Cori at the O.R. Tambo airport before our flight.
When we arrived in the Kigali airport, we found this amazing new mural in the updated restaurant. . .
And some radical-looking trays of ice cream.
Here they are.
Close-up on the passion fruit.
Cori and I stayed with her friend and work associate Penine. This is the view from her front door.
This is Penine's house from the outside. It's on a sort of hill. I eventually learned the way to it from the main road as I walked it a few times.
After getting some sleep from 5am until 9am, we set off on a full day of activities related to Shalom (Educating for Peace) that Cori works for. Here she is busy signing some certificates for teachers who went through one of Shalom's trainings. The Rwandan director of Shalom is Jean de Dieu Basabose, on the left.
Penine (on the left) also joined in on stamping the certificates.
These particular teachers work at a psychiatric center for children, one of the only and best ones in the country. They had been busy preparing some dance and music for us.
Here are three of the boys who drummed with exceptional ability.
The school's director outlined the schedule of the day's events for everyone.
Drumming, led by the teacher on the left.
Then everyone else in the school gathered in the back to sing for the upcoming dancers.
They entered with flair.
And danced with flair!
A little one looks on.
This dancer was especially enthusiastic.
And they were all great fun to watch.
After the dance we got a tour of the buildings. Outside of each room was a plaque with a small painting on it depicting a symbol of the meaning for that room's activity for the childrens comprehension. This one was the study room.
A chalkboard in use.
You could find Rwanda's president Paul Kagame's photo up in most Rwandan establishments.
One of the activity rooms.
On our tour. . .
This volunteer on the left helped explain the rooms to us.
And this teacher as well. She was pointing out the way the children learned to measure things (see next photo).
The bins hold substances the children learn to measure.
To explain the day's schedule for the children, the teachers again use symbols (pictures) depicting activities that can be moved around according to that particular day's events.
The jars symbolize the days of the week (the doll is sitting on Thursday, which was that day), and this woman is pointing out the bottle caps used to represent dates in the month.
This is the art room.
And a close up of some creative projects.
With this device the children learn to make soap.
Outside Penine takes a break on the merry-go-round.
Another creative project done in the dirt with colored bottle caps. It represents a family.
Then we entered the room where the award ceremony for the teachers as well as a lengthy skit took place.
Basabose, and- who's that behind him? Miss Kigali attended our humble event!
Here she sat in her princess crown.
A teacher explained how the training helped her in her interactions with her fellow teachers and the children. They had learned many ways of using non-violence in their job.
Then began a very in-depth skit led by the teachers, depicting the transformation that takes place when a family takes their disabled child to the center and learns how to better understand and love her. Here is the mother and her child before rehabilitation.
Before rehabilitation, the child is shown as very withdrawn and scared.
The mother and father seem oblivious as to what their child's problem is and the mother protests that she ended up the way she is because her husband beat her when she was pregnant.
The mother eventually concedes to taking her child to the center.
Here the child is reintroduced to the home and the parents learn that she can do many more things for herself than they were previously aware.
Such as counting beans.
Basabose gives his commentary.
And of course Miss Kigali was urged to give her two cents on the psychiatric center and Shalom's contribution.
The teachers were thrilled to receive their certificates of completion.
Basabose introduces the handing out of them.
Teachers and visitors look on.
The princess in a doorway.
Cori (R) got to hand out the certificates with Miss Kigali.
Here is a shot of all the teachers and Shalom board.
Afterward they served us food and drink.
Later that afternoon we walked to a high school where Cori spoke to some of the teachers on the subject of non-violent discipline. The walk was gorgeous. . .
I followed Penine.
And got sidetracked along the way.
I like really green things.
Penine was patient with me.
On the way. . .
On the right is the high school.
We arrived a bit late. The classroom was dark. I still thought a photo would be fun though.
The teachers sat in their students' seats as the listened to Cori and Penine, who translated for her to Kinyarwandan.
Cori and Penine made a good speaking pair.
Cori likes to use her hands to express her meaning. . . The teachers asked good questions afterward. Even though it was late, the talk seemed to be a hit.
The next morning I took my first ride on the back of a motorbike.
Friday, the first of the 3-day Shalom conference, began in Rwamagana. We walked from the bus station to the meeting room where Basabose, Penine, and Cori spoke. On the way, we noticed this bird in the trees above attending to her young.
Colin? Any idea what bird this is?
Again, Penine translated when Cori spoke, this time using South African stories to exemplify the challenges that come with forgiveness and making the choice to be non-violent.
