NO Repeat on this Monday!!

It's 9:21 pm and the house is quiet almost... Beni seems to think his foot hurts.

Whatever...

At this point, I'm not too concerned nor do I have the energy to spend on it.

Serge has just got home from Bible study - it was good - and now it's supper for him.

Okay... just so you know it's been a day and I'm venting!!

This morning started at 5:40am... like it does each morning Prince goes to school. Yes, he's to be on summer vacation but he needed to go back for summer school. That's okay with me, but it just means I get up earlier than I want when it's supposed to be 'vacation' time!

The Beni and Isabella at 6:30 am... and the day rolls from there.

It's Monday - start of a new week and I was ready for it.

Serge graduated on Friday evening so this was to be MY week to get stuff done. The stuff that I've been putting off for the last three months in order to stay sane.

Well... breakfast no problem. First load of laundry - no problem.

But then the problems start... and LAST ALL DAY!!!

I decided to start with a quick scan of email and catch up with what I can. Internet is NOT happening. Nor is texting, and phone calls are a hit and miss. Annoying at first as I just thought it was temporary... but no... lasts till tonight. (Speed seems extra fast tonight... or maybe that's just because we had none all day!)

I need to do finances... seriously!!! My computer has a battery that doesn't keep a charge - hence I need to be plugged into electricity. Well.. electricity was on an off I don't know how many times. I just know that if I had a dollar for every time it went off today, I'd be rich! 

My laundry... well, as I said, first load was no problem. Second load finished at 6:30pm!!! After EIGHT... yes, EIGHT attempts to wash it. Guess it should be clean. Sure hope tomorrow is a better day for wash!

And need I mention the kids... hyper, screaming, whining... the works. 

Somewhere in the midst of my day, I did manage to get a text to Serge saying that I 'needed to go far, far away...'

He came home and I completely melted down with him... you know, the ugly cry.

Took me to about 2:30 pm to 'abandon' my day. Why it took me so long, I'm not sure... thinking it's the Lichty stubbornness or something. 

In my abandonment - I decided to write Christmas Cards!

Sure hope that what I wrote is 'nice'!

Praying for a better Tuesday.

Good Night!

Serge Graduates!

Serge graduated last night from the Business Development Centre.

The centre is a partnership between the government of Rwanda, International Christian Chamber of Commerce and Regent University.

Link to Course Description

It was a three month intensive course on entrepreneurship. Not only did he gain great academics (he was one of the top five business plan finalists) but also great friendships with the business executives who came each week to coach them through the program.

Serge took the course to expand his knowledge in this area so he could be better equipped to teach and guide the vulnerable in Rwanda to be or be better entrepreneurs.

Time well spent.

Graduate!
Medal for Servant Leadership and
Certificate for completion



Class with some of the business coaches



Proud wife!

Serge with one of his teachers
Jason Benedict from Regent University

14 years old!!

On Saturday we had a party to celebrate Prince's Birthday.
It was a great day. Lots of energy, games, pizza and cake.
Serge and I were declared 'the coolest parents'... so I guess that's says something :-)

14 years old!

The cake... Aresnal - his favourite football team!

I Have a Name!!!

We have lived in our neighbourhood for almost six years.

Along the road there is a cluster of much poorer homes and kiosks (little shops). With this cluster of homes, come children by the dozen.

Each time I pass through these homes, these children yell... 'Muzungu!!'

Muzungu means 'foreigner, white person.' It's a word of observation - nothing deragatory about it.. just a gesture of letting everyone know that there is a white person passing.

I can drive through there 3,4,5 or 6 times a day and it's the same thing every time. 'MUZUNGU!!'

I just smile and wave.

Well...Beni has been going down to the kiosks with Bucumi and Solange, our house help, to get various items when we need them.

Last week when I drove through the homes, I  heard... 'Mama Beni!'

I am no longer Muzungu. I have a name!! 

I'm quite pleased about this.

When we pass with Beni in the car... it's like he's a major football star passing through - it's hilarious! They all come running, yelling his name and want to greet him.

So much for the rest of us... but I'm happy with Mama Beni!

Six stores and counting...

So I'm making some cakes today...

Needed more baking soda.

So when I dropped Serge at the office  this morning, I thought.. I'll just run into our corner supermarket and get some. Well.... 6...yes, SIX stores later and still no baking soda.

Sometimes I really feel like Rwanda is such a different place than when I first came in 2003 and then I have experiences like this and I have to smile. Lots of change is happening...but sometimes one can still spend hours going from store to store trying to find something I would call basic. 

About to put the kids down for a nap and I'll head out again. This time to town.

Six stores and counting...