Living Simply

Hello my dear friends,

I hope everyone is well in the lovely London town (well, as lovely as it can get) and that your lives are filled with adventure, joy and growth.  Rwanda, as per usual, is phenomenal and I am loving life for the most part.  The sun seems to have disappeared for a little and I fear that my tan is abandoning me.  Drat.  My tanning competitions with two of my friends seem to be a bad idea right about now...

I want to share with you all the biggest change I have seen in myself so far – living simply.  Coming to Rwanda I didn’t fully realize all that I was leaving behind.  I left behind my house, my bathroom, my clothes, a proper shower, familiar food, computer, blackberry, my job, car, etc.  My morning routine goes as follows: wake up at 5am, get ready for school, eat breakfast (bread, butter, bananas), head out the door by 6am, walk to school, arrive at 6:30am, work until 5pm, walk home, get there at 5:30, try and go for a run, bathe, eat dinner, bedtime between 8-9pm.  Waking up at 5am: this took a very long time to get used to.  The biggest challenge was getting over the psychological part.  If you tell yourself you’re waking up that early, you WILL be tired.  However, if you tell yourself you’re getting 8-9 hours of sleep, you’ll be fine.  I actually really enjoy waking up at this time.  It’s still dark, but by the time I am ready to brush my teeth outside, the volcanoes start to lighten up and the birds aren’t quite as annoying. Get ready for school: I LOVE brushing my teeth/washing my face outside.  This is one of my top five things I am going to miss the most.  It’s freeing! Not having a ceiling and walls containing me and making me feel crowded is such a liberating emotion.  It’s magnificent.  No sink, no toilet.  I get a hole in the ground with mosquitoes and salamanders to keep me company.   Eating breakfast: I’ve learned to enjoy bread and butter…however my hips are disagreeing with me on this one. Walk to school: I do not miss my car.  My walk is one of the most enjoyable times of the day.  I love watching the Rwandans start their day, smelling the morning dew, watching the sun coming over the volcanoes, greeting people in their native tongue.  It’s peaceful. My mind wanders from thing to thing but never really seems to focus on anything in particular.  That’s what I love.  Sometimes I have so much on my mind that I need an escape from it all – walking gives me this escape, which is odd because most people walk so they can clear their heads.  Whereas for me, walking and running allows me to not think about what’s going on and gives me a break from the real world.  Although it takes a while to go anywhere from where I live, I love the fact that I really have no hurry to get to where I need to be.  The street children always run towards me with open arms, rubbing their snotty faces on my skirt, and loving me just because I’m white.  I will miss this.    School: my routine varies daily so it’s not everyday that I have this ridiculous schedule, but it’s a long day nonetheless. Teaching computers has been a hassle since I did not know I was teaching that before I left.  We’ve learned to deal with it and realized that if we didn’t teach them computers, nobody would.  They have blackboards that are never fully clean, I have to yell loud enough for them to hear me, we don’t have projectors/computers to even teach them computers and the language barrier can be a real problem.  However, these children want to learn and they don’t care how simply they need to do it.      Running: no tredmills, no equipment, no weights, etc.  I have an open road with hills as my scenery and volcanoes as my goal.  I don’t get privacy as I do my various exercises in the house and am often accompanied by the children mimicking me on the floor (stretching, abs, etc). I’m going to miss my running route and the friendly faces I see along the way.  It’s no gym; it’s better.  I have nobody to compare myself to as I’m running and no worries as to if people are judging me while I am exercising.  It’s so simple.  It’s so perfect. Bath: This has been a hard thing to get used to.  However, I’ve learned to deal with it and often look forward to taking my bath.  Picture an outhouse.  Take out the toilet.  Just the room.  Picture a basin filled with cold water.  That’s what I have.  I fill up my basin from the pump, lug it over to the bathing room, have my shampoo/body wash beside the basin and start my ‘shower’.  The second the water leaves my cup and hits my head, my heart skips many beats due to the freezing ice water.  However, it’s only made me become faster and more efficient, as well as realize how amazingly blessed I am to have a shower with hot water coming out of it.   Dinner: On average, we eat around 7pm.  Lately though, we have been eating anywhere between 7 and 9pm.  This was extremely hard to get used to as I would starve in between lunch and dinner (a minimum 7h gap).  It’s also extremely hard, and unhealthy, to go to sleep on a full stomach.  But, they eat at that time so I have learned to eat at that time.  I will definitely not bring this habit home with me, but will learn to cope with it while I am here. Bedtime: I love sleep.  My bed is comfortable.  My room is small and cozy. I look forward to my journaling time and listening to my music/a podcast.  For the most part I can pass out pretty quickly and heavily.  I don’t have access to the internet whenever I want, I don’t have constant electricity, I do not have hot water, a bathroom, a car, a job, my whole wardrobe, clean clothes, a gym, North American food, etc.  I have a life that has been made simple.  I have a heart that is being molded for the better and into a more simple shape.  I pray that my heart will stay this way as I return to Canada and that this new simple life will only make me a better person.     