Again, her hands helped her to communicate (I'm just teasing you Cori, I would do the same, it can be very expressive and effective in speaking I believe)
Skipping across a day to Sunday, when I took a day away from the conference and went to the local church with Penine's brother-in-law in Kimirongo, where we stayed. Later that day I took a walk. . . all by myself. (Penine had told me how to get to a cow barn. . . just follow this path across this neighbor's yard to the street and turn right. . . ).
It was very picturesque.
Mm, I just love pictures like this.
There they are! Moo.
Found some flowers amidst forgotten stacks of bricks.
The end of the cow shed.
Another yummy photo.
Self-portrait?
Alley way of weeds.
Banana trees are rampant in Rwanda.
Jean-Marie, who stays with Penine, let me take his picture as he prepared our dinner in the backyard.
Monday morning. . . I was still waking up. I had a big day ahead of me though. Penine put breakfast on the front porch.
Cori and I.
I spent this special day with Steven, a man blessed by God who cares for many orphans, 14 of them in his own household. He first took me to his house, where we visited some of his little ones, then we took motorbikes and bicycles (like these) into Gasogi, where we met with the widows he assists. Steven is just ahead of me in the blue and orange shirt.
A house on the way.
Another.
Steven's bicycle leading the way.
Our first visit was to Steven's widows' project (New Destiny for Orphans and Widows is his organization's name), where he introduced me to the widows and asked me to give some words of encouragement. As is customary in such situations, I did my best to "give a few words," explaining what I do and then giving words of appreciation and encouragement. Afterward I asked if the women had any questions, and to my delight, a few came up and one by one, gave me snapshots of their own personal stories. Most of these widows survived the 1994 genocide. A number are HIV positive, many have injuries, some are nearly blind, and all as a result of the genocide. A friend from South Africa helped Steven secure a number of sewing machines and now the women are hard at work on various sewing projects to try and make sustainable livings for themselves. The women were thrilled for me to take their pictures, and so I toured the room, focusing on individuals or small groups.
This women was one of those to stand and tell her story. I admired her dignity, courage, and honesty.
This guy was the only man and seemed to be one of their instructors. Everyone giggled when I went to capture his photo with the woman.
There were all ages, including young girls.
This woman was the first to stand in the front and tell me her story as Steven translated for her. She suffered injuries during the genocide but today is able to smile again and has a hopeful spirit. Many of the women suffered from very poor eyesight due to smoke and teargas to which they were subjected. After the photos, those women suffering from poor eyesight gathered outside. We sat in a group in the grass and Steven led a brainstorming session (which I was so privileged to join!) about what these women could do since sewing was harder for them. . . They decided upon making necklaces. We are busy updating Steven's website with this new information detailing the funds he needs to help them start. Steven is a man of very humble means who struggles just to feed his own family. If you are interested in helping to support any of his projects, please go to: www.friendsofsteven.org. It may well be the best use you've ever made of your money.
In the taxi on our way to get lunch and find an internet cafe to investigate some things after our brainstorming with the widows.
Many taxis proclaim faith in God.
Me and Steven, in transit!
From the restaurant where we ate, we had a great view, and at one point were surprised as army vehicles drove by in pomp and circumstance, filled with men. I think it was for their president, Paul Kagame.
As I said, FILLED with men.
The view from our seats in the restaurant.
A nice profile of Steven as we waited (for quite a while) for our food.
The view.
I had a unique vantage point to sneak cool pictures of passers-by.
On our way back to Gasogi in another taxi to visit the orphan boys Steven pastors.
Out the window shots end up being some of my best on such trips.
Passing billboard.
Originally "GOD IS GOOD," I presumed.
This was in transit on the motorbikes we took to our ultimate destination in the fields of Gasogi, where the teenage boys were playing soccer in their uniforms given to them by friends (they have an official team) and dancers prepared- for my visit! I was honored.
Another view.
En route still.
We finally arrived. Sadly, we were much later than we anticipated, and Steven and I had to make a quick decision. He had really wanted me to meet a woman friend of his who had an amazing story. He wasn't sure why, but he felt it was important. We decided that in order to still meet with her before it got dark and too dangerous for me to return to Penine's, we would have to leave the soccer field early. But I still got a chance to see some of them dance. . .
They were just "practicing," I was told. But they were good!
Most people were more enthralled to watch me, and so I laughed and enjoyed the dancing with much gusto.
As always, the kids were psyched to get in the photos. . .
Last photo before we headed back into town, where I met the woman about whom Steven had told me.
