We are back in Rwanda!  (Ok, well, technically, I am back in Rwanda, but more on that later.)

We had such an incredible time in Canada – we had much quality time with our family, many opportunities to speak and show pictures, ate a lot of meat, got to make espresso at After the Grind, and we were able to visit with many dear friends.

Two days after we returned to Rwanda, Mike went to Kenya.  He is in Kitale, taking a one-month course with Organics 4 Orphans.  The course focuses on different aspects of agriculture that will be helpful to us in Mutara: increasing yields, nutritional education, compost, using natural medicines, and income generation.  It was a difficult choice for him to go, but we believe that it will be the best thing in the long run.

I am in Kigali for now, travelling back and forth a few times to the village in Mutara to find out what is going on, and start to make some decisions regarding the ministry and our personal accomodations.

“In my culture, you can’t let someone go on a trip without giving them food”
So Amiss & Marieth made one more yummy meal before I came back to Kigali from the village.

Most of what I am doing right now is visiting people – listening, talking, praying, and helping with small things.  The women in this culture do not become friends quickly, but through persistence and working together (and a lot of grace on their parts), I have made several good friends in the last year.  In addition to the benefits of friendship, these women help me learn more about how to act in this culture, and friendship enables me to help and encourage in the incredible work they do. I wasn’t sure what would happen after being gone for several months – would I be starting over?  

It has been wonderful to discover that these relationships can be picked up where we left off, that I haven’t been forgotten and I am still trusted.  I am so thankful for each of my friends, and for the ways that we can help each other create change in this world.