Keri and I spent a week this summer in Rwanda meeting with various mission organizations to see if the Lord was leading us to serve him and his people there. The following are some pictures from our stay. Even though we feel that God is leading us to "wait" on moving to Rwanda; the Lord continues to grow our passion for the orphans of the world.
ENJOY!
Headed for the LONG journey.
This Umasambe, or African crane was the pet at our guest house! 
Keri and I at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali Rwanda.
250,000 bodies are buried in the photo below under the cement block things. 1 Million people were brutally murdered in less than 1 month in 1994.
The country is still bearing the burden of this horrible genocide.
These are the coffins that those who lost their lives are buried in. Every year there is a mourning period of one hundred days for those who lost their lives. This is when bodies that are still being found are buried.
They are currently trying to identify bodies. So far, only 1,000 of the 250,000 at this memorial have been identified.
The English-speaking church we attended on Sunday. 
In the villages this is how people sift the dirt to make cement.
One of the many hills that the city of Kigali sits on.
Rwandans carry everything on their head. When I say everything I mean everything!
Keri, Mark, and Angie near our guesthouse with local children. We "muzungoos" aka white people were instant hits with the kids!
I loved this kids shirt! "I hear voices..." Oh, do you? :)
Rwandan women dressed in their traditional clothing called "mushananas". Keri remembers it by thinking of "mush a banana. These women are widows who are celebrating a year in their new homes that World Relief gave to them. We were able to participate in the celebration dance and ceremony.
Note the baby on the back of the Mom.
The United States Embassy.
Just down the road from the Embassy are mud homes with large families living in one room.
Our guest house. World Relief owns it.
Faustin, the guard, for the guest house. He was always worried about us when we went out at night.
Rafiki was the organization out of the eight that we met with that seemed like the best fit for us. It is an orphanage which will eventually be the home of hundreds of Rwandan children. They are currently building the village.
Keri and I at the entrance to Rafiki Village Rwanda.
Keri and I had the pleasure of meeting Cricket in the states. She is South African and serves with Rafiki in Rwanda. She has such a heart for the children and does such a wonderful job of loving people. We enjoyed our time with her so much.
Keri and Angie with a Rwandan nurse. We were able to go and tour the entire hospital because Keri and Angie are nurses. Pretty amazing.
The entrance sign to Kibagabaga hospital located just outside of Kigali.
A gas station in Kigali. You pay the attendant at the pump in cash. There is not a convenience store.
Roughly translated...Gas was about $2 a liter. And we thought we had it bad.
The server told us that one pizza would not feed two of us.
They are currently trying to identify bodies. So far, only 1,000 of the 250,000 at this memorial have been identified.
The English-speaking church we attended on Sunday. 
In the villages this is how people sift the dirt to make cement.
One of the many hills that the city of Kigali sits on.
Rwandans carry everything on their head. When I say everything I mean everything!
Keri, Mark, and Angie near our guesthouse with local children. We "muzungoos" aka white people were instant hits with the kids!
I loved this kids shirt! "I hear voices..." Oh, do you? :)
Rwandan women dressed in their traditional clothing called "mushananas". Keri remembers it by thinking of "mush a banana. These women are widows who are celebrating a year in their new homes that World Relief gave to them. We were able to participate in the celebration dance and ceremony.
Note the baby on the back of the Mom.
The United States Embassy.
Just down the road from the Embassy are mud homes with large families living in one room.
Our guest house. World Relief owns it.
Faustin, the guard, for the guest house. He was always worried about us when we went out at night.
Rafiki was the organization out of the eight that we met with that seemed like the best fit for us. It is an orphanage which will eventually be the home of hundreds of Rwandan children. They are currently building the village.
Keri and I at the entrance to Rafiki Village Rwanda.
Keri and I had the pleasure of meeting Cricket in the states. She is South African and serves with Rafiki in Rwanda. She has such a heart for the children and does such a wonderful job of loving people. We enjoyed our time with her so much.
Keri and Angie with a Rwandan nurse. We were able to go and tour the entire hospital because Keri and Angie are nurses. Pretty amazing.
The entrance sign to Kibagabaga hospital located just outside of Kigali.
A gas station in Kigali. You pay the attendant at the pump in cash. There is not a convenience store.
Roughly translated...Gas was about $2 a liter. And we thought we had it bad.
The server told us that one pizza would not feed two of us. Well it could have, but Steven ate his entire pizza plus half of Keri's!!
This shed behind our guest house was a hiding place for 50 Tutsi's during the genocide.
Not the safest scaffolding someone could create but I guess it'll do.
For those who have seen the movie Hotel Rwanda, this is the real Hotel Des Milles Coline.
Traveling was cramped!
A Rwandan women carrying one of the multiple varieties of bananas to the local market.
I thought this was a cool shot. While we were traveling between Kigali and Musanze these signs were scattered throughout the journey.
We were able to visit Shyra Hospital outside of Musanze.
This shed behind our guest house was a hiding place for 50 Tutsi's during the genocide.
Not the safest scaffolding someone could create but I guess it'll do.
For those who have seen the movie Hotel Rwanda, this is the real Hotel Des Milles Coline.
Traveling was cramped!
A Rwandan women carrying one of the multiple varieties of bananas to the local market.
I thought this was a cool shot. While we were traveling between Kigali and Musanze these signs were scattered throughout the journey.
We were able to visit Shyra Hospital outside of Musanze. Notice all the mosquito nets around the beds.
Any women care to give up the comforts of delivery in America for this comfy chair?
Keri only had to wear this hat to go into the OR to see a C-section!
This baby was born minutes before Keri entered the room.
This woman is carrying 30 bricks on her head. I asked a Rwandan who was in the bus with me if that would hurt. He responded by stating that "we in Rwanda have many neck problems." I wonder why!
This is a zoomed in photo of people farming the hill sides. They looked like ants from a distance. There were hundreds of them.
Mark and Angie leaving.
Keri and I at the sacred forest. Hundreds of years ago the Rwandan Monarchy would come here to become crowned King or Queen.
The Land of a Thousand Hills.
A child trying to sell me sugar cane while we were driving by.
I bought the sugar cane!
The chef at the guesthouse in Musanze teaching us how to prepare our sugar cane.
Any women care to give up the comforts of delivery in America for this comfy chair?
Keri only had to wear this hat to go into the OR to see a C-section!
This baby was born minutes before Keri entered the room.
This woman is carrying 30 bricks on her head. I asked a Rwandan who was in the bus with me if that would hurt. He responded by stating that "we in Rwanda have many neck problems." I wonder why!
This is a zoomed in photo of people farming the hill sides. They looked like ants from a distance. There were hundreds of them.
Mark and Angie leaving.
Keri and I at the sacred forest. Hundreds of years ago the Rwandan Monarchy would come here to become crowned King or Queen.
The Land of a Thousand Hills.
A child trying to sell me sugar cane while we were driving by.
I bought the sugar cane!
The chef at the guesthouse in Musanze teaching us how to prepare our sugar cane.
No comments:
Post a Comment