She had survived the genocide and told her story succinctly with some difficulty but great courage as Steven translated. Afterwards, I only just felt compelled to pray with her, and so we did. We became friends that night, and we now email. It was certainly a divine appointment, we were both blessed to meet one another. . .
Center of Kigali.
The next day was somewhat more relaxed, as I met up with a friend from Uganda who I had met a few weeks earlier at the annual Amahoro conference (a meeting of various Christian leaders discussing the future of the church in Africa). Brian later accompanied Cori and Penine and I to visit Penine's youngest son, "Bebe," in boarding school. I think it was one of the nicest schools in Rwanda.
Brian, Cori, Penine, and Bebe tour the campus as I follow along taking photos.
It was pretty stunning.
We stopped here.
Mm, pretty flower thingies.
One of the classrooms.
Penine rounds a corner.
How many images do you see?
Laboratory.
Hawks sometimes circled the skies. Actually sometimes it creeped me out as I've heard a ton of these did this just after or during the genocide. They're beautiful birds though, I think.
Nice shape to them.
This is what the students do in their spare time, I think. Or maybe as part of class.
We walked down from the school to catch another taxi back to town. The views were RAD.
Rad.
Mm hm.
Etc.
Brian and Penine chat and stroll.
Me and the Rwandan hills.
Cori.
Penine and Cori.
We were to have dinner with friends of Cori and Penine that night but it was a bit delayed. . . so we ordered milky tea. . . and Penine procured some homemade donuts from somewhere out of her tiny bag!
Dinner was at Diane's with her husband and young daughter, who was a doll. Diane studied with Penine and Cori in South Africa. With a loud laugh and much to joke about, she was a great hostess.
Diane's "doll." I am so sorry, I'm horrible at names. Cori will have to remind me. She is a real cutie though! And smart for her age.
And pretty photogenic.
We spent most of our time enjoying Diane's daughter.
She liked dancing to the radio.
We each took a turn at holding her.
The dinner party (sans Brian, who took the photo).
Wednesday I met up with my friend "Pastor John," who started a church, Umucyo Ministries, from scratch a couple of years ago. He is full of joy and the Holy Spirit! He took me to his church where I met the youth and many widows who weave beautiful handbags. Afterward we walked to his house, where I got to meet Mary, his new wife. She fed us a delicious lunch and John and I caught up and discussed the challenges and victories in fundraising and doing ministry. John has been really encouraging to me since I met him in 2007, so it was great to reconnect.
John and Mary!
John, the white-legged girl, and Mary.
Ditto.
Okay, transition time. This, apparently, is my first photo in Bujumbura, Burundi. Cori and I flew there Thursday and stayed at the guesthouse for Youth for Christ, headed by Cori's good friend Freddy Tuyizere. He and his family (Marie-Josie or "Mama Jo," and their three boys Elvis, James, and Brian) took exceptional care of us for the remainder of our trip.
En route to the Tuyizeres' new house. Cori had not yet seen it. They actually spent many nights in our guesthouse, as they're still waiting for electricity.
They have a great view of the city from where they are now, and a nice garden started.
The street to the Youth for Christ office with which we became quite familiar. A little wind for Cori.
Driving tour of Bujumbura. . .
Girl shot!: Two of the volunteers, Melissa and Christa (who were also staying in the guesthouse and volunteering during our time there), Cori, and I.
Rad outfits.
We got a tour of this big Christian conference center that is pretty recently built. About $40 a night and pretty posh.
The view from one of the balconies.
We visited the site (a stone) where Dr. Livingstone, the famous Scottish missionary, met H. M. Stanley, and took some photos. A lot of children surrounded us and this girl wanted a photo with me.
The view from the site.
Cattle crossing.
Nearby meeting under a lapa.
The said stone. Cori and I posed with all of the Youth for Christ volunteers who we got to know while we were there. We weren't volunteering, but because we stayed with them, we became close pretty quickly! From L to R: Melissa from South Carolina, John from Canada, Christa from Oregon, like me!!, me, Cori, and Garreth from the U.K.
We were kind of tired from Rwanda adventures that happened 24/7. So visiting Lake Tanganika was a unique treat. The lake is huge, bordering one side of Burundi, and much of the beach owned by various resorts. This was an especially ritzy (and stunning) one that we wandered through.
On Sunday, after church in the morning, we went to church in the afternoon as well (which is very Burundian). A great sermon on Daniel was led by one of Youth for Christ's leaders.
