Reflecting and Connecting (note...open is not kid friendly)

Reflecting and Connecting, Reflecting section is NOT NOT kid friendly if you are sharing this blog with your family move to the connecting section with the +++++…) Reflecting Sarah and Liles started the morning with trying to comprehend the power of the Genocide. It also turned into a tour of the city and countryside as the Kinyarwanda speaking driver did not quite understand where he was supposed to take them. Eventually they got to the national Genocide Museum and another museum in a rural area. The rural one is quite powerful as it is a church in which 5000 people died. They sought refuge there during the genocide and were killed. There are sheds that feature just bones and skulls. Others that house all the clothes the people were wearing and another that shows the things they were carrying like suitcases, plates, photos etc. It’s very personal and very moving.Incomprehensible doesn't come close to trying to describe it. Until just a few years ago they had left the bodies in the position that they were killed as a living memorial and people walked through it to really understand the impact. The National Museum is the burial ground for over 400,000 people. One of the most powerful is a room with individual photos of the kids that were killed. It features their names, things they liked to do it etc. Needless to say their drive home was primarily in silence and we could feel their broken hearts throughout the day. +++++++++++++++++++++++Connecting+++++++++++++++++++++++ kid friendly++++++++++++++ We had the opportunity to do some serious skyping today. We spoke with Abby and Sarah who visited about 2 years ago. They had a great conversation. The kids recognized them and asked lot of questions and they did the same. Isaac tested them to see if they would simply recognize his voice…which they did and he beamed with great joy. They showed them their morning bagel and asked about another Sarah who visited at the same time that they did. It’s so wonderful to see the true lasting impression each of our visitors makes with our kids. They kept asking when they would return. Then we talked to the Fredrick girls. They were ADORABLE. They asked our kids lots of good questions as did our kids. One of the favorite things the girls showed us in Rwanda was their pet guinea pig Sassy. The kids thought have A PIG was a fun idea. Then they asked if we had any pets. The kids told them they just have the Hens. The Frederick girls same them a song that our kids knew…Twinkle Twinkle and they thought it was very cool. I can’t remember what our kids sang as it was different on a few calls. I think they sang Jesus loves the little children. Our kids thanked their kids for helping them and asked if they could please come visit us. And of course…they asked their favorite question of the week…Do you skate? When the answer came back YES, they were excited. Then they wanted to know if they do it every day. They are fascinated with the concept. We hoped to talked to my God Daughters Sydney and Regan as Marie Rose was so excited to meet the people that are sponsoring her at school. But alas their schedule got busy and they couldn’t dial in. We hope to do it very soon as Marie Rose really wants to talk to them. We then connected with Bobbi who is the ‘2nd’ Mom of Rosemary and Paulo and one of their kids. They had a great time as Bobbi recognized many of the kids and they loved seeing their other daughter on the computer too. This is the family that taught the kids the song “Making Melodies with my Heart”. If you have been to Rwanda for a visit surely you have sung this song at least 1x each day if not 10. Lastly we talked to Max and Henry in MN. They really wanted to talk to the boys as they knew they SKATED. They boys were especially happy to talk to them. They told us all sorts of interesting things. Of the favorite was seeing their iceskates on the camera and then seeing them get ready for school all bundled up in the their hats and scarves etc etc. When their Mom Erika put the scarf around the a big part of her face they all looked at me with funny expressions of …so you really do that? …is it really that cold? The skype connection today was AWESOME. The calls are a lot of work but it’s been fun for our kids to meet your kids. We’re game for a few more calls if people are inspired. I know we are going to try with Leslie and with the Hansen’s and Alice/Martin. The rest of the day was spent learning and playing. On the learning front I was the morning teacher and Liles and Sarah took over the afternoon shift. In the morning we divided the class into 2 sections. 1 for the little and 1 for the big. The little kids had to copy the stick person outline that I made on the board and write the body parts. The big kids had to do come conjunctions…some could do it…and some math. One of the most precious parts is when the kids finish their work in their books they bring it to the teacher for review. The teacher puts a check mark by the correct answers and then they fix the wrong ones. I have taken to drawing hearts and stars and writing a little note about what a great job they did etc. I simply hand it to them and don’t say anything. Then the look at the words and walk away with HUGE HUGE smiles on their faces. Learning new things is so important to them and they take such pride in learning. Just 2 years ago, they couldn’t speak a word of English. Oh, if we only had our kids embrace new languages in such an important way. Liles of course got the kids playing a rousing game of Tag/Hide and go Seek. He is soooooooooooooo fast as he runs around trying to tag people and just barely missing them (wink wink) as he slides into the grass and falls. Everyone loves him, but especially the boys. The computers continue to be a massive hit. It is a bit frightening to see how quickly they become westernized when they are introduced into their lives. The simply want to see in front of them an learn. Thankfully the only things they can are educational games like math, English etc and we remain focused on in class room training and playing outside. It is however important the that younger kids get the hang of how to use them as the big kids head to school shortly and won’t be back until March for Spring break. Sarah continues to love on these kids in a very powerful way. They love being loved. They love sitting in her lap and just feeling her skin and having her rub their head or back. Or sitting in her lap to read. She told the kids today that she leaves tomorrow and they were very very sad. Liles and I will miss her presence terribly, but thankfully we have one more visitor coming to be with us. More about that tomorrow. We also tried an exercise where one of the kids read a book out load and the kids draw something from the book as they love to draw. Unfortunately the kids don’t quite read load enough to be heard so …oh well…lesson learned. Kurplunk was taken out of my bag today. Yeah…they think it is great fun. You were very creative in thinking about games that they could enjoy and learn from. The In-voo-rah (rain) game a bit late today but is did come. Yeah…more water for our buckets. This evening I continued with my English lessons for the Adults and Sarah and Liles taught the kids how to make paper airplanes and see how far they could fly. Liles or Sarah…I’m not sure which…came up with the idea of teaching them a new dance. The macarana. The 3 of us demonstrated a few times and then the adults and kids joined in. The laughter filled the hills around us. Speaking of laughter, early in the evening the power went out as the rain came and dinner was being prepared. We had 2 headlamps with us and gave one to Mama Imaculee who used it with great humor in the kitchen and Sarah held the other one up in the air to light a living room where everyone is gathered. We sang song and entertained the kids while the Moms and Aunties tried to bring milk to each child in the dark. All in all it was a rather tight operation for the circumstances. The joy on a childs face is such a gift and so many of you have brought that joy to our kids and we thank you. May you reflect on the meaningful aspects of you life today and important connections.