I Gonna Be a History Maker...

So a while back I downloaded a bunch of music and some of it ended up being some memories.

As I was working today, the song History Marker came through the shuffle. 

I got thinking about my life here in Rwanda ...

I'm gonna be a history maker in this land

I'm gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind

Well I don't know if I will be a history maker in Rwanda.. but somehow I sure hope so. 

I thought back over all the people who I have spent time with here - refugees, women, orphans... the most vulnerable. I pray that my time with them, in whatever capacity has encouraged them to move forward in their lives spiritually, socially and economically. 

I do know that I will speak truth to all - no matter what comes. 

Well it's true today that when people stand

With the fire of God, and the truth in hand

We'll see miracles, we'll see angels sing

We'll see broken hearts making history

Yes it's true and I believe it

Yes I do believe it. 

Sometimes people DO need someone to stand for them and with them. 

To encourage them to take a step forward in the right direction. 

And as we pray... the unbelievable can happen in peoples lives. 

We have seen and will continue to see people - orphans, widows. refugees - go beyond anything that people thought they would - until someone would stand for/with them believing in the power of God to transform a life. 

I guess I am part of making history as a line of people runs through my head... 

(PS If you're born in the 90's or later check out this classic by Martin Smith and Delirious?...)

March 22: World Water Day

Quote from the UN Water Day website

'Water is the essential building block of life. But it is more than just essential to quench thirst or protect health; water is vital for creating jobs and supporting economic, social, and human development.

Today, there are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to home, spending countless hours queuing or trekking to distant sources, and coping with the health impacts of using contaminated water.

2017 Theme: Why Wastewater?'

Read the rest of the article on UN Water Day to gain a quick insight into the water situation in the world.

I am once again challenged about how I use water... and I live in a country where at any given time I need to haul jerry cans of it because we're out. Praying that I will be a better steward from this day forward.

This is Adele. She is one of our Komeza Women who works full-time at J.Lynn's.

Most every day she leaves the shop carrying a 3L bottle of filtered water on her head.

One could say she's stealing water... and that would be true.

But you know what? I don't care.

I know to stay as healthy as she can, she needs that water.

Adele is one of our women who is HIV. She is healthy and strong most of the time and her blood counts are good. When she is not strong, I know that she is not eating well enough or drinking enough.

Hence, I don't care of Adele 'steals' our clean water. She needs it.

She is also carrying home a bag of empty plastic water bottles after a busy day at the shop.

She will resell them for a small profit.

Recycling!

Food - Pleasure or Necessity?

Last night I was chatting with a dear friend in Canada. 

She has been here multiple times and is coming back soon. (YEAH!)

She was lamenting the fact that the rest of her family was not coming with her (they have in the past) and what her son wouldn't do for some baked tortilla chips from J.Lynn's and a Fanta Fiesta. 

She then made the comment about how much they talked about and enjoyed the food while they were in Rwanda. 

I responded to her... 'I just wish that I could get my women to understand how much people enjoy the food they make!' 

You see, in many parts of the world people eat to survive. They don't eat because they can or even think that they have a choice in what they could eat or want to eat. 

In the western world - especially North America, life evolves around food and we are preoccupied with what we might want to eat next or what we NEED right now.   

I remember well when Serge and I started hanging out and we would go out for something to eat. 

I'd ask him what he was hungry for....

Food was his answer. 

I would get frustrated because surely he could think if he wanted chicken or beef! 

No so... 

(We've now been married for over 11 years and 'sad' to say, he does know what he wants now when I ask that question!)

So back to my women... they don't understand that the bagels they make, the donuts, the cupcakes, the baked tortilla chips, hummus, salsa, etc ... are loved by so many people!

That they are making food that makes people happy! 

That it brings a sense of 'home' to someone that is thousands of miles from where the rest of their family is. 

I keep trying to get them to understand ... I want them to be proud of how happy they make people by simply making some great food. 

Proud RwandaMomma Moment...

This term of school, I've been picking up Democracy as he's headed out to school and I'm on my way to J.Lynn's after dropping the kids at school in the morning. 

(Democracy is a former street kid in Kigali, we've been journeying life alongside him for over 10 years. He is currently in his 2nd year of auto mechanics. We also got him an 'apprenticeship' - working for free for experience - alongside a Canadian guy here who started a garage.)

This morning I picked him up on the way and he was having serious conversation on his phone. I immediately understood that he was explaining in detail, to a customer, what repairs needed to happen to their vehicle. 

He was on his way to school to write an exam BUT he sorted a customer first about their vehicle. 

He told me that other guys would fix it at the shop while he was writing the exam. 

My proud moment... he knew what was wrong, knew how to sort the customer and the customer trusted his knowledge and experience...

AND he was headed into some mechanical exam (yeah, I know... I really don't know...)

He is already a good mechanic ... and keeps getting better as the days go by. (He's the first one Serge calls now...)

May he become famous in Kigali as the honest and knowledgeable go to mechanic guy. 

That's my prayer!

I have no doubt Democracy will continue to make me proud. 

Yes He knows more than checking the oil... !!

Flowers for Mom

Found the following on my phone. 

Taken by Beni

'Because you love flowers mom!'

Love my boy

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow flowers

He was SO proud he got the ant!

Just a nice purple one, Mom... 

This is My Life..

Here sits Miss Isabella... homemade oatmeal mask and Judy Blume. 

She says it makes her face smoother than the avocado one... 

She's TEN!!