“No, what comes after B?”
…silence…
“It’s a, b, then C, right? C!”
…silence…
“Okay, it’s alright if you didn’t understand at first, but when you’re trying to figure out your notes, just use your alphabet. All you need is-”
“Ummm, Mr. Frank?” my interpreter interrupts.
“ -Yes?” I reply caught off gaurd a bit.
He continues, “She doesn’t understand.”
“Well, lets try again-” I suggest
“No," he insists. "I mean she doesn’t understand the alphabet. She has never been to school and can’t read.”
…silence… but this time not from a student that I was teaching piano to. No, but from me after my interpreter informed me of this young adult’s inability to read.
Sitting beside her, was humbling. I didn’t consider the possibility that here in Rwanda I’d be teaching keyboard to those who can’t read. I understood that learning the keyboard was desired by my five students, but I didn’t realize how great of an opportunity this was for them. This is teaching them a skill, a life lesson that they can develop and become great at.
It’s been 2.5 weeks of teaching every day. It’s fun, but tiring. I now have a new respect for my old piano teachers who had to listen to the same 3 chords, played over and over again back when i was learning…
Today is the last day here in Rwanda, and it’s been such an encouragement to see how much of a blessing our team has been here in Rwanda. From evangelism, speaking on the radio, painting a mural on the wall of the church, teaching piano and voice lessons, and spending time with the contacts family to cooking no-bake cookies and sharing them with the people around us. It’s a beautiful thing to see a smile as their attempt of two simple words, “thank you”.
So heres what I want to get to; or what I’ve learned this month: the words “thank you”… these are two words I plan to use much more often. And what I mean is being thankful for the little things. Isn’t that what we should do anyways. God shows His incredible love for us by sending His son to die on a cross. We say thank you by living thru and for him. It’s just a simple concept, but from all the thanks that we as a team have gotten here this month, I wanna say “right back at you” to all those who opened their homes, hearts, and lives with us.
I thought it was so funny the first time I said thank you for dinner. One lady replied in a broken english accent “thank you too.” She was thanking me for being thankful… how’s that for an idea… haha.
So where to now… well off to Uganda to form new teams again.
Over the last 2 weeks 8 people have left the squad… theres been quite a fuss raised, and lots of questions asked. I’m planing on staying until the end of the 11 months, but it is hard to say goodbye to people who make up your family on this side of the world. Everyone is taking it differently. Some are hardened by it, some are upset. Some are sad, and some want to jump on this band-wagon of leaving… I mean it’s tough seeing on facebook the people that you used to share meals with, be surrounded by their own friends and family living back home and settling in just fine; around their own familiar dinner table. It makes me miss home all the more.
But I’m thankful for where I am, and I’m excited to see whats next. So after the squad comes together, the now only 30 of us, will break off and head to ministry. Apparently this coming month is the month that we’re in “the land of no internet”. I hear that I wont even have electricity, let alone internet. So it should be fun! Can’t wait.
thanks for reading
