JULY!

We finished our fourth week in the school today. This was our last time to teach at the school. Next week, we will go back and spend a day in each class. We plan to observe during the first part and have a 'party' during the last part. We'll buy them bananas and cookies and play games.

As I recap the last week, I'll try to give the "Reader's Digest Version" (from what I understand, that means I'll make it as short and informative as I can).

Last Friday: We went to the market and bought some food. It was such a neat experience. There were countless tables piled so high with fresh fruits and veggies that they were falling onto the floor. We bought some zucchini, avocados, passion fruit, and a strange red fruit that we couldnt figure out the English name for.

Saturday: That morning was a 'National Work Day', something the Belgians started. Everyone in the country helps with service projects and isn't allowed to do anything else. Cars aren't even allowed on the roads until noon. (So, naturally, we didn't have Bible study. We didn't help clean up the country either.) We took Esron out to eat lunch and have a 'meeting'. He is such a busy man that we don't get to sit down and talk to him often. After lunch, he helped us run some errands. That night, we took his family out to eat pizza and gave his kids presents that we had bought them. He has a wonderful family.

Sunday: We visited Pastor Andre's church, up the road from the Ligue. We have worked with Andre and his ministry on past trips. We had lunch that day with some Canadian missionaries that Melissa and Kristen met last year. We spent the afternoon and evening resting and preparing for this week.

Monday: First day teaching in the last class. This is the oldest and largest class. We have taught Jesus' death and resurrection along with shape and color words in English. When we left the school, we told Theophile that we would see him tomorrow and he said, "no, tomorrow is a holiday." (ah, this is Africa!) We had a snack at the Emerald after school and then went on a little hike to find a place with an internet connection. We heard about this Catholic compound that has a 'cyber-cafe'. That is where we emailed from on Monday. The connection was really slow, so we didn't get to do much.

Tuesday: As Theophile told us Monday, Tuesday was Rwandan Independance day. This country takes holidays pretty seriously. There was nothing going on. Sarah and Sylvain called us (knowing that we would have nothing to do that day) and invited us to go to a Rwandan Champions League soccer game. It turned out to be the playoffs for the "4th of July Cup" and we stayed for both games. We had a really fun time!

Wednesday: We taught that morning and rested in an empty classroom until our Bible study at 3. While we were waiting, Theophile's wife brought us lunch again. This week, we had the same meal as last week, PLUS cabbage, PLUS potatoes, PLUS bananas. I think my stomach still hurts from the amount of food I put in it yesterday. Bible study went really well. We talked more about the Lord's Prayer this week and then applied it with a group prayer modeled after the way Christ taught us to pray. It was really neat. The women said they have been learning a lot and clapped for us when we had to leave. It was very humbling, to say the least.

Today: We finished teaching the last class this morning and are taking a good bit of time to email this afternoon. We will not have our Bible study with Mary until next week. We saw her yesterday in the office at the Ligue, but she is having a very hard time getting around. We found out that she was actually bitten by a snake (sometimes its hard to get the right story around here). She is healing. Thank you all for praying.

Tomorrow: Another holiday, for us Americans and the Rwandans. It is Rwandan Liberation Day (yes, we've had 3 holidays in the span of a week). If things get slow, there is a 4th of July party at the American embassy that we might go to. Who knows, it could be interesting.

I am begining to get used to life here. Everything is SO layed back. It takes a huge effort to do the smallest things (such as going out to eat, going to the store, the bank, or checking our email). We are accepting the differences and really starting to adjust. We're getting used to dirty hair, our 'street kid feet', and the red dust that covers EVERYTHING. I'm going to miss it.

Praise:

-We talked to the Canadian missionary, Kathleen, on Sunday and she said there is still a chance that we would be doing a Bible study with the ladies from the Dorcas Project. Pray that God will work out the details there.
-Mary is healing. Continue to pray.
-Both Melissa and I are doing very well. We have both been so blessed with good health.
-The team from Michigan that we met last week returned to Kigali safely and is on their way home.

Pray:
-That we would simply be vessels of God's love and His work here in Rwanda.
-That Melissa and I would make the most of every opportunity given to us.
-That we would continue to have rest, strength, and energy through the last 19 (yes, we're already in the 'TEENS') days.
-That the details of our last week here would be worked out.
-For our families, who, by now, must be missing us terribly! :) (as we are missing them as well)

Well, it didn't turn out all that short. Thanks for reading!
Love you all!
-katy

ps- if you get a chance, i would love emails from home!!