Katie expected to visit the Internet Cafe in Gitarama today. And didn't.
She expected to write a Blogpost today. And hasn't.
Katie didn't expect to chat to her parents on the phone today. And did.
Now Katie trusts her Mum to write the Blogpost for her...!
The first week in and around Gitarama, Rwanda has been a blur of visits to projects and meeeting new people with the challenge of being unable to speak Kinrwandan to people who are, mostly, unable to speak English. Katie and the other girls have dug holes for fruit trees, have done a bit of house building, have attended a college graduation ceremony and have visited a nursery class. Quite a mixture! Today Katie attempted teaching a class of 15 - 18 year olds (without the help of an interpreter) and sang 'Heads, shoulders, knees and toes' to them.
The team (aka The Wandering Minstrels) performed to a nursery class, sang at church last Sunday and are singing 'Blessed be your Name' and a song in Kinrwandan at church tomorrow.
The girls had anticipated joining in with whatever projects were on the go. Instead they have been asked what they would like to do. This is challenging.
Need is obvious. On a visit to a Health Clinic where there are no doctors, the girls were asked to send doctors out to help, or to go home and train as doctors themselves.
It's a challenge to write Kaite's Blogpost using only information gleaned from a few text messages and a short phonecall. If the information is incorrect, please don't blame Katie!
Although internet access is likely to be sporadic, I know Katie would still appreciate hearing from you, her friends. Thank you.
Well Katie - that's your next step clarified - a medical degree!
ReplyDeleteWe are all missing you around the office and doing our best to keep things tidy.
L xx
Hi Katie's mum - well done with the blog update!!
ReplyDeleteKatie, it sounds like you've had an interesting few days - digging holes for trees and singing to a class of 15-18yr olds! I know it's not easy when you don't know exactly how you can best help the work and are faced with that sort of decision, and yet you also don't know the work well enough to make an informed decision. I will pray God gives you, the team and the project staff great discernment in this.
Please also remember that we are human beings, not human doings and that sometimes just being there, being a listening ear, providing an encouraging word, offering to pray, can be a huge thing for the staff, children and volunteers out there. We don't always have to be busy. I know how hard that is though. I remember feeling useless a lot when I first went to Uganda and also when I was in India and discovered that the project we were meant to do was never going to happen. I also remember being challenged about my need to feel needed! God took you there and has a reason for you being there so be encouraged.
I'm writing as if you're discouraged and maybe you're not at all, so please ignore this if I've misread things...or maybe it'll come in useful in the future!
Sending lots of love
Gill x
Just read my comment and wanted to say that I'm sure you will / are able to serve in a practical way too 'cos I know that's why you went. That's my prayer - for discernment as to how you can best use your time, skills and resources.
ReplyDeleteG x
Very encouraging comments Gill, don't need to ask what one of YOUR gifts is! I guess it's challenging to think you could be wasting time having travelled so far but you're right, that sometimes people need us alongside rather than do, do, doing.
ReplyDelete