Yes, I am still alive.

hello my dear friends!

My deepest apologies for being so MIA within the last few weeks.  Life here has been quite busy so I haven't had time to sit down and write a good blog.  But, here I am now so I'll do my best to fill you in!

These past few weeks have completely flown by.  I feel as if it was just yesterday I was writing about being away for one month, when I have now surpassed the halfway mark and am only 9 days short from being away for 2 whole months.  I have seen many new experiences, felt many new emotions and have been tested in brand new ways.

What I really desire to share with you is this past weekend - Kwinta Izina - the annual Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Kinigi, Rwanda.  This ceremony (as you can probably tell by the name) happens every year and is a celebration of the naming of the new baby gorillas that have been born within the Rwandan Volcano National Park.  After taking a 20m bus ride, we followed the crowd down a road, passing a sign that said we'd be there in 3km.  3km is a long way when it's all uphill and in the sun! So, being crazy and adventurous Canadians, we spotted a path that cut down a field and said, 'why not?'  Thankfully, the path was a wonderful shortcut that got us there in no time.  Arriving at the location of the ceremony, we were immediately separated from the Rwandans.  They had to go through security and be frisked - we did not.  They were told to go in one direction - us in another.  They had to sit in a giant crown behind a fence in the sun - we were put in a VIP tent that was muzungu town! I still don't know what to think of this situation.  Because we are white, even without a VIP invitation, we sat under a huge tent, were given free food and drink, and had front row access to the ceremony.  The thing that got me the most was that I actually felt like a tourist.  Being surrounded by hundreds of white people for the first time since being here really caught me off guard.  I felt like I wasn't at home but that I was just categorized as another white tourist who comes and goes whenever they please.  For the most part I was very unhappy with this feeling, but a small part of me did enjoy getting a glimpse of what home looks like.

After the ceremony everyone who was in the VIP tent was encouraged to attend the cocktail party after - free drinks (alcoholic, non-alcoholic), food and conversation.  The men mostly took advantage of the free drink (at least to my observation) but I did help myself to a glass of wine... which I gave away after 2 sips because I remembered that I despise the taste of wine.

An amazing thing though - I recognized two girls I played volleyball against in high school (the high school that one of the girls I'm here with went to, so she knew them well), and another guy from UWO.  Small freaking world, hm? We chatted with them and found out that they are here through a french program from main campus and are living in a hostel in Kigali for a few more weeks.  After that weird shock surpassed, we met some new friends (one from Sweden originally and the others from Kigali) and had a lovely lunch at one of the guys Auntie's house.  Small world again because the Aunt's daughter is a student in one of my computer classes.

Overall, the ceremony was a wonderful experience and I am so thankful that I was in Rwanda at the time of it's occurrence.  I love meeting new people and making new friends so I felt the weekend was a success since many new friends were made.  One void I definitely feel that has been missing is the consistency of having conversation.  Back in Canada, everyone I know speaks English and would be able to have a sit-down conversation with me at a regular speed.  Even though Naomi and Milijana (two girls from Canada I'm with) speak English and I see them almost every day, it's nice to vary up the individuals who I converse with.  I miss my relationships at home and am craving to have coffee dates with many individuals.  I will, however, keep making use of this amazing trip and am not looking forward to the date of my departure.

I do apologize that this is such a short and impersonal blog post, however, much has happened since being here and I feel I wouldn't do anything justice even if I tried to dig deeper into some life altering experiences.  I am currently in Kigali with Karyn Makins again, being blessed with the chance to stay an extra two days longer than expected.  It is so odd to hear her talk about leaving this Thursday when I still have another 6 weeks in Rwanda alone.  I pray that I will keep drinking in all my experiences and my new life here - always being faithful and remembering to trust.

Your friend,
-Steph

Don't worry about this heart of mine.

Hello my dear friends,



Congratulations to us!! We have officially survived one month of being away from one another. Hugs and high fives all around. I want to thank everyone for their meaningful words, encouragement, prayers and wonderful thoughts. You all, truly, mean a great deal to me. Since I have been out of Canada for exactly one month, I thought I’d write down much of what I have felt, thought and tried to soak in. So, grab a beverage, perhaps a light snack (or heavy, whatever you’re feeling), change into comfy clothes and indulge in my words because this one is going to be a doozy.


Friends – I am in love. I truly have joy in my heart which has only been given to me after prayer and faithfulness in God. If you read my blog post, ‘star gazing,’ you may recall that my first week here was extremely hard. I was scared, I was missing home, I was missing my friends and I was missing the familiar. However, I knew what I was getting myself into before I left, so prayer, faithfulness and time were my only hope. How grateful I am to be loving and serving such a wonderful God. Joy is the best way to sum up how I am feeling. Joyful, joyous, joy. I have become familiar with my town, with the people, with the school and with the scenery. Again, I am in love.


