only two seasons: rainy and dry)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JdqI2up9wXzZ8MZ4toWGaNRgNmK_b00wtwXAWogUQMxsANlDlFKVQyCfvOqGNS-1M_tlmboTwCwnpoj8aZIISu5kC_zPsNVnVwskSQlglCC68tTgqE00PMtspy29-nRQn5iUbHZzIeo/s1600/IMG_5510.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JdqI2up9wXzZ8MZ4toWGaNRgNmK_b00wtwXAWogUQMxsANlDlFKVQyCfvOqGNS-1M_tlmboTwCwnpoj8aZIISu5kC_zPsNVnVwskSQlglCC68tTgqE00PMtspy29-nRQn5iUbHZzIeo/s200/IMG_5510.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603232354768011202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Reading Center </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DsFK8bQVfTPtRIHV7VCLy3trft6z1bfhX80ZkmSMub3Pr1I_u928kmGjBivpeVRO8yAO890wfIgtqKubquCrmcDMfFnIxz4BhiKDSl356bNhJpc3H03LLwHINK7VAAnD7yWbzyXUaw0/s1600/IMG_5508.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DsFK8bQVfTPtRIHV7VCLy3trft6z1bfhX80ZkmSMub3Pr1I_u928kmGjBivpeVRO8yAO890wfIgtqKubquCrmcDMfFnIxz4BhiKDSl356bNhJpc3H03LLwHINK7VAAnD7yWbzyXUaw0/s200/IMG_5508.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602511015240587234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Word Wall</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1pj2hWnh8JUC_jsaMbzFL1VjVewNzE313zkx6jiRSewRS1tXnJS-Y6Wxn3Fvm5CAQESzN1bFIjxqyhdE6TVw59VVwu7FB5hosK-1uCoB9H4IjPTBE7BhTn1xOr3413upjCdNuVslheI/s1600/IMG_5506.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1pj2hWnh8JUC_jsaMbzFL1VjVewNzE313zkx6jiRSewRS1tXnJS-Y6Wxn3Fvm5CAQESzN1bFIjxqyhdE6TVw59VVwu7FB5hosK-1uCoB9H4IjPTBE7BhTn1xOr3413upjCdNuVslheI/s200/IMG_5506.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602511010704831410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Class names and star student</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDB3vpyPgoVm6-yYevoKmqZbFWUgOgATRAPS19clUEbQ3HMQPQZ1puDQG39_YyMp69uoJwYaAxIE3Yu0I5o0Ua3AdlNv63PFX_55vNYTlntOu72n0Kmf45ZxNCChU8xcTuEJT-x-q3W4/s1600/IMG_5515.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDB3vpyPgoVm6-yYevoKmqZbFWUgOgATRAPS19clUEbQ3HMQPQZ1puDQG39_YyMp69uoJwYaAxIE3Yu0I5o0Ua3AdlNv63PFX_55vNYTlntOu72n0Kmf45ZxNCChU8xcTuEJT-x-q3W4/s200/IMG_5515.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603296339672568722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a>Rice Sensory Tub<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE-ctZQ3SBcuo5CzVOHxLblbcAowV3cLjr6EhGBqK0tkNQW_hgvj-uTH-bMyyNKe9S-YI5TlhKH-HYjMHIEoEXL68LIaZkP9tL7ePzl5KmSVBasT-rYUrS4at_gPKsHYy4ZjmNy4g878/s1600/IMG_5514.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE-ctZQ3SBcuo5CzVOHxLblbcAowV3cLjr6EhGBqK0tkNQW_hgvj-uTH-bMyyNKe9S-YI5TlhKH-HYjMHIEoEXL68LIaZkP9tL7ePzl5KmSVBasT-rYUrS4at_gPKsHYy4ZjmNy4g878/s200/IMG_5514.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603296338066734802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></a>Chicka Chicka Coconut Trees<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6EiLxDooVwrwYCSPYtzWgLj7SS5TIE8nV_n2Qa8SgKnWlQ-YyRoeGCWEMgHXJApzKouEkJubjnyhwXycpPa7UYgtfyUn5Gvbf63DX6mzsCO3EJ-vxK2tyrRoFM9kP4T8x9R2vxVUNQM/s1600/IMG_5507.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6EiLxDooVwrwYCSPYtzWgLj7SS5TIE8nV_n2Qa8SgKnWlQ-YyRoeGCWEMgHXJApzKouEkJubjnyhwXycpPa7UYgtfyUn5Gvbf63DX6mzsCO3EJ-vxK2tyrRoFM9kP4T8x9R2vxVUNQM/s200/IMG_5507.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603296331401160450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Calendar and behavior chart</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's amazing what you can do with paper, scissors and crayons! </div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-49677954408593401012011-04-04T15:51:00.009+02:002011-04-04T20:03:52.413+02:00Smile!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKScwGQcT79QUqwiWhhDe0mv53jQl2IGa0Jt1n24Yr9-B35Axyqi8O-g4JFD2ndNJmkHs1GDo6k19IpZFcHJuMabnQnm5hwsIgtfIJqK0KPTClU3KH41UTKr4vIgBsr1ZI6hODFXg5-zA/s1600/photo-13.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKScwGQcT79QUqwiWhhDe0mv53jQl2IGa0Jt1n24Yr9-B35Axyqi8O-g4JFD2ndNJmkHs1GDo6k19IpZFcHJuMabnQnm5hwsIgtfIJqK0KPTClU3KH41UTKr4vIgBsr1ZI6hODFXg5-zA/s200/photo-13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591727288913243746" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">JanViere is our house girl in Musanze. I have never met anyone who loves Jesus as much as JanViere. Her love for the Lord and for others just explodes from her body and soul. JanViere always has a smile on her face and e</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">veryone who meets her immediately loves her.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">JanViere is married to a wonderful man, Dameon. They have adopted two children who were both double orphans(they have lost both mother and father): Alice, age 19 and Olivier, age 7. JanViere once told me that "it is her duty and the duty of Rwandan's to take in those children with no parents." Alice is a relative of hers and she found Olivier sleeping outside the market. She woke him up and asked him if he had a family...he said no. JanViere invited him to be part of her family. She says that "Jesus took her right to where Olivier was sleeping." </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Since my return in January, JanViere has been complaining that her tooth was "sick". It was her front two teeth that were bothering her. One of the teeth was discolored. She was not able to drink or eat many foods because the pain was too much to handle. A few weeks ago, she came to Kigali to see a dentist. He told her that she would need a root canal and cavities filled.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We got her back to Kigali this morning to have the root canal. With her rosary around her neck, she sat down in the chair saying, "Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming!" The root canal was very successful but she also ended up needing two acrylic crowns put on the front two teeth. She sat in that chair like a champ for over two hours! I felt like a mom as I sat in the corner, reading my book and checking on the brave patient.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When everything was finished she looked at her new smile in the mirror and jumped out of the chair yelling, "Thank you! Thank you!" She was the happiest girl in the world with the brightest smile in all of Rwanda!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thanks to Kat for snapping these photos.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVw5v5Fepz9IHzgeAIq8xMDfyZohF2MfDggo9S_JxmF3kQLgf7SXWsDFPF8TBSVjcD8zwfXnoY62c9JQ0bu9vjPIvMJYzcB6CDD5DcFMWiLFcX9NDpMAlwhdbE8Yo2XsqEYBdsKey8u4/s200/photo-10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591727296445203634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjU6uD1eNL-CmFRalJscK1oCOeOQY4_0Czj3JjuakKXfRKy386iHeXiL3idaFQ1jj0wUu8VHmZ9325q-L7gcdHd-_11duyumJtepJL5KquuFZQuI7_O9eLkUrYTo6qT6cgCyb4biR_HU/s200/photo-9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591727299526637138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe6EYL4RGWKtPWkRJf4yW6QhDNF6dZFU7rvGWN9IPKYSKKfaB_jA9cSYqEca0d1yW3Poj38FelUeo3NyOgX7Iw4vQ40uZ6QfDUlvN2s9B-N2TKBaagfqVWXSJc73UAI3iJcsVdXHBt2E/s200/photo-8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591727293184771698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-73967486066830943652011-03-06T16:25:00.007+02:002011-03-06T21:18:19.428+02:00Sweet Diane<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGtjaDyttXnxZ5SGoy3PXj0eTxljFS5vY8vWUuVVRNDncxGssQkRRDHIavBWan_zAy6SxaYuqlnmt-694yefLdf300NQsyM8InBBx6w1c_gpyY86TvEk6EwhrQ2nedz8O5iHNNnd8FJE/s1600/IMG_4766.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGtjaDyttXnxZ5SGoy3PXj0eTxljFS5vY8vWUuVVRNDncxGssQkRRDHIavBWan_zAy6SxaYuqlnmt-694yefLdf300NQsyM8InBBx6w1c_gpyY86TvEk6EwhrQ2nedz8O5iHNNnd8FJE/s200/IMG_4766.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580985674820835058" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>About 7 weeks ago, I went to visit Diane in her home. Diane is a P1 student at Sonrise. As we were eating lunch (cooked potatoes, some kind of meat, green peas and a fanta) her mother and father were telling me why she has not been at school: over the Holidays, Diane became very ill and her parents had to spend a lot of money on her medical bills. This meant they couldn't afford to send her to Sonrise. As I was hearing this, my heart sank and I knew something had to be done to get this little girl back to her home away from home. I emailed some friends of mine in Fort Smith who immediately expressed interest in wanting to help. It costs $1200 to send a student to Sonrise for one year and within 7 days we had the money and Diane started school 3 days after that.<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div>Yesterday was Visiting Day at Sonrise. This happens 3 times a year and parents, relatives and friends come to campus to visit their children. As I walked into Primary, I saw a sea of faces hoping their parents have come to visit. For some this is a joyous day. For others, this is a very sad day. I noticed Diane among the sea of children with a sad expression on her face. I immediately got on my knees and wrapped my arms around her asking why she was so sad.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcIhOLBLbhi44XtgfC6rKhr0KH4NYnbPrLstYIAbmybt01nWO1yizBKLNSlm3iGDhkVoFpcDFjVIYoqm4H_SIS5D56PhqssyhDDWHSGkKC7jW9N2VrClda563sdl46IVfhEgDNP53t9o/s200/IMG_4762.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580985682496260194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>I gave her a big bear hug and she buried her face onto my shoulder. I didn't know if her parents would be able to make the journey to Sonrise so I told her I was her visitor. I made funny faces and kissed her cheek and this got a smile out of her. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsABxIHeIO47Tjsa6iV09ufu2zaWa57pkGShbB3Zez2PQj9EykiAraNSXCq_npm22xgLFJ6hvYKi09K6HOezVLenjbTfTqn0jjvrGsPuAWkF73uqEXhoElZgvprBaG7ndbV8kg5Dh3x8/s200/IMG_4765.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580985675353069282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><div>I took her by the hand and we walked together to greet the other children and families we were there to visit. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSGKOS825IZQbuv_7V7i-SI8yi8t5dkOAnGDaZcYmWzdZ09Z0Mm3Fb95ls2N7TErjeLkKfivPF8TydQaMzlgvslK42XBbyVu3GnbzK-pHJBlqH7g6EKQFfNTetT470OokIQjSRYklkJA/s200/IMG_4767.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580985669996252050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>A few hours after I had left Visiting Day, I received a call from Diane's teacher, Christine. Christine was asking where I was because Diane's parents were at Visiting Day wanting to greet me. I wasn't able to see them yesterday but I have a feeling that their excitement and love could have been felt all the way to Arkansas! </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM2-mSNQsGMTjvYlXrV-zWgr5ofddM1Nq27jxGpmUAx3WuDDBrck-qcWicRDgpwglzY4dtqlytj9fbpvvGS2Xu7uWCse4Z3JVdsvIJZwnuARGBz8nnOn8_NO6A_RSJQDY53LQvE3mNVY/s200/IMG_4771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580985662093508082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>Didier, Diane and I: All Arkansans at heart!</i></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This post is dedicated to the amazing individuals who sponsor Diane's education at Sonrise. I pray that one day you get the chance to meet this sweet, precious girl. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>On behalf of Diane and her family, thank you to: Rick and Jan Beauchamp, Martha and Vent Murphy, Hector and Kathreen Mendoza, Steve and Kyle Creekmore, Bob and Jan Cooper, Mike and Donna Stec, Kelsey and Chris Rogers, Linda and Henry Udouj, Candy and Neil Crow, Charlotte and Dudley Flanders, Carolyn and Breck Speed, Bob Cooper Jr., and Ricky Beauchamp. </i></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-3667171047201935452011-02-16T14:07:00.004+02:002011-02-16T22:45:52.091+02:00Red and yellow, black and white...<div style="text-align: left;">...we are precious in His sight.</div><p class="MsoNormal">I have been in Africa long enough to completely forget that my skin is white. The other day I was eating lunch with all my co-workers. They are all Rwandan or Ugandan. I was the only white girl in the room! It’s such an awesome feeling (especially coming from a country where the color of ones skin has played a major part in our history). We are not “American” or “Rwandan”. We are human…God’s children. We have only one creative creator.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A few days later, I was playing with some P1 and P2 students after lunch. Some of the new students have never had the chance to hang all over a white person. Well, I gave them that chance! I felt someone touching my foot and I looked down and a little girl was feeling the vein in my foot. My vein appears greenish-blue against my very white skin. Their veins are not visible against their dark skin. They love rubbing my arm and feeling my arm hair…they don’t have much arm hair and you certainly can’t see it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I showed them how I can push on my arm and a red spot briefly appears before vanishing. They thought it was magic. Some tried it on their arms with no success. Their black skin does not show the red marks like mine does. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">They LOVE touching my hair. It’s like I’m a rare unicorn when I let them touch my hair. I started flipping my head over and let my hair fall over their heads and they screamed in excitement. I would spin around as they watched the yellow blur fly past them. I haven’t heard so many giggles in a long time! I had to condition my locks two times after that day! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">My favorite white girl in Africa story includes Diane. One day she was holding my hand and started smelling my fingers, then smelling her fingers. It was precious. I knew exactly what she was doing: smelling to see if my skin smelled like hers. The mind of a 5 year old…amazing! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I really can’t put into words how awesome my life is. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblYA0h57tQd4f7-U0I_2qck-zEgdpYNni1gTnv1u96605bK-kumyKijlqgB9e3NyT249wLXiW0m11kEOsM2m9NnMm_VThYpmaGmQeF9LodE3FlRGr9NIH8zs7pdyk9ImPcv64GweSg7Q/s200/IMG_3199.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574259749804318866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>“Our true nationality is mankind.” –H.G. Wells</i></p> <!--EndFragment-->Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-39776577044117537122011-01-31T17:21:00.008+02:002011-01-31T21:29:14.625+02:00Didier's First Day of School<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsOMRrfJSq8TumiBavarIYffDCLe6YepnfcjmV4gBeg9OrjVlREj24VcIcs57Xc9y_-oNvb9dSGdr8KNI6aNQhUhG9X8j8yeyA2YsaUMYpOmM6QbLg_kMfbj5IeWlVT4v16V0UA8NQXc/s1600/DSC_0128.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsOMRrfJSq8TumiBavarIYffDCLe6YepnfcjmV4gBeg9OrjVlREj24VcIcs57Xc9y_-oNvb9dSGdr8KNI6aNQhUhG9X8j8yeyA2YsaUMYpOmM6QbLg_kMfbj5IeWlVT4v16V0UA8NQXc/s200/DSC_0128.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568380787808496898" /></a></div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Today was Didiers first day at Sonrise Primary. Yesterday afternoon, Tom, Christian, Joris, Jamie and I went to the village to get Didier. When we arrived, he came walking down the dirt road, backpack slung over his shoulders. He had very few school supplies with him. Fortunately, the day before, Joris (B2R intern and Sonrise graduate) and I went to the Musanze Market to get the school supplies we knew Didier would need. These supplies included vaseline, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, bedding, a blanket, shoes, soap and a bucket to bathe with. He was ready to go! Didier was so excited and eager to get in the car that he could hardly stand it! </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0vkhbSr02fv1XDZ1xI65UNkqkl0F-rsp9wlZHBVDm-yjTg7r4KoNAhox0CqGyIk-H_t668ve51FzzomcizxXOhWfjY0JANlGS9ZIjg-PeKKSRtn3Q8F5Pw9BzAKA5vDNaypdKV01iRM/s200/DSC_0189.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568387199076728978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Christian helping Didier.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">We stopped at our house to pick up his school supplies. Didier enjoyed a Fanta Citron on the front porch while Tom gave the new students a pep talk on starting a new year at school. Didier asked us what the big black box was in the corner of the room. We realized that this was his first time to see a television! I immediately turned on the t.v. and popped in a Leap Frog Learning DVD. He didn't quite know what to think by the colors and sounds. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGZhEFEvi0wtyhe962lGCR61OSCEM6L2szNVG5lH1C12HqCAaVwjxKWB10OCd4nZzezVa2GrgRfqOMgtaxwooQqhQZxQNF6C7QwCrdnpG7muR__HtANyH1OTkL6H3rUa4IEn2sz6ySwQ/s200/DSC_0216.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568387190305850674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px; " /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">First t.v. ever!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxinIOlOu9UnV6hQroatadU_1GpCedVzsuubu9uXhdMMBqSuJ9WhRIRaHHLcq6-asqSYX3TrKE_wnUu1cE9001bC8KtXF6Tm3C47hRdvyYsUGydJ6QB_HEA0ukjwJ6gc7275KFW5N4J8/s200/DSC_0206.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568387183128679698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal">When we reached Sonrise, we gathered Didier's items and carried them into the boys dorm. We were greeted by Didier's two older brothers: John Lambert and John Claude. They were so happy to be reunited with one another.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JyPAvmcD5ESl9Cy7UvODqkq4qXvevMo4lGxxfzLbPu74ROGNHQ2t2kw5JB8JOFQZ-4hZT3ASSSMMivcWf8TBHvHtoj5gTK-jScLFtAr0_bLskx7zniVY603a_P3sKMPqjzqDVoJ52ys/s200/DSC_0221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568387187080853618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">In the car heading to school</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Today I was thinking that seeing the t.v. may not have only been Didier's first time to experience something new. Last night, he most likely slept in a bed for the first time, covered with the warmth of his very own sheets and blankets. He woke up this morning and put on clean clothes and ate a breakfast of rolls and porridge. He attended class with a new notebook and pen. He met new friends that he will keep throughout his time at Sonrise. He will get three meals a day and meat once a week (most Rwandan's get meat once a year). </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPYfHFpd1v9Wv5Y_1SZawiL_Coj-nHBW31WbJ154PviCFnKKf0tDdnrcpn3_R_oeShR1Pm5uMcxlY2NrDuWrCUmY1z6sQW_QWVxfMt9CgZaicLzdsCaCgftlDh178QCMBPp-556nuIlY/s200/DSC_0129.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568380794615499458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I am honored and blessed that because of my parents, this child will get the education to change this country. Didier will have one of the top educations in Rwanda. I started thinking: I wonder what he will grow up and be...maybe a scientist who will find the cure for AIDS or a doctor who will save thousands of lives...the possibilities are now endless thanks to the education he will receive at Sonrise. But for now, he just gets to be a 6 year old little boy. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRyJhZhpHoT_qN2UiohRGsVuNZLFmkKM33ToB98_yoDznFfF9xJkNZAXsjS78PMw7nIm4GTMdte4uErmQRkglXh60ftF2_bRWe4Ios_envBXddGzjW8VYNxB6RZvA2qMpe_c2MflVK8Y/s200/DSC_0138.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568380797353629826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px; " /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;">Photos courtesy of Jamie Ankenbrandt.</span></span></span></div> <!