While there, some of the volunteers helped with a large group of Americans from Charleston, South Carolina, who were leading a camp for Burundian children. While the camp got started, I took some photos. . . a little relieved that I was not part of the program. Why? I am a Christian, yes, and I greatly enjoyed camp myself once. . . but keeping track of large groups of children was not exactly part of my vision for this trip. Instead, Cori and I had coffee with a woman working for World Vision, and then headed back to the lake for a much-appreciated swim.
This graffiti, at the church where the camp was held, captured my attention.
As the camp got underway. . .
One of the groups. They were really cute. It sounded like they had a lot of fun.
Cori and I went here to use the beach to swim. It is a new outdoors bar/restaurant called "Bora Bora." Apparently, we were told, it's where all the "muzungus" go now, so we were really fitting the bill. But it was beautiful and we got good pizza there too.
Relaxing. . .
Getting a photo for Facebook. . .
Adorable little French girl playing by the side of the pool.
Cori returns from a lovely dip.
We had a nice lazy day at the guesthouse where I brought out my art supplies, intending to use them myself. James, the middle Tuyizere boy, however, was bored at home, not old enough for the camp. . . so Cori and I did a little art with him. And we later had fun dancing together too, just him and I. He became a little friend that day.
Cute kid- not photogenic in my pictures though.
Probably the most amazing time I had in Burundi was when Freddy drove us to the orphanage he started for Youth for Christ in Gitega, the very center of the country. A two hour drive in his jeep, I sat in the back, trying not to let my mouth hang open the entire time for the beauty of it. We drove up into the hills, and the sights of the women in brightly colored wraps carrying multiple objects on their heads, backs, in their arms, or all of the above, were just breathtakingly beautiful to me. Even in the jeep we muzungus really stuck out like sore thumbs, though, so I kept my photos to a minimum while inside my head burst with thoughts of future paintings and travels and photography trips.
En route to Gitega.
Lots of guys ride to and from work this way.
Small vegetable market.
I was trying hard to inconspicuously capture women on the sides of the road. . . mostly to no avail. It's a fine line always, with public photos of people. I did get a few, however, mostly from the back. I generally try not to snap photos in the faces of strangers unawares.
Mm, beauty.
Tea fields.
One rad shot. . . if only it were in focus.
As I said, I tried.
Some blurs are intriguing.
This is my success photo.
Gitega! Here we come.
Here's the orphanage. It is in a gorgeous location.
It is one of the nicest in Burundi.
In the morning this girl posed for me.
Cori played with the kids.
This is a very lovey, sweet girl: Ornella. As Freddy says, "she loves love." I loved her tweety-bird dress.
Cori and Ornella.
Ornella and I! She is very playful.
Cori sits with some of the kids.
This real cutie is Laurette, who was posing for a project. She has a cleft palate, and there is a good clinic doing free surgeries that she might be applicable for. Freddy had me take some photos of her for it.
Laurette is about as small as some of the two and three year-olds at the orphanage, but they think she's about seven years old. She is loved at the orphanage, but in other environments would probably suffer a lot more prejudice. She really captured my heart. . .
Very sweet with a strong spirit.
A little shy. . .
This is the new medical clinic they built at the orphanage. When it opens, it will be open to all the surrounding community.
Kids make a garden with grass and bricks. . .
Laurette playing as Cori looks on.
Ornella- very photogenic.
And goofy. Wanted to try on my glasses.
This little girl wanted to try on my sweater. . .
Which prompted Ornella of course, to try it on as well.
When we left, the kids prayed for us.
And Ornella tried to carry my bag to the jeep.
A huge tree at the very center of Burundi. We needed our pictures taken here of course.
Cori and I: good traveling buddies.
Freddy and I.
Freddy stops at the side of the road for some things. He doesn't find what he's looking for, but buys one of the stools that several men are pushing at him anyways. He can use it, he says.
Freddy stopped at a memorial site to show us where many were burned alive.
The memorial cross around which were many dated bouquets.
We drove by a gigantic market built upon a hillside.
One last attempt at a decent photo.
Brian, Freddy's youngest, tries to drive.
I was blessed, the day before we left, to get to meet with Micheline, who pastors a large church in Bujumbura. One of the only female pastors in Burundi, she's built trust with her congregation over time. She felt called to pastor the church after her husband passed away. She initially ignored the call, but God really pursued her in it, and now she is working on several projects to uplift her community's population. We are standing in front of her church.
Micheline and I.
The Tuyizere boys: Brian, Elvis, and James. . .
Brian smiled at least. Cori and I were sad to leave but felt ready to get back to S.A. as well. . .