Let me introduce you, in more detail, to my family.  Consolee (“mama Kellia” because she is the mother of Kellia) surrounds me with hugs, laughter, food and comfort.  She is always asking if I am happy, what she can do to make me happier and if I am a good temporary family.  She makes me laugh.  Hard.  She is trying to teach me a traditional Rwandan dance; however, I feel I am letting her down.  Papa Kellia bought me powdered milk and powdered chocolate so that I can mix them together to get chocolate milk.  What a gentle and kind man - he is very thoughtful and always makes sure I am at the highest of comfort levels.  Kellia (7) always snuggles with me before bed time and asks to play with and braid my hair.  Since physical touch is my second love language there is never a time when I say no.  Every time I hear, ‘sister Stephanie,’ my heart lights up and I want more and more to take her home with me.  Kelly (6), is so quiet that half the time I forget he is there.  However, when he smiles his toothless smile at me, I can’t help but give a small laugh at his soft goofyness.  He usually clings to my left or right arm while Kellia plays with my hair.  Kenney (4) pushes himself through the crowd and always manages to piece himself perfectly in my arms.  He is my personal African teddy bear.  While he sits in my lap he rubs my arms, rubs my face and makes my hands clap together.  The thought of leaving him already brings tears to my eyes.  Kenneth (2, yes his name is the same as Kenny’s, just the full version), is a child from the devil himself (I mean that in the nicest way possible).  His cute way of mimicking me when I first got here has disappeared, and now I only see him as the child who pees on the floor.  Yes, you read that correctly.  He will literally just pee on our concrete floor.  His parents laugh and say, ‘ah, he is so stubborn’.  Negative parentals … he is spoiled.  He gets what he wants, how much he wants, whenever he wants it.  Oh boy, God give me eyes and a heart to see and love him like Jesus. 
 
The scenery is a whole other world and I am afraid no picture will ever do this town justice. Running is my new favourite thing here as I feel as though I am running around the world. When I run down the hill from my house, I imagine that I am running through the hills of Thailand. Although, I have never been to Thailand… I can imagine! It’s distracting while I run, so I end up running into people, into bikes, off the road and even into goats. But…I get a spectacular view out of it so it doesn’t bother me. Running up the hill is bittersweet. Although every muscle in my legs burn, the thought of running straight towards the giant volcano motivates me to keep going. “Run until you touch it” is all I say in my head. Last night I went for an hour run and it was an hour of heaven. Hills, people, animals, action, peace, corners – everything. My heart is pounding not only from the physical activity but from all the emotions I am feeling at the same time.



I know I shouldn’t admit this, but my heart has been stolen. I have a favourite student and I don’t care who knows it – I’ll shout it from a mountain! Her name is Lea, she is 7, and if Nala from the Lion King was a human being Lea would be her. Her lioness eyes hypnotize you the instant you make eye contact and her energetic, outgoingness and adventurous heart only hooks you without giving you hope for survival. She clings herself to me every day and lays upon my lap at break time. My life is a better place with her in it and she encourages me to grow in certain areas of my life. I know that may sound odd that a 7 year old girl could be encouragement to me, but I can’t fully explain how much she has benefited my life already.


Now, since I have told you all about the people and things I have fallen in love with, I feel it is only appropriate I mention someone else... his name is Petey. People told me before I left to not come home engaged, married or in love, however, I don’t call the shots in this crazy thing called life. Petey came into my world a few weeks ago…and boy did he come in with a great first impression. As I was cleaning my room one Sabbath Saturday, Mama Kellia called to me saying I had a visitor. Walking out of my room to the back door, my eyes first gazed upon this African man. His fur necklace and all. Yes, my dear friends, you heard me right. Actually, it was more of a fur choker he wore around his neck, with fake hair hanging from it. I hope you didn’t think it was ME who fell in love with Petey! Most definitely not. Petey heard their was a muzungu in the neighbourhood so he wanted to come over and speak English with me. His conversation quickly led to his desire to find a white wife and support her even though he currently has no job and money. Most of our conversation was a daze because I was so distracted by the “beautiful” piece of art attached to his neck. Petey… what a guy. I can only hope our paths don’t cross again in the near future. Other than Petey, I have been offered 20 cows as a dowry (10 for Consolee, 10 for mumma in Canada), but my most recent upgrade was 2 gorillas!! Wowza was I flattered. But, no need to fret my friends, I will be coming home just as I left: single and happy. That is a promise.



My friends, I am full of joy, I am safe, I am laughing and I am healthy. There is no need to worry about this heart of mine for it is strong and looking forward to what is ahead.


I hope you have enjoyed my first month of Africa as much as I have. I’m missing you all, loving you all, and want to say thank you again for all the messages and love.