--EndFragment-->Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-43288265396862988992011-01-25T17:15:00.004+02:002011-01-25T18:09:41.279+02:00One Week Back<div style="text-align: left;">I arrived in Rwanda last Monday night after spending 5 days in London with my mom. I looked at The University of London's Institute of Education masters program for Education, Gender and International Development. Loved it! I met with the Senior Lecturer for the program and the guy who helps all the international students.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM42u4iJb1Lpon5zk9i_aGFhdUF7WeOjviNZ3XhszV6_PxlAS_o7THtFlXU0c9xnZo2siFF_UXRHgJJ5wtNE9toZjzupuOaHRyBh9a5JUlj-yf58WodDoOhuhROPW8dOluXx9wHCSFT2k/s200/P1000841.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566155833754728626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Lynn Walker</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Rwanda is so lush and green as this rainy season comes to an end. The drive from Kigali to Musanze is as pretty as ever. I started work at Sonrise last Wednesday. Until I get my teaching assignment from the new headmistress, who is from Australia, I offered to start organizing the library. There are so many books in the work room! The Primary administration staff at Sonrise want to eventually see "Library Check-Out" on the students schedule...YAY!!!! So I have spent the past 3 days organizing, shelving and logging the books. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's so fun to see the new little ones at school. Some of the new P1 students are so little! They are precious and so sweet. Some of them have never been around a "Mzungu" so they hold my hand and touch my hair. I have a new P2 friend, Trengo, who is from Uganda. The first day, he came up to me and said, "Your bodyguard has arrived!" Now, he follows me around telling people he is my bodyguard! </div><div><br /></div><div>There was one little face I was searching for and I never found her...Diane. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTiGcdrTxR-Eek4C_NpyDLluX_WFI3Rc4jvlt0QouFGG_2vcFtPIvSzC-gmZg_ZYAZ9NzKi3vgykFQDMwqE_ztESTX4tqLahQ4KBF10emOPzy0V3fBYnE0jYj4-YZgul-C8FRB_OSSaI/s200/IMG_3967.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566152430258235794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><div>Diane was in P1 last year. Teacher Christine told me last Thursday that Diane became very sick over the holidays. So, on Saturday, Christine and I took a taxi bus to Diane's village to visit her. The drive was about 40 minutes and it cost 500 francs which is $1.00. We sat in their living room and talked with her mother and father. They fed us lunch: meat, potatoes and peas. We learned that they cannot afford to send Diane to Sonrise this year because they spent so much money on her medical bills. When I heard this news, my heart sank. I knew that I had to do something and that I had been brought to visit her for a reason. I am currently in the process of getting Diane a sponsorship for school this year. Since school started 3 weeks ago, I am trying to act fast! She is on the road to recovery and if we get the money we need, she can start school as soon as possible! </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday afternoon, Tom, Chris (Sonrise graduate and B2R intern) and I went to the village. I taught some of the kids "Doggie, Doggie, Where's Your Bone?" and "Heads Up 7 Up". It's extremely difficult to explain the rules to a large group of kids who don't speak much English but we managed! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYUot8EZ4O0aNmAF3glh9ufEftj5r6Q4yBVzCG2pAWlSJAoQMaJHFiaS0jX1gN-bgXfhYG3p6bSVZyBHAsj08bsjVniYkwHHlC_hhvEJ1qhtLL0lLIH1PHawVtr2SMBAu4lto3XMs05I/s1600/IMG_2675.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYUot8EZ4O0aNmAF3glh9ufEftj5r6Q4yBVzCG2pAWlSJAoQMaJHFiaS0jX1gN-bgXfhYG3p6bSVZyBHAsj08bsjVniYkwHHlC_hhvEJ1qhtLL0lLIH1PHawVtr2SMBAu4lto3XMs05I/s200/IMG_2675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566152438016005282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;font-size:medium;">"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." -Edward Everett Hale</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3atA_s6PWFlobhBaQIAvXsmxA82oXt4UMmdH1lS4ihmBfYI9nlo3ogaQkPzgSJQgg7Pj29NP7SUfHkgBjTTrjd68BypK-GJ2TfQjMVscd2E9vn3ruTeU0xVr2Pxe4xOBwHH3PxfaYiHM/s200/P1000850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566155842620325954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Lynn Walker</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-15113643220954153662010-12-18T22:48:00.010+02:002010-12-19T18:49:35.820+02:00Books!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7EIv07MTs2WwOlVqs61b9vE152jzZppPa3DXZmXVgSJrp_anDYCjY_3XgYWEPHFLHAabxYG3vyKiji73IlhcsTc8UXSMkW7cwGeOrQ2g_WYwD0UwiHTmxXV0EjmL0u0tEiMKUdElpe8/s1600/DSCN1027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7EIv07MTs2WwOlVqs61b9vE152jzZppPa3DXZmXVgSJrp_anDYCjY_3XgYWEPHFLHAabxYG3vyKiji73IlhcsTc8UXSMkW7cwGeOrQ2g_WYwD0UwiHTmxXV0EjmL0u0tEiMKUdElpe8/s200/DSCN1027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552128467422082754" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"There are many little ways to enlarge a child's world. Love of books is the best of all." </div><div style="text-align: center;">-Jacqueline Kennedy</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSO7W2IzbZJHD8lfM3Ge5zqdzT1ZJ33Xv5LLFTxmUYpUIex-2JHd4MLjS9ayf9eKf2-xB5atLPrc41DdBHgP9Nm-hv72Z4x8xlQTAZ0RoeOYZS3Aqz0-jwzADlzlqLAbGh1eJ-a7YIUBk/s200/IMG_3927.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552128470552197618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am trying to collect as many books as possible to take to Sonrise. Research shows that books are a vital instrument to a child's development and books are very important to children learning English as a second language. I am very excited and passionate about getting books into children's lives. I am hoping to start a school library at Sonrise Primary so that the students can check out books weekly. I am also wanting to put books in the classrooms and dormitories, both places that students spend almost all of their time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fort Smith women have jumped at the chance to help gather books. A few months ago, Kyle Creekmore and Mona Eads collected books at their birthday party instead of gifts. Kyle has about 300 books ready to be shipped to the land of a thousand hills. Last Thursday, Martha Murphy hosted a book party and we collected about 320 books for kids like John Lambert, Gloria, James, Sofie and all my other little ones. </div><div style="text-align: left;">In Tulsa, Kendall-Whittier Elementary collected three boxes of books and puzzles. I'm so fortunate to have their support!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks, mom, for letting me take over your house with books!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Murakoze cyane to everyone who gives love and support to the students at Sonrise. You are a blessing as you help us build the future of Rwanda!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQE7YaM7wa9CkUp08i3f4fGEc_Pui1lwnhf5hjfUG1wCahF8RuiHkH2esegCAHS2qbFJz_gGb1IOwj3sJzVcN6Mn7t0t6mtlPX_dfvylriD0dylnf4AogFMTlDIAvNVMWIuQRUFrb_AU/s200/IMG_3862.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552132586902095938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." -Dr. Seuss</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojHTnQ9P4Kr8dXt6mpU8M8YJSGfUIOUSa62oZD6uI2I0NwFlNWsXx0I4pqBY5Vw714YffgA5Jh_iNtvp3OwHLaOYx0yhUHoN5gKVtcBlBFKJbieY8JEkm3hgAW-ySH683Zx4zC_YyQq4/s200/IMG_3848.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552133225833713826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-29514936211688206022010-11-03T19:34:00.007+02:002010-11-03T21:34:08.193+02:00Baby Elizabeth<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3EbZs_0lY3VoAEaJd1-E-8k6QceZImXi2xbgNlLAvOixhkYo8w2fwFVwnz4Tib6HSQo2jXxVnAzMf0x8T0wEbBAGYkfI4tE_WP6uWFDw62ggKuTCQo-m1lpX4TuJD_YFdkY2b7ZDUls/s200/IMG_3978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535385426078988386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">In August, Pastor Celestine told me his wife had a baby girl. He asked me what they should name the child. I said, "Elizabeth. That is my name and it is also a strong name from the Bible." His other children are named Sara, Christine, Joseann, Ruth and Christian-all Biblical. His wife's name is Esther, which he gave her when they married. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Two weeks ago, Celestine told me that he and Esther had decided on the name Elizabeth! He also asked me if I would be Elizabeth's Godmother. </span></span>This afternoon, I was invited to their home to meet Elizabeth and have lunch. As soon as I arrived and greeted the family I held Elizabeth. She has curly dark brown hair and big brown eyes. She is beautiful just like the rest of the family. (The children are all beautiful!!) Esther prepared chips, rice and beans and Joseanne helped serve us. When lunch was over, Esther gave me a gift of a small gorilla. She said for me to share it with my friends and family in America since the gorillas are known in Rwanda. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div><br /></div><div>We went outside and took pictures of the family and some with Elizabeth and I. Next, we all prayed and Sara, Christian and Joseanne prayed in KinyaRwandan. I said a prayer in English and Celestine ended our time together with a final blessing. I am honored and blessed to be a part of Elizabeth's life!</div></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AZ_q34v9ghlVzXiUWbpo0V6QOoL60aH7c7RSZxZDDyJvb8kbLoFD6Ljm3_G77sGG45fuGx_TgG_hb1bj_D8yym-MIvFY1_dliPcCz3cQppAd2yVI4fbZSTaPeTlWU-P1DV9Oc8VWy4A/s200/IMG_3980.