..::Rwanda Ruckus::.. - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

This has definitely been the most random month of the Race thus far… Here’s a recap:

Upon arriving at our contact’s house, Pastor James & his wife gave us each Rwandese names.
Day 2 – we walk to the town hall to show our passports to the town’s official so that he knows we are visitors. Sarah is given away in marriage…
African graduation party — started a dance party with a nun.
African wedding – I don’t even know the bride’s name, but she was beautiful & we were able to start a dance party before everyone left.

Sitting in a hammock for 2 hours … you would think it would be a peaceful time…however, waking up to three women and a few small children hovering over me = not so peaceful.
Valentine’s Day in Rwanda = best.day.ever.
We walk everywhere. Not a big deal. HOWEVER. Every time we walk DOWN a hill, my constant thought is … eventually we have to walk back up. dang it.

The moon & sun rise super quickly here…
Girls Night Out = 5 girls. each ordered a pizza somewhere between the size of a medium/large pizza. Waiter laughed when we said we wanted 5. Not one bite of pizza left over. Sick? Probably. Well worth it? Definitely.
Tricia peed her pants. No joke.
I can successfully brush my teeth without using water. Definitely not recommended.
We were told we would build the roof of a church in the morning. Morning comes. Pastor tells us the engineer needs today to figure things out & we will build tomorrow. We spend the morning playing cards & listening to music.

Day 2 of “roof building” = Pastor walks in, tells us it’s been raining too much, and we cannot build today. Instead, he would like to take us to a swimming pool to have a day of relaxing. 7 adults play Sharks & Minnows in a Rwandese swimming pool. This is my life.
Eventually we do get to help build the roof. What I really mean by that is the men get to help build the roof while the women plant grass.

This month’s off-day hang out place = the airport … good ice cream + wireless internet.
At one point during one of our many sermons, Amber was leading declarations with the congregation… in the hype of the moment one of her decs was “I CAN SPEAK ENGLISH!” … good, Amber.
We were invited to attend a pastors’ ordination ceremony. We danced. Heard some African R&B-style worship. Sat through the ceremony in which we understood nothing…then received two sodas. Praise the Lord.

Sarah finally wakes up before anyone else — she proceeds to find her speakers & blare “RESPECT” to wake the rest up… a morning dance party with Aretha + Lady Gaga is always a good start to our day… 🙂
The World Race has made us so disgusting that when we convinced our squad leader, Tricia, that the bucket in the corner of our bedroom [hidden behind a sarong] was our toilet for the month, she never once doubted that truth. Sucker.
Holding the hands of a child throughout the entire church service is one of my favorite feelings. I love these children.

You know those people at church who almost constantly say “Amen” or “Hallelujah!” or “That’s right,” “Come on,” “Preach it,” etc…? yep. I’m one of those now…
In one door-to-door home, the Mama let me hold her 4 month old son, King, who proceeded to fall asleep in my arms. Beautiful.
The last Saturday of every month Rwanda declares national community clean-up day… or something like that. No vehicles run. No stores are open. Everyone gets together to clean up the land. I used this time to practice my golf swing while hacking the overgrown grass near our home.

If I could find a “twin” for people back home, this month I did. I found the African version of…
- My childhood best friend, Meghan, when we were in 4^th grade.
- Chad Tweedy as a 7^th grader.
- My cousin Quinn when he was 10.
- Carson Walker – last summer.

Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of these people.

Our last Sunday here, we woke up early to take an hour & a half crowded van ride to a beautiful lake. Several church members were baptized. Sarah was one of them. Amen.

Recent Posts