Smile!

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa

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 everyone who meets her immediately loves her.

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."

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.

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.

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!

Thanks to Kat for snapping these photos.

Sweet Diane

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.

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.

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.

I took her by the hand and we walked together to greet the other children and families we were there to visit.

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!

Didier, Diane and I: All Arkansans at heart!

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.

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.

Red and yellow, black and white...

...we are precious in His sight.

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.

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! 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.

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!

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!

I really can’t put into words how awesome my life is.

“Our true nationality is mankind.” –H.G. Wells

Didier's First Day of School

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!

Christian helping Didier.

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.

First t.v. ever!

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.

In the car heading to school

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).

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.

Photos courtesy of Jamie Ankenbrandt.

One Week Back

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.

Photo by Lynn Walker

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.

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!

There was one little face I was searching for and I never found her...Diane.

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!

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!

"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

Photo by Lynn Walker

Books!

"There are many little ways to enlarge a child's world. Love of books is the best of all."

-Jacqueline Kennedy

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.

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.

In Tulsa, Kendall-Whittier Elementary collected three boxes of books and puzzles. I'm so fortunate to have their support!

Thanks, mom, for letting me take over your house with books!

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!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." -Dr. Seuss

Baby Elizabeth

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.

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. 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.

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!

Celestine, Esther and Elizabeth

Sara, Betsy, Esther, Elizabeth, Christian

Ruth, Christine and Joseanne

Mama Esther and both Elizabeth's

The first born, Sara

Ruth, age 3