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535385435301204434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Celestine, Esther and Elizabeth</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrKnFWdh7UwflJ5wEe7RH44fahrfy0Eix5bgaAsH-4XyV5bge_EMMVYTcrzCee-dW1vhLSjeVVJeXqH64q9l812cFNXW3wUiTuxSc1qWuiQfvKSRH_-assQmxEd53EVfV5GPgeO6_gyE/s200/IMG_3991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535391101354934770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Sara, Betsy, Esther, Elizabeth, Christian</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Ruth, Christine and Joseanne</span></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNF_B3eXsTJFsMUNastZszgtZ1CNcnAzNMG7P5reXoLm1UaJq90vjeQONCWqiSJQHOuScveHOq5cKPDyYPqQcRGO_7HFs8ZXzVO5bj9aRklu2Zp9XMmGxSs0Iv0rXeJj_i6cyh4OIGGQ/s1600/IMG_4000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNF_B3eXsTJFsMUNastZszgtZ1CNcnAzNMG7P5reXoLm1UaJq90vjeQONCWqiSJQHOuScveHOq5cKPDyYPqQcRGO_7HFs8ZXzVO5bj9aRklu2Zp9XMmGxSs0Iv0rXeJj_i6cyh4OIGGQ/s200/IMG_4000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535391115295359234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mama Esther and both Elizabeth's</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHm1ux3lE8UFLpJ5sCdljqDzNcLZu1uc8867kpPJBkCNiKbb6g19PNSfkzkb237rhVxDdwl2SPn9Njrsq10xt17dRg_UcukMGllVTR4rczc-t593RuPrPcRM83GkkDloUHG0dc2yNrks/s1600/IMG_4002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHm1ux3lE8UFLpJ5sCdljqDzNcLZu1uc8867kpPJBkCNiKbb6g19PNSfkzkb237rhVxDdwl2SPn9Njrsq10xt17dRg_UcukMGllVTR4rczc-t593RuPrPcRM83GkkDloUHG0dc2yNrks/s200/IMG_4002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535391108702609410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The first born, Sara</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpSGg3NFstehE79Iyd61bcZkMCqTpzHZwxvYKgVlS1_wqhVndSH-O_hDRsk3X3CBBxbKGoBSe_FGG8wtDeZ2Fpt4WTZmfzF6Pp-VpVtfqrhfOJzOlLmEBvShRYRs-UhwCMMx4if_e3Rk/s1600/IMG_3982.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpSGg3NFstehE79Iyd61bcZkMCqTpzHZwxvYKgVlS1_wqhVndSH-O_hDRsk3X3CBBxbKGoBSe_FGG8wtDeZ2Fpt4WTZmfzF6Pp-VpVtfqrhfOJzOlLmEBvShRYRs-UhwCMMx4if_e3Rk/s200/IMG_3982.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535385443156240754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ruth, age 3</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-91728009814528846862010-10-24T09:18:00.022+02:002010-10-24T16:45:25.454+02:00A day on the water<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPntGhMJVnDu0ee_iA4BqDGdYPtDjItvRXlT0b9GRXxTyT0dhkv-FNRlbKysUJNbKIwtXWjbmgm7oMPHQLl8NqBzK9ms4HWydguC0llu9LLd7fSXJ3-sl90tMQwDugdVvBXBwwF2o0XQU/s1600/IMG_3788.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPntGhMJVnDu0ee_iA4BqDGdYPtDjItvRXlT0b9GRXxTyT0dhkv-FNRlbKysUJNbKIwtXWjbmgm7oMPHQLl8NqBzK9ms4HWydguC0llu9LLd7fSXJ3-sl90tMQwDugdVvBXBwwF2o0XQU/s200/IMG_3788.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531589747260885042" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday Tom, Blayne, Ronald, John Baptiste and I headed up to the village. We met at Christophe's house where we began our descent down the steep mountain to get to the shores of Lake Burera.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2IMphcX5NS3wHD_4pmH7-lhe0iA4eknzuYmWOam38rV29UfOh8WzubZLyA9wocL_itVClghnT4ou2Qf6Lm077Dm36QGjMah7LZiMeopi-hW0pqKtCAFNBFm_GMyostdm8vl7DOptdNc/s200/IMG_3559.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531544621641497266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Our village family!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh981isfUSUhBFvXd5iO3dmsgUD3r3NwYvGJxnW9fwdMlKPGBGtZCiRPSi1jczTP3F2eCcm0qZkRckD-sEnFy9kTwxyeFyZbD1n30bP4Nr3oJFc6W6xn3ZX9-Vw2JwmBsYgvL5-NegYyOA/s200/IMG_3561.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531544621781282194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bernard in his new pink shirt!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolr3zpEh3TXDaV7P6Lmj8Pk8aOBz_5QecaHGWU5aChik47LWpez4MX0G0O5jARF88Frndcq2IkIJQtZP0k1GE5xcIlatX29KOdlMd0aeV-j_BIBpeMj2aFRuLug4dnRLvDJtvmxlxreU/s200/IMG_3552.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531544615806165474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Baby carrying baby. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyN2dCLAtORpmlgfIIxLUM3iCxjoATwyEuOgD9UcXR49fwZH6_mX2WjtXE-SRa0Ksv6u6NQ4wx_R-hxhlERYI2-ZFyNlA7lA2lW5Q2ViKEDnsSU2mTJxG_r2eDjbpzKWyTocDBpwGpnk/s200/IMG_3586.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531544625547778082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Walking down the mountain singing, "I am a soldier...because of education!" The kids all helped me because I kept falling. They would say, "Sorry! Sorry!" as I would be laughing at myself.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnqJHPJPcn-voBm7rxCq1SmgnDWvd1hyphenhyphentw3zgEcViZNUPxqKoEE8H9ClOpct9u7QVZlF-9wc4Ugqyqz7tD5SacmSVXoJ0mosLTuswhRcR71dUHdg31GK-sjffwIdTJGb2UqqIASwYqpo/s1600/IMG_3589.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnqJHPJPcn-voBm7rxCq1SmgnDWvd1hyphenhyphentw3zgEcViZNUPxqKoEE8H9ClOpct9u7QVZlF-9wc4Ugqyqz7tD5SacmSVXoJ0mosLTuswhRcR71dUHdg31GK-sjffwIdTJGb2UqqIASwYqpo/s200/IMG_3589.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531544630929301842" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">On the wooden boat about to cross the lake to go to the island. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxG5ar_ti8VdHRLbFAxbrWymapPEXdoW3FIYVzCrgkZOqcpGQ8XQLsxDDd8UHQy1F3tG1lLCA1Rb-_LmK6RKt_ZdOBW2Gmm_D1LNeF3FOiFN8Ake_xUN46FFEIVHAAMIR9BPxLvhR0X0/s200/IMG_3591.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531550735492976738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christophe and John Baptise on the boat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8UW2splOjWsCuvctAxLRr7OvWTA2IHRshEY6R_hKGwejxybXHMD7tLDaRxuo5bDT7DacTQ5ErzW4eUk98XfMQXMy52eqZofsS2aS-msqKlVVM5NJ2lFMft0YoM4c_VuqFecMB8oOJUA/s1600/IMG_3596.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8UW2splOjWsCuvctAxLRr7OvWTA2IHRshEY6R_hKGwejxybXHMD7tLDaRxuo5bDT7DacTQ5ErzW4eUk98XfMQXMy52eqZofsS2aS-msqKlVVM5NJ2lFMft0YoM4c_VuqFecMB8oOJUA/s200/IMG_3596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531550742502753778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9fZKPHrtLeY2-jqaMj24tS4jJ_fgE-4xFLbHqz38J3FnJhdkYzhl9YyhSPb69FR_uBKF4KGca4HX7spgyZNleEEMkjw2j1joYyCOvVG14lb7NtYcOSTMPGKpZz1aRf8qpJRSyXPf-C4/s200/IMG_3602.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531550754789607186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A view of the village from the lake.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8N58_Ih7pjRV61yIKL4MlVSvoKz8xnEVJ7Evscrth65Q8b2si-wgX5Ba4XUdUxpmIlLSq6wLlF75Bo2dqfNF23WP74vLDckTjviL2qh0wzCk8JMrX57y9JBTC0V5p2yWOcbNrkvb0GQ/s200/IMG_3617.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531550757799723202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A woman and her child in their canoe made from a tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsH_6QcZUoZghUeJYDueGbpmTyeTpaFiHgygPIopsV5m-eStqxsGzIjbcoauLvbZif8yNS2XzkRjE9c9F16tXa-wzDUaiMY8CpWKgZ9QlgH8PN0Z4Mctw95dYLZ5ZbVzIFqtUQGJ_x0wk/s200/IMG_3642.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531550761833109922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Muhurabura Volcano</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZiIkDxqZ2IsDF5kYcgJCA53rDVkwqWuGXs5sEG7qVVkXOaqMMXupmgHpR2_gBnW3U1Hy9A1VEsBiMRWG85aaapaZtLcAjYdu1OzVjtGMwkPAQmJDHStii_imta7CTFhAHK7TshbbXh0/s200/IMG_3800.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531589750479620738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The Island and a rainbow.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzvp6hKqQO09IVgU6YXljEggGboaSnFEaL-h0ZF4i3llOf5P2lrtWVvY_ugUIwlbMcjRoePLHnEH71xUPZKXXDLR_vz1wyNCj3Yzko6FQ31JAqyPywUB32pNB2DUCCVEgGUxLqaRIiqQ/s200/IMG_3653.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531560869046974770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Christophe and I on top of the island.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVnJ5jaEcYMoJs8W-u12oEzLZ52RCa-X6YYJJorLSZcR9D6n5DatT7OUD5hSo-9a-2Py2Pt-g4J3_q6jS7pwCwqtXYbY5opRT2_vfT8azRSNn3HUw6kbGWbiwgyFpduPW6M36cwFBaw4/s200/IMG_3661.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531560875491880242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">200 people used to live on the island. Now there are 18. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CDlO_3C7PI7WxKsIkMzrLGQ_bXgQ9ZN-Hzceee8Bpz785IVsLzeaNaaRRMfSBPhVP2zlk3BWhqnV5tFSDta5yKyc1lqRCI2gQgR2Gql3mHVDAwCV0oppVY1oZi8jgWS73NXBUHo2MF4/s200/IMG_3662.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531560881786227586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gnTdyK9-9dRC2bCED5ineUvUZ_Qt_o1jFZ-40eILT0tvCSK5Mafg67cebBAATdgaAqR2LJs4G_SasvKn7lBHoyvee86LZ7Uu3rLNiXu8UefkotnUNNuPj8jusE7VGdPN7WHOIfGheDQ/s200/IMG_3664.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531560884307635954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">That face holds so many stories.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHwxZuzbLdy3ZVlrxUmoGSNe3HETqtPsR6q0OgQhwMLSw8_QjRqSOz4kQAOfJU7CaK1klgd1E4JepHLFJR8Tx6n8hkO0ALlJ-jY2o648AFUgot88XzxsYwKg4XRxF35uzdN4NFn-OVBA/s200/IMG_3671.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531575615965783170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjc6unznOu-QomnFQnMpF53NSdM-c0V5bc_r2SjiDZSnHUoALe2b83JahqsWKHx41tUGnIjxxpkR-SIxzJppLbFl6_NHmhyrC_997NKknIBHHPphOji9B5K4LrgGOXuG8vUSo1LlLr26k/s200/IMG_3676.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531575622353331314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Arkansas River Valley kids</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMzsqCfSLD_Vd-iIA3VgF_j9qWSl1iaR3wpOp8nidqM3WQ3KgHyDTxrP_FS4xSBZIIf5ZpVOKd4WSwDh0uPWMqSqF08RWhW6_9quwHUjo0QOFWwA0euiNz4zpTd9NRNhyphenhyphenQNfFY3KPsEw/s200/IMG_3684.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531575627849324306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Family portrait.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZZzS2m7ucnmyzoZiRWEQwMRdAmirn9xbFYp67F3gh2L7I9Pr9z__WzFjcsBYRrOgbrYrQ27V7_WHlTVU_ZLiN7DqkTdL_D7bZHq6MIYIIGwTTEWQZrRrG6ZjVtPV6gkwDQH6olBNpwQ/s200/IMG_3692.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531575628828706066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKczH_rRaqSFANIQPMblMBZNnrbwKmtYKJvUpFustmaG8poEltjolLCGe6oqh5eVDGKxN1sbyXnmaWnd3llYLQ36sQk-RbkeGrKZmXK9odVdx2q48srw7cSal_VRkuPdrQlXHWXLBJ-JY/s200/IMG_3703.