We have finally moved out to the village!
We have been able to move right into the small village we will be working in, walking distance from the project land. For the next months we will be living with Amiss and Marieth, a Rwandan couple who moved from Kigali to be part of this project. They have generously let us move into their house. I’m not sure how to describe it to you: its a luxury mansion by village standards, with our fridge, multiple bedrooms, and indoor toilet, but significantly different than what we are used to in Canada-no running water, bare cement floors, and buzzing beetles dive-bombing us at night. I guess beyond that I’ll just say that we are thankful to be here! This arrangement works well because it provides Amiss & Marieth with some rental income, and allows us to live somewhere IN Ryabega while we try to figure out what to do about housing long term.
We are the only white people here so far, and everyone seems to know us- on the second day I got a little disoriented, and a lady I had never talked to saw it and pointed me in the direction of my home. 🙂
Mike has started digging beds and planting: we are a little late, but think it will be ok. I have been trying to communicate with people in my limited Kinyarwanda while I walk through the village and pray. People are mostly amused and friendly. We have been organizing our stuff, trying to work out the kinks as roommates from different cultures, and collecting rainwater when it starts to pour (you know, so we can do laundry and bathe, things like that). Bohoro bohoro (slowly by slowly), we will get settled in.
We always enjoy your posts. thanks for keeping us updated. It’s nice when we can take a tangible step towards the hope in our heart.
It is great to hear you’ve moved and it sounds like a good living arrangement. I really looking forward of hearing of your updates on all your gardening and such! God bless you on this day!