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531575635230144274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiCMDGmxJiTqa2hDzORfdTprhb23PCkcvBsTDXt7lWbmgIJ1O3gxEJUb_rgbbuXsQjHuYNbKhI90RXDiCm5TnkqisBDqyebuh7se_pPkhfyE_DyL8G8Yk-Nk3y8DWmtXkST4rXhn9Oi8/s200/IMG_3726.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531582301552736018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IXBuPpRzFoYQz0XnuG5dQiY0Z2Ot7Vxo-xhoUiBSxZ7ncIavSuleyMo_vEVupzpyptTDwMJFgFYwQALJVNyf8lu961TmHpQE50jz2A_w1Qnf6SGj9GJs1Qyx02Ze9B9FuBnwgEKMSDM/s200/IMG_3733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531582306738422978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Children of the island. The boy in the middle wearing the yellow shirt is in charge of taking the children by boat to school and home every day. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5lZ0kOTRi6siBeBa9cOFukHNNcfe7Mdfw7yI6PmkVfNc1hmN1ffH3zD6-0mIeOKOWNigpnVJkBDlrPTq-hGRr7UxwkAgedwUZtPk-2CyeWXTc0cT8VzUopuMF8ohcclVDlUkJdRn-Yo/s200/IMG_3737.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531582314759987986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dreaming about kayaking and camping...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6lj7qqijT6NNcKsbzjKyXWeZ-LQkNIbutkMberQQfHsJVY5pCSBjq_Wz5vnpaQQ6eQ9wGErvXw7aeMdQrmJrl1K0WItVSwRia3yE5k0Zu9tP0eRiSBMvZHXp84US5dmPyBAf0XcG8sg/s200/IMG_3749.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531582317771789154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Our trusty boat which we had to scoop the water out of.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHCKYQztKRa8PaMk8KiDzeJC4gdI5G7s7Fvz_rh3UJgpspQmT5Wy7TDGceqJ6WIaB0DfZkQZ11koGaY3LHedfbSozl348joK4z3c3m0_jhn0zLO-_EJBj5e39LibccndsehFYChGmQl8/s1600/IMG_3774.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHCKYQztKRa8PaMk8KiDzeJC4gdI5G7s7Fvz_rh3UJgpspQmT5Wy7TDGceqJ6WIaB0DfZkQZ11koGaY3LHedfbSozl348joK4z3c3m0_jhn0zLO-_EJBj5e39LibccndsehFYChGmQl8/s200/IMG_3774.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531582322537436914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrW5XfsjSamqghavqaRGwbZarq7hJtxsgyjiwUBAq8vjwB-2ZB52Z5t0h81JjvxwQFksSj3ApyrvQkSpWSq8m5EMw3qutnH35GIJJBNGa1NbnYRcx5boXkTi3_hzj0WHR2rwJk3ge3uk/s200/IMG_3786.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531589734288800018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt0oC5LbUlu2HzFb1KBMzD6yTq9H-07rZzFVBt1i6p4oSCaJXR-wMfvuQsycn2fuOr0XXxcAG6lsJEvJypD1UFrSlBAaVQqi7lDcE5L3kIyICaZ6GSr4MIaq2ikK65X936kRjBsEvfC4/s200/IMG_3776.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531589726265938338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcRI8MKVkPaCiBYaP57t5uQLPm0I6OahfwwhmPQknho0dTZeF8xq_u-4me2LbxqvrOEibBSmxDcFavXklswimwwIB95uQI8-AVUuqTSmEwghCkSDN_JkI_YTbpWU4jUK3l9FNPX68V8o/s200/IMG_3781.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531589729138947298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The climb back up the mountain to the village. Christophe referred to me as his daughter and helped me up the steep and slippery rocks. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOka1Y0yyjtVj4QxvujcbmcF0lZ8chCKjbIewSds_9XMSroT8tfsAAq96U4fRth6jIfEKcdVmc89U0zbsDiNxqaGpTDf9N3oFxrNADA7YTkMNiBr52J2Dwgbx2GYaUSX7jc6hc52ueJI/s200/IMG_3811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531620044785913650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6sYZPX-_OGNBnLvTDojNlPL6J3oPDy1gjQGEmRCIgOzLidLa1UEdfMyt9RzG6CV31cT_E4nVRKFH9DrpZRGb_BepVnE65iNDSG6tdwXBY7-Q3zx3iKqMb4PjguV-U3lR0w8VS4yyK3U/s200/IMG_3805.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531620030082161426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our friends waiting for us to get back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKSTWbfP4LopBxBRxQAlUU3W1sfXAjUUmBg9gRKNWv6X6QpVmNwEgY0qbOJbTgSwbMqVlcUrQv10e7fpXdUQGjJ7uXuidggt1Kgf4xQDzj3P0yZQpU8o1m0KxAdhDHhv9drOnKHdqrPA/s200/IMG_3807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531620038574626290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-78352321239454089992010-10-12T20:18:00.040+02:002010-10-15T17:48:00.710+02:00Amazi...Maji...Mazzi...Water<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“Water is life, and because we have no water, life is miserable.”</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- a voice from Kenya</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmv_eIi2B-f6VuBlzk-LJ3Mbyfqmygy91JVY5V8p1F62cVXZsqwh4ATxpxyvnye-52xEyXx6-r8NFOTFBR7zCT954w0qiYIeGyAwuj5_Q6wX5D9C7e45c48dWrhZp7I2Zz-mMZMht1q18/s200/IMG_2843.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528197207111294338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Today is Blog Action Day 2010 (</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; "><a href="http://blogactionday.change.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">blogactionday.change.org</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and the topic is water. 1 Billion people do not have access to clean drinking water...that is 1 in 8 of us. This can lead to many challenges in a persons every day life. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">5 million people die every year from water-related illnesses. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There are about 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unsanitary living conditions. 90% of these deaths are to children under 5 years old. These 4,000 water related deaths per day are the biggest killer of young children taking more lives than malaria, HIV/AIDS and measles. At any point, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by people suffering from a water-based illness. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwJjIizEt3ycDV-NpLoDkVyRoxg_XLVecrAgfdZUYttOxy0BaevYLjiogNUpLq8iArHJhLjy6-iSwWfmIy-ABFp_TwnmondxgM1d55tFnN3K6mmnf23D9OZkyBKIl28zLQqsRFF4BTFs/s200/IMG_3251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528187015316641138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In Africa, women and children are typically in charge of collecting the water. More than 40 billion hours are spent a year just walking for water. Most of the sources are miles away which prevents the women from holding a job and the children from attending school. To make matters worse, the water that they spend all day collecting will most likely make them sick. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Around 1.8 million of the water-related deaths are because of diarrhoea. This lack of water and sanitation causes a parasitic disease called schistosomiasis. This disease is caused by a worm found in irrigation ditches and river/lake water that has been urinated or defecated in. Schistosomiasis causes 280,000 deaths to 88 million children under the age of 15 per year. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> This causes them to miss school due to illness and a total of 443 million school days each year are missed by children due to diseases. Attending to the family's water needs leaves little time for education which is vital to changing the future of developing countries.</span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmxCCt-1Xb-JQNZI8g_ED7KgUnGkCFlDt6zZlNRl1_Hw0iucCtc_lyXXz1JT0tZxv-9pBW3thW1NILf_-JSw9r74soLTiOjFKVIV1AAFK1UWullmAVoC-OdtU_2HjsMbju16ZU-YissI/s1600/IMG_3532.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmxCCt-1Xb-JQNZI8g_ED7KgUnGkCFlDt6zZlNRl1_Hw0iucCtc_lyXXz1JT0tZxv-9pBW3thW1NILf_-JSw9r74soLTiOjFKVIV1AAFK1UWullmAVoC-OdtU_2HjsMbju16ZU-YissI/s200/IMG_3532.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527468929036084066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 200px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The jerry cans that they carry weigh about 40 pounds. Imagine an 80 pound child carrying 40 pounds of water at least 3 miles per day. I have attempted to help a child carry their water jug and I hate to admit it, but it was extremely heavy and I wasn't able to carry it that far. Imagine again a woman with a child on her back, a 40 pound jerry can of water on her head and bunches of banana's under her arms for hours.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Different organizations are committed to building safe water wells closer to villages. This way, children can pursue their education instead of spending 6 hours en route to the clean well and women have more time to pursue opportunities to improve the quality of life of their family. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"We are also working to empower women around the world, because women who gain access to sanitation, who are freed from the burden of walking for hours each day just to locate and carry water, will find it easier to invest time and energy in their families and communities." U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said last March at the National Geographic Society for World Water Day. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-zNTvRwlacuQTd5ybCyEENnKqhSdGMRQdqKCT4E_x-uwGqUPVKfzlYg_j3kJy6BU-mbHUHhIh5uWoJh-IDfgCRvQ4KUGs2Ve7MXciuQIPs2-j4rsKhwaUnwDFpcp1657AmDykBgTzUw/s200/190.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527470125645342050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#252525;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#252525;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The world's water crisis is something that we can all work together, around the world, to tackle. There is no reason why children are dying each day because they are thirsty or why a woman cannot get a quality education because she spends her whole day walking to and from a water well.</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Most of this information was found on the following websites. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For more information and ways to help, go to:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.charitywater.org/whywater</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.endwaterpoverty.org/the_issue</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.stopchildpoverty.org/learn/bigpicture/health/water.php</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.unicef.org/support/index.html</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.blogactionday.change.org</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4Hg7Vl_Y0wAb8Ft33wCAdhpW0Yl_npFsg34J0khCa8e3Z7vRXCgtAS7OM_7nYVzuHafN27dfU23HPByU5knBAuWvJydkTnD17m2rCDEY4oXkVnxtWCPUv7_Xu4pbrqeF1XJ5TUWdE1I/s200/IMG_3059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528185251294657586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“What if there are children who will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God? What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere in the world his or her life?”</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Richard Stearns</span></span></span></div></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-47748478568528366152010-09-15T10:36:00.010+02:002010-09-15T21:30:55.852+02:00Sponges<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQkuq7ZtILNbRNQQfF-t_ANJIX2kpKvicnfpj05T_toFKTrk_MlQoFEWllEy900VY_TyBuz3pWv7zGx_mB87E7KPnZeLzuDWkLUun0aVdilJDbNS4ix-q7vfk_nN6FgwuTLUeOc4wEeg/s1600/IMG_3019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQkuq7ZtILNbRNQQfF-t_ANJIX2kpKvicnfpj05T_toFKTrk_MlQoFEWllEy900VY_TyBuz3pWv7zGx_mB87E7KPnZeLzuDWkLUun0aVdilJDbNS4ix-q7vfk_nN6FgwuTLUeOc4wEeg/s200/IMG_3019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517224671618720482" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;font-size:medium;">"Education is not filling a pail but the lighting of a fire." -William Butler Yeats</span></div><div><br /></div>I am sitting at Sonrise as I write this post. It is a beautiful day with a little chill in the air. I look out and see the great Rwandan hills in the distance. The rainy season has begun so everything is turning green. There is beauty everywhere.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpuBxZ3yx5gIGRVpzublPbxZ9Ic7vE-rQa2jWcfVD1vlZUf4UOmYhzYDaHDrg-qxyoaXL8DcqWJQEo2kobsjDJF9WvkjQtc_cptpqiKo3WLEfByYSUse9ZJ7SPCBWrTKqfyYJTh19vuk/s200/IMG_2819.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517219024220487618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><div><br /></div><div>I started teaching English on Monday to P1 students. The kids are ages 5, 6, 7, and 8-all in one class. Instead of their hour rest time they will come to me for English. Since it's the end of the year, none of them sleep anymore (except for the little girl in class yesterday!). I teach P1 A on Monday and Wednesday and P1 B on Tuesday and Thursday. P1 B has the youngest kids in the school who know the least amount of English. Their minds are like sponges. They are so eager to soak up everything I teach. We have been reading a book called, "Handa's Surprise". It is about a little African girl who is taking fruit to her friend and along the way different animals eat the fruit. The kids LOVE it! They love when I read books to them and shout out the animal names with every page. This is something no one does for them. They didn't grow up with a house full of books and there aren't even books in their classroom. I have been handing out books during the 2 hour lunch break and they are read all around the school yard. They soak up every picture, word and letter on every page. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am also teaching Music and P.E. to P1 and P2. I have no musical background! I am teaching them different types of songs: silly songs, simple songs, songs about Jesus and many others. I can't carry a tune to save my life but for some reason they love when I sing to them. Teaching music is giving me a chance to bring out the creative side of the kids. They don't get much of a chance to use their imagination so I encourage them to draw a picture of whatever they like or get up and dance and go crazy as we listen to music. They really like listening to The Wiggles and Raffi from my laptop. P.E. has been a bit of a challenge. Usually their P.E. class is dividing up girls and boys and playing football (soccer) and that is all. They have a hard time understanding me so explaining games is difficult. I have taught them games such as Chicken, Chicken, Cow (our version of Duck, Duck, Goose) and a ball game named, Flinch. "Doggy Doggy Where's Your Bone" has become an instant favorite! </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIs5TWR6ga4ACj0R4e7SgjIS5XFpr_ES8hUquKHkd7IEDY_mlFOaY0WId22NhhKa4OSilMn-UTRpDA3NZ3IMVixuCB7TAyLVf1N0BcxsumEbA8Yp2amxNA1t9g0LGT4KuxnWZukhECMFI/s200/Photo+on+2010-09-14+at+13.54+%233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517220622117139698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I have also taught them to walk in a straight line to P.E. by giving themselves a hug and catching a bubble in their mouth. The other teachers look at me in amazement wondering how I got 40 students to walk in a straight line being quiet. It's something that just isn't done here. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtqT-aK9ekpURll7blHUC24sd_Kl_vd6IYio_kCQBduvlXNnH2F1Ys2X8k5wMo8Lm19BNcJZ1b6DraWbL4z0N_123HeCSMr8UnqS-CovEfZk3zDaf-q-qcKghoVk8WK04kZgQcXl0cFk/s200/IMG_2994.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517224680881443362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Everyday I get loads of hugs from the sweet little kids. They smile when they see me and I smile even bigger when I see them. They know that when they see my red and orange teacher bag that I have something fun inside just for them. These kids are the future of Rwanda. They will be the leaders of these green rolling hills and breathtaking sunsets. I am honored to be their teacher and love watching as they absorb everything I share with them.</div></div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Children are the world's most valuable resource and it's best hope for the future." </div><div style="text-align: center;">-John Fitzgerald Kennedy</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vHAA7o-RowgB68U85l54Z8c3Qlx7PnBQCVM_A2wKkwPWJgP8aFg-JKmorFCp_RIbcmTm1EhdgjdavI5M2J5JhcjGTAr82O_JZ-Fao0UTQVTSi5Wgxz6gWcOzyJUO2-AUQ9P0HwKUTEk/s1600/IMG_3076.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vHAA7o-RowgB68U85l54Z8c3Qlx7PnBQCVM_A2wKkwPWJgP8aFg-JKmorFCp_RIbcmTm1EhdgjdavI5M2J5JhcjGTAr82O_JZ-Fao0UTQVTSi5Wgxz6gWcOzyJUO2-AUQ9P0HwKUTEk/s200/IMG_3076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517219026487233730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-37263434031873014852010-09-05T15:09:00.018+02:002010-09-05T21:38:02.193+02:00Make Your Mark<div style="text-align: left;">I finally met Bishop John! I told him how wonderful I thought Sonrise was and how I love everything about it: the teachers, the students, the school...everything! He thanked me and said, "Make your mark here in Rwanda." I have been thinking about these words and how God is using me to make my mark in Rwanda. What is more powerful is that God is using Rwanda to make a mark on me. I have been here one month and my life will never be the same as it was one month ago. Here are some things Rwanda has shown me in the last month:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gg8dpIlmZqpYQoEs7JFL2nHPqNp4PwZt-byxa-PvBtfV1P7kWcVzrg9WobqaNXWbR4xuEXgqwjJk5d4SsGh-BRk5EvHYRZkWv67wd-A8gg0_e_hWlD4xim92XjAvbYIuYrysfg3hNNE/s200/IMG_2702.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513426862332238882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>-The Genocide Memorial in Kigali. It was very heartbreaking and the room dedicated to the children shattered me.</div><div>-The Presidential Election. President Paul Kagame was re-elected. That night, we went to the stadium hoping to hear his election speech. I took an ambien by accident before we went and was pretty out of it. We left before he spoke which wasn't until 3:30am.</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2U_-cpv3StmgODnZ34Qi40Wx7FYY2tl7zbAneZW60Kd8UfvsZBik6RqZhgPaIPUPqlGoZQftCtM_qaXEyJ9DSfAklJI_OfqidHX90ALp9hBnWn7GZKnbDWB5eVwCbslHuTGwkK1CxlQ/s1600/IMG_0024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2U_-cpv3StmgODnZ34Qi40Wx7FYY2tl7zbAneZW60Kd8UfvsZBik6RqZhgPaIPUPqlGoZQftCtM_qaXEyJ9DSfAklJI_OfqidHX90ALp9hBnWn7GZKnbDWB5eVwCbslHuTGwkK1CxlQ/s200/IMG_0024.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513419381485105042" /></a><div>-Visiting the beautiful children who attend Mwiko school. The village is located on a moun</div><div>tain between two lakes...it's breathtaking! We met some amazing children and adults. It's one of my favorite places in Rwanda. </div><div>-The first day of a new job. Sonrise is better than what I imagined it being! The teachers are supportive of one another and I have found myself in yet another great family! Every morning I share tea with my friend, Betty. I am currently teaching Religious Education, PE and Music to P1, P2, and P3. Language has been a small issue but I have figured out how to work around it!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3G4EEsC0i9Q4BU4I70qDQHuZq8J_Zjh9EsSCdh3DSE-80rv5luoEy6_b9iblMkLFVNAa66RUWruJwY82VZ4vpWUcxM6i5DvIq70IpQ1Cb6_xw7kdFpeZ9jH_y_HEpmCv1VB7QJaUziM/s200/IMG_2978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513421750923542946" /><div><br /></div><div>-Being the only blonde haired, blue eyed girl almost everywhere I go (unless I'm with Anna!). I am the only "Muzungu" or "foreigner" at Sonrise Primary. Somedays, however, I forget that I'm a little white girl from Arkansas.</div><div>-Letting a child use her imagination to draw a picture of whatever she chooses with whatever color of crayon she would like. </div><div>-Watching wide-eyed students hold a children's book for the first time and flip the pages while being enamored by the colorful pictures. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAjh3unEk88Jw40_mywtKeQI5hrZVNUOeZve5Ber_U_Tvzvbyhr9rgYdAR0UlXXnFDKdv1A-buw-SWbfqRbLI82QL_njDluBoatuOJRHiZs-s6vYVp4qh45OGKOSU6N1G3_edqarrmhg/s200/IMG_3026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513473091323293554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>-My first church experience at Sonrise Chapel with the students of Primary. It was so sweet and their singing was precious.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMy8RhhCMxlPnTV9OqOV5b-2G2sJYu3W1hpC7jER7lna8IZXo43cCyccu7CvGn0JL3zfYlAiLlQUDeaKoUx21XwOflgftKxUvLitDh03Yaiyo2qV-tUA1MfC-7MHg7KE2FMErzfWCeAg/s200/IMG_2872.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513465176704433954" /><div><br /></div><div>-Running on dirt roads through the village. Kids are always on the roads carrying a load of sugarcane or a jerry can of water on their heads. The first day I went running, I looked behind me and there were 4 children running with me. I slowed down and we ran together for about 10 minutes. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLdj1MTasy7pM9kUsBJyBK2Vu6M0VK8R8BHhtdQutzqpB4OIDgKBXQ6NWJ4fRrqwZWX0u8Lkz_Kz5Xlox2ac-DpMdop1gS4sJ0SfP87Lvse3dbjmLjBF9knMxGv_vVy_Ganeon9tWUBw/s200/IMG_3074.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513473081680456722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>-Changing a little boy's bandage on the front porch of our house because he had no one else to do it. </div><div>-Moving that same little boy into his new home with his new and loving family!</div><div>-Experiencing the beauty in a sunset and really appreciating every day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDuKi5HAcV31X-pt0Q98J1-w1PqmGTrsBXz-u71ZhvA-qFmWI0dDU7-EYeY858zZKwJgNRSib9s186S9nbx9I3eSIjc-SUBkSl5evZYCbOQ02tCZlpwwv65DGzG0FKXzACqEtaa-O-q0/s200/IMG_3066.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513468765710255410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have a blessed life. God is doing great things in Rwanda!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-41719581618752646962010-08-23T18:12:00.011+02:002010-08-23T21:53:57.396+02:00Nitwa MuToni Uwase.<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Walking up the hill to Sonrise this morning, I heard the beautiful sound of little voices singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They were singing the Rwandan National Anthem and their voices were so sweet. I couldn’t help but smile. I took my camera to school today so below are some of the events of the day. </p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2q4hozeYBV3FUDiX4Nb0W0pNSVIG3bfXgzo0ckQ4hVKa2hl7h6fV4IGJMgDaU24nZSi8Vzj8jbt5hyphenhyphenqqKoyASxipGn1GE3O6SwM_8gG5hhx6YkE0l1AJ3ttnbIiCe3DjrmG_lcvS6yg/s1600/IMG_3025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2q4hozeYBV3FUDiX4Nb0W0pNSVIG3bfXgzo0ckQ4hVKa2hl7h6fV4IGJMgDaU24nZSi8Vzj8jbt5hyphenhyphenqqKoyASxipGn1GE3O6SwM_8gG5hhx6YkE0l1AJ3ttnbIiCe3DjrmG_lcvS6yg/s200/IMG_3025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508693857647881346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-G6Vn5jTdp28AhMvYXOK5osxxl6woGDie_y0U1HvabAR3UL45fwcRLBqwzKXEbZ_BDZNInKd3fi-SPws2r4EGuREliZagtflQ-79n-bHiVsgiT6ZN1vb46djq63DVNCqXPTHter7fWk/s1600/IMG_3024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-G6Vn5jTdp28AhMvYXOK5osxxl6woGDie_y0U1HvabAR3UL45fwcRLBqwzKXEbZ_BDZNInKd3fi-SPws2r4EGuREliZagtflQ-79n-bHiVsgiT6ZN1vb46djq63DVNCqXPTHter7fWk/s200/IMG_3024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508693848390835970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Brown bear, Brown bear</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_OHnY-7T4qjvwyG4f7Tz8oARzPtXefyNMMpPsfaMCKAMdWYU7P_cJvA63hkKuhkSqLNJDgY1z_Omtd6_P25RV1K20COpB8_wixLd2wIaSQ2zNQ9TC92XjL8ovDvhoKRR2vvGBmTkOuY/s1600/IMG_3026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_OHnY-7T4qjvwyG4f7Tz8oARzPtXefyNMMpPsfaMCKAMdWYU7P_cJvA63hkKuhkSqLNJDgY1z_Omtd6_P25RV1K20COpB8_wixLd2wIaSQ2zNQ9TC92XjL8ovDvhoKRR2vvGBmTkOuY/s200/IMG_3026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508693840802938946" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Looking at books</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuPTg6wFgTslvW67hQOcitQlO1koObu0ZNsjQcFocZOn631U8clYt-u3INHvbw26cyMAO_jdTuRVE2ODN8aFGauaI2ovYWs2OG1fJ55rGYmMAE0229ogDRc8eiUt_-BJe_H2dATqjKag/s1600/IMG_3041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuPTg6wFgTslvW67hQOcitQlO1koObu0ZNsjQcFocZOn631U8clYt-u3INHvbw26cyMAO_jdTuRVE2ODN8aFGauaI2ovYWs2OG1fJ55rGYmMAE0229ogDRc8eiUt_-BJe_H2dATqjKag/s200/IMG_3041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508693831286741762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAt4PDWmUX4FzazHbTuQo18Gz3QFhUwPGdPfT5eW4ccOftej3U5JcMm-pqx0imyfN8kSujjhhYQt2i9PwMxgHOEioYcd1Xamq4IiYLp66yxkW1JNDiw7IdqJoVZzryq0bAuVp8n15-uM/s1600/IMG_3009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAt4PDWmUX4FzazHbTuQo18Gz3QFhUwPGdPfT5eW4ccOftej3U5JcMm-pqx0imyfN8kSujjhhYQt2i9PwMxgHOEioYcd1Xamq4IiYLp66yxkW1JNDiw7IdqJoVZzryq0bAuVp8n15-uM/s200/IMG_3009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508684041480952962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Break time</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSHWZxOAXdYyTV_1RXB0Y2uujWMe4fjgrUIBUqrcIno7pUilaYAOWmONvRReg2jMwYDFJcaKeN4ZzRKmmb-v6_ZXgGkAXlCnyboeKIzi9Bz33eB4py8RIxZau26hRBNUDthyAmhH8Gzo/s1600/IMG_3030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSHWZxOAXdYyTV_1RXB0Y2uujWMe4fjgrUIBUqrcIno7pUilaYAOWmONvRReg2jMwYDFJcaKeN4ZzRKmmb-v6_ZXgGkAXlCnyboeKIzi9Bz33eB4py8RIxZau26hRBNUDthyAmhH8Gzo/s200/IMG_3030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508684031198805122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Gloria and I</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZshyGBdONO5KsnmOfnYp_wtAzjNyHu6CULrYF8k8xThkmc8IYhkLqbgLMyk0eWlMYUYLkkIMcjDXq6PEYwXJRSvTwqpBGuh1rT4qHeq8izgMPE4s9N2Dj291T3JPq12pVyhbbimrYPZA/s1600/IMG_3022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZshyGBdONO5KsnmOfnYp_wtAzjNyHu6CULrYF8k8xThkmc8IYhkLqbgLMyk0eWlMYUYLkkIMcjDXq6PEYwXJRSvTwqpBGuh1rT4qHeq8izgMPE4s9N2Dj291T3JPq12pVyhbbimrYPZA/s200/IMG_3022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508684024976975298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">One of my little P1 girls, Benneta</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5znW3DtH3NZ8lIbbYxTzhyphenhyphen2dEZp7KJqb7LaumkfdzS6xSI8GoMx93tyQ26DTTq1ahvVlFefKSFLvbT-lzWIoW2jAueI__ruh04oLlc0gs1kPcpHAR0hyyf9kpZ2xibbVodIhmehyn6fo/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5znW3DtH3NZ8lIbbYxTzhyphenhyphen2dEZp7KJqb7LaumkfdzS6xSI8GoMx93tyQ26DTTq1ahvVlFefKSFLvbT-lzWIoW2jAueI__ruh04oLlc0gs1kPcpHAR0hyyf9kpZ2xibbVodIhmehyn6fo/s200/IMG_2988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508684017518579602" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My new co workers Pennine and Grace</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7AmcQgcJhvzbAJx2WMuyfgNuV3w124JR3-pCoFIvE0a7P2TpymazYLTEezgDD7mjGyN5pzSPUz9oEIsxM3IcqLHmfzNIv7wIbYS-_-8Of12SHIS6f17BxjFoqe7U5QNC9wp9-BLA0es/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7AmcQgcJhvzbAJx2WMuyfgNuV3w124JR3-pCoFIvE0a7P2TpymazYLTEezgDD7mjGyN5pzSPUz9oEIsxM3IcqLHmfzNIv7wIbYS-_-8Of12SHIS6f17BxjFoqe7U5QNC9wp9-BLA0es/s200/IMG_2991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508684002404753170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">John Lambert!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghflfSWWZo5xvpffvA1N6vDqbhsIq4Y2WnhM19AAy1abmpsLlvKaAwOylGvgaCyO7ZMnmzdIE1GN15J3xnAQwLbmPm536_ExonPBfPllumP1DLOQENQ1F35CNA08nMHvIo-tluvoy9-kg/s1600/IMG_2962.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghflfSWWZo5xvpffvA1N6vDqbhsIq4Y2WnhM19AAy1abmpsLlvKaAwOylGvgaCyO7ZMnmzdIE1GN15J3xnAQwLbmPm536_ExonPBfPllumP1DLOQENQ1F35CNA08nMHvIo-tluvoy9-kg/s200/IMG_2962.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508672857529607218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Benneta and I.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKMODpak95DTTRZuTXQavILZa3H-cTVg9GRgMcjwClgKROFQRkwvQGjoeW5P4HW7nnkQgUC_Gho4hvgZSRLuCD7-ugLYbiNAeKWAJnc0VPPHo3oPAfrxY4llLZtKd7VX2_SsEbXp2f3A/s1600/IMG_2945.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKMODpak95DTTRZuTXQavILZa3H-cTVg9GRgMcjwClgKROFQRkwvQGjoeW5P4HW7nnkQgUC_Gho4hvgZSRLuCD7-ugLYbiNAeKWAJnc0VPPHo3oPAfrxY4llLZtKd7VX2_SsEbXp2f3A/s200/IMG_2945.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508672849957590258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Washing the students clothes</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwN2TM08AaOMkybrLq9gwL0fGDh4r-fx25IB0ziKNyO3OWI9z_ixn9ld0OvdbYWEFtlQIecaPX5KpVi06hjhZ5GlrgjNt9X4dla-qKTVHW9dHP2BIvxUsfAGLupnKDYqPrVlUAEBH17U/s1600/IMG_2953.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwN2TM08AaOMkybrLq9gwL0fGDh4r-fx25IB0ziKNyO3OWI9z_ixn9ld0OvdbYWEFtlQIecaPX5KpVi06hjhZ5GlrgjNt9X4dla-qKTVHW9dHP2BIvxUsfAGLupnKDYqPrVlUAEBH17U/s200/IMG_2953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508672842977669682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxtS2hdTgprMlLeTg_HZ4-y12zfLpxy6epJAg4g15TwtcxnvupzhggCzxoUIrgpT7V8ITDmRoZb1ZjhKYWZUND3EHz8i1Xif1DjJPCbQlGZz4xt1vvfCIOmOH1976WTLGN1xU6QtVe30/s1600/IMG_2928.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxtS2hdTgprMlLeTg_HZ4-y12zfLpxy6epJAg4g15TwtcxnvupzhggCzxoUIrgpT7V8ITDmRoZb1ZjhKYWZUND3EHz8i1Xif1DjJPCbQlGZz4xt1vvfCIOmOH1976WTLGN1xU6QtVe30/s200/IMG_2928.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508672833609483426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Vincent, the gate keeper</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcVv55mph_NkXMqKTtthOpjsM30CI4Rt4nv_a-X0CUUlb-ukl539FU5p6PoYRK_SdYDctxCn5h5syzkkJ3SnFzgcsHTLOEpYBceoQh38Nk3vv5f6g96ZEp0EoUbj6IWDE3KFtarXlmSQ/s1600/IMG_2914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcVv55mph_NkXMqKTtthOpjsM30CI4Rt4nv_a-X0CUUlb-ukl539FU5p6PoYRK_SdYDctxCn5h5syzkkJ3SnFzgcsHTLOEpYBceoQh38Nk3vv5f6g96ZEp0EoUbj6IWDE3KFtarXlmSQ/s200/IMG_2914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508659737185273490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The computer lab-they were writing about their holiday.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAZkWNgX7qM14N_Y6Tj4-I5ECJvyc7jO_RXiY2fWMcazr2j53H7TsANaLHz9YGRcFGrrJsK9olr-yVBX77BvgV8ekm1W_yJLQYM9aBUbcNdpi1aPdmsHVDtADXQ23wbCdLiGfb7d9Kmw/s1600/IMG_2925.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAZkWNgX7qM14N_Y6Tj4-I5ECJvyc7jO_RXiY2fWMcazr2j53H7TsANaLHz9YGRcFGrrJsK9olr-yVBX77BvgV8ekm1W_yJLQYM9aBUbcNdpi1aPdmsHVDtADXQ23wbCdLiGfb7d9Kmw/s200/IMG_2925.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508659730897866146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBEPlA_baIdfisNpCwKUhfGYbD9JXIYlP8ApZUZ06rRnuJwD3Kjqw7NBEs2f8XkJ86qgic7dYkRP6OIiqCw_vOLgWjrQmRgbWF6tXgNCW6ma4DCPR8bTz7Ip4FD3YJhturNFMynU2ooI/s1600/IMG_2919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBEPlA_baIdfisNpCwKUhfGYbD9JXIYlP8ApZUZ06rRnuJwD3Kjqw7NBEs2f8XkJ86qgic7dYkRP6OIiqCw_vOLgWjrQmRgbWF6tXgNCW6ma4DCPR8bTz7Ip4FD3YJhturNFMynU2ooI/s200/IMG_2919.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508659718958836594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">B2R mousepads </div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoDSipMUZXiX-uDEs5hbyXil65Ce6CyqDebTIZLtfZpAqDEwrOFWJqfoiKrqxhu3vQYOEAv0QcLtOftbJhPVZDD_3d76JoHDJvlTMV6CSyu8txpO4qwQ0QBswIxUxbNd81sBbbpw65QI/s1600/IMG_2951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoDSipMUZXiX-uDEs5hbyXil65Ce6CyqDebTIZLtfZpAqDEwrOFWJqfoiKrqxhu3vQYOEAv0QcLtOftbJhPVZDD_3d76JoHDJvlTMV6CSyu8txpO4qwQ0QBswIxUxbNd81sBbbpw65QI/s200/IMG_2951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508650331632514482" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sonrise Primary Chapel</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG2J8E3Y8MFoYQBw1YXAb2DiUXu-DJgwlWhMrWXRq52gQv1w6Zg7mo-MaVYfVca060F4UeYghS-veNuLPt5_1rP9a_E-gGTPVdIQrW2bdMsIku8gg5sXAxjU5Six-Ful6ZV2x0ty6xZA/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG2J8E3Y8MFoYQBw1YXAb2DiUXu-DJgwlWhMrWXRq52gQv1w6Zg7mo-MaVYfVca060F4UeYghS-veNuLPt5_1rP9a_E-gGTPVdIQrW2bdMsIku8gg5sXAxjU5Six-Ful6ZV2x0ty6xZA/s200/IMG_2912.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508650329079354482" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Spiritual Committee with Pastor Celestine</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbraX8MR54_ihePFKEpOF8qcHvgApG31tcwCDgOpAcIJfICeu9S3WOGTukaEQeDTe5S2MfBjMM60P_a8bATPg0j0K_i8dt1PgxbTH7dmRcBtndxJGeFnap-u5DsFUw7Z3PAbZIEnz2ndA/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbraX8MR54_ihePFKEpOF8qcHvgApG31tcwCDgOpAcIJfICeu9S3WOGTukaEQeDTe5S2MfBjMM60P_a8bATPg0j0K_i8dt1PgxbTH7dmRcBtndxJGeFnap-u5DsFUw7Z3PAbZIEnz2ndA/s200/IMG_2846.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508650320001591122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5AEMU2JeZDQX8hKGYoCTNxJ7XWWC_YSNneivF9fMQ1C8PU71E5IpUBEJz7cmJEJGZJDSFIKtza9djuo0AcULP58Mj4Lp2S3T35zFKsR_kHDWis5Lu3VzWPzuhdtE6_1dqoOy_2uJUh0/s1600/IMG_2875.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5AEMU2JeZDQX8hKGYoCTNxJ7XWWC_YSNneivF9fMQ1C8PU71E5IpUBEJz7cmJEJGZJDSFIKtza9djuo0AcULP58Mj4Lp2S3T35zFKsR_kHDWis5Lu3VzWPzuhdtE6_1dqoOy_2uJUh0/s200/IMG_2875.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508650315463092594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33GvwaJ8x3Hl_qgM1c2hOMQ99qNULvsPuLQiU1nbxbvme6Oj9B9tJ8olpnqXEKw-o3A5ZhiJS_iUV6wy5cbODxlhhyphenhyphenLQl6x7anwOuCbfUPTY7YYH8PncAzhP5sJIFABfhX-yqfKm97Js/s1600/IMG_2857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33GvwaJ8x3Hl_qgM1c2hOMQ99qNULvsPuLQiU1nbxbvme6Oj9B9tJ8olpnqXEKw-o3A5ZhiJS_iUV6wy5cbODxlhhyphenhyphenLQl6x7anwOuCbfUPTY7YYH8PncAzhP5sJIFABfhX-yqfKm97Js/s200/IMG_2857.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508650307110673874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Primary kids filling the chapel</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">I am so blessed to be working at Sonrise. I forget that I am the only white face among a sea of Rwandan children and teachers! They have taken me in as if I was born and raised here. My KinyaRwandan is coming along “bohoro bohoro” which means “slowly by slowly”. Every morning I greet the matrons including my new Rwandan momma, Betty. I have tea or a banana with them and I learn some new phrases. They have named me MuToni Uwase which is my KinyaRwandan name. From what I understood, it means the girl with the Father in her heart. </p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><br /><div><br /><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-47462302460817368822010-08-12T10:09:00.006+02:002010-08-12T20:47:07.944+02:00The Village<div>Yesterday and today we went to the Village near Virunga lodge. We played with the village kids at Mwiko school. Here are some pictures to recap the days events.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgM2fYy62wn-KGlF3eSx1DOiqGb_NU1yl_i0rXMWpLxbzm7j4B0y2Pucm-AmLS8S_Edqub7h7RvCZxd1tOye5M0T21mMPWjYZ5E6bhnh204m00JU9CBDfgo7kpdvSkTwEfmPu7ie32X0/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgM2fYy62wn-KGlF3eSx1DOiqGb_NU1yl_i0rXMWpLxbzm7j4B0y2Pucm-AmLS8S_Edqub7h7RvCZxd1tOye5M0T21mMPWjYZ5E6bhnh204m00JU9CBDfgo7kpdvSkTwEfmPu7ie32X0/s320/IMG_2615.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504530508010314706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Showing off her painting.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRU6eOaTc9rU3SewrfTx0aGHVP_usTyVJH6OPj4M3Tox3e0403h6fPuFZ12_jXsiig4CqSpveCIwj4n6fyd-cIp-OCklCYIRWva0sWc70I-ZA4LwVLlCLshpsWuUPMrSl9MlAeTwR9yhY/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRU6eOaTc9rU3SewrfTx0aGHVP_usTyVJH6OPj4M3Tox3e0403h6fPuFZ12_jXsiig4CqSpveCIwj4n6fyd-cIp-OCklCYIRWva0sWc70I-ZA4LwVLlCLshpsWuUPMrSl9MlAeTwR9yhY/s320/IMG_2762.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504530499841896770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"> Jenna...LOVE HER!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovJUwXH8wIw29y3SOr9KN65fd0gqv4WtMcKTSMU1nKr6XXo6hq_xVA3ag8EDLQJUrnZVuXayvp21hSSwtaUhucp7RDjbIvyvbuNfEXKbyp6srfkitkRTLgIM2ZXXIBFYrJDDa6obcegk/s1600/IMG_2675.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovJUwXH8wIw29y3SOr9KN65fd0gqv4WtMcKTSMU1nKr6XXo6hq_xVA3ag8EDLQJUrnZVuXayvp21hSSwtaUhucp7RDjbIvyvbuNfEXKbyp6srfkitkRTLgIM2ZXXIBFYrJDDa6obcegk/s320/IMG_2675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504530496452705778" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D72KWl472Uumrh19C3t4QQBd2EmyZ5fDmWTcmhS9PPsZz5RNEfqSBsdSs2k0rM2WynlN6GEpKN4lb50RFatHNI6bR-3e-9d9-WAd8Rk88b8AZ8BpxxuoFaAY4sK1yAnncB3lgwKvzpU/s1600/IMG_2661.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D72KWl472Uumrh19C3t4QQBd2EmyZ5fDmWTcmhS9PPsZz5RNEfqSBsdSs2k0rM2WynlN6GEpKN4lb50RFatHNI6bR-3e-9d9-WAd8Rk88b8AZ8BpxxuoFaAY4sK1yAnncB3lgwKvzpU/s320/IMG_2661.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504517175212993314" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">John Lambert and I.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya-6SIJUdqstWSyjpHbV_4nUIy9OxVKs1uj-JBidHiAMlqciOCEpMV6RS1TTYihMNQ1XTuteAverszV4RbC3SMxSIspocSy0DccNcJPK9XvTBXEF9lU62VZLTkysiw6-nVjDFrKAuXwk/s1600/IMG_2566.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya-6SIJUdqstWSyjpHbV_4nUIy9OxVKs1uj-JBidHiAMlqciOCEpMV6RS1TTYihMNQ1XTuteAverszV4RbC3SMxSIspocSy0DccNcJPK9XvTBXEF9lU62VZLTkysiw6-nVjDFrKAuXwk/s320/IMG_2566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504517165724683042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Suzie and I with John Lambert, John Gaspar, James and some other kids.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811647095251014852.post-9147822687327261712010-08-09T17:58:00.005+02:002010-08-09T23:52:17.428+02:00It's good to be home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaigWYfXC2FP98CE7KvYC-SQ95aclZ9Cwz2a_u6356XVO2HQ7VjFSBg3d6b2ZUaOTTB78RddrL63c8nXI73GJE3Z5VXVi_JwObi2kSagr_xkSmn5zwQ2s6kYlCaD-Nz3rjUfkPvMdIN2s/s1600/IMG_2514.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaigWYfXC2FP98CE7KvYC-SQ95aclZ9Cwz2a_u6356XVO2HQ7VjFSBg3d6b2ZUaOTTB78RddrL63c8nXI73GJE3Z5VXVi_JwObi2kSagr_xkSmn5zwQ2s6kYlCaD-Nz3rjUfkPvMdIN2s/s320/IMG_2514.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503530622766593954" /></a><br /><div><div>Yesterday afternoon, we went to the Genocide Memorial in Kigali. It was heartbreaking. There was an entire room dedicated to the children who were killed during the genocide. As you walk through, you see pictures of the children and can read about who they were. Some things mentioned about different children were: their name, age, favorite food, personality type and behavior, favorite thing to play and their last words. Reading what some of the precious babies said at their final hour was difficult for me. I can't imagine anyone doing such terrible things to a child.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday afternoon I sat under the gazebo at Tom's house and read a book as I looked out over the amazing city of Kigali. I could hear singing and music coming from various church's in the area. It was beautiful and I could really feel God's presence in Rwanda.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today is election day in Rwanda. It's a neat experience being in an African country during an election. We have seen many people walking to the voting locations. When a Rwandan votes, they dip their pinky finger in ink to mark their choice. Everything in the city is shut down. It's like a holiday. Very few places are open today. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's so good to be back in Africa. I really feel that my heart belongs here. It was such an awesome feeling stepping off the plane and taking in the new smells (much better than in Uganda!!).</div><div><br /></div><div>Below is a picture of our new friend, Christopher. We met Christopher and his friend as they were leaving the voting station. They walked with us for quite some time telling jokes and asking questions. Look closely on his pinky finger and you will will see the mark he used to cast his vote. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13gxT4gkoefy7jXW1mCjPOHWY0VyhjWAlMoA62aCus2qsrq3r2nsBYXeQCI8O2B46751q1pjIpKPK4VEmBED8FoaodCYqy9-Jg7MaZ07CXQLMkONeRf-E88IFu4kZ-Q9cnxay4jZNVeM/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13gxT4gkoefy7jXW1mCjPOHWY0VyhjWAlMoA62aCus2qsrq3r2nsBYXeQCI8O2B46751q1pjIpKPK4VEmBED8FoaodCYqy9-Jg7MaZ07CXQLMkONeRf-E88IFu4kZ-Q9cnxay4jZNVeM/s320/IMG_2527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503478246587727314" /></a><br /><div>I have fallen in love with this country.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Betsy Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05680147007801244774noreply@blogger.com1