We arrived Tuesday evening at 9:00 in spite of an airline strike in Frankfurt. We then met "Team Bruce" in Brusells where we traveled together to Kigali. On Wednesday morning our first full day here, started out in a pure "God moment." Reading ANOTHER DAY WITH JESUS, we realized that the daily quote (Feb 22) is absolutely perfectly timed and tailor made for this trip. "God is calling you. He has a plan. Don't allow details to dictate your response. A surrendered heart is all He requires." Once again, thank you father God for giving us the courage to answer Your call !!!!!!!! The rest of the day was filled with logistics (exchanging money, fighting with modems and telephones, sporadic connections to the outside world). Of course we spent all day in total awe of the surroundings. We also spent the afternoon at the Genocide Memorial and finished the day with an awesome night with Frank and Rebecca Reynolds at Heaven Restaurant.
Today was spent with material shopping for our time in Byumba and surrounding villages in the coming days. We enjoyed watching Patrice haggle and barter with the locals in Gakinjiro over cable for our in-field welding machine. It truly was incredible. We still can't believe that we got 300' of insulated 5/16" cable, a PVC saw and a few other odds and ends for the equivalent of $12.80 U.S. :) Try that at the Home Depot. :)
After shopping we spent the rest of the afternoon at the Nyamata Memorial (this was mind-blowing). For anybody that doesn't know this was a Church in the eastern province where 10,018 souls were killed in the Church and courtyard while thinking they were being giving sanctuary by the priest. Inside the Church on the pews and available floor space is covered by the actual victims clothing. The mausoleum below the Church as well as two built in the back courtyard were full of the victims' bones. This was moving for each of us. As I rounded a corner I saw Patrice almost completely broken down. As I was walking with Patrice trying to console him all I could think to say was "As hard as this is to see, these memorials have to stay open so no-one will ever forget." He just looked at me for a moment then said "I know Yohanna."
Tonight we are going to end our stay in Kigali before going north with dinner at "Des Mille Collinnes" (The Hotel Rwanda). Frank suggested both the memorial today and this stop for dinner tonight and where taking him up on it.
Tomorrow we are off to Byumba....after another trip to MTN to fix the computer again! :)
Johnny (Yohanna)
Today was spent with material shopping for our time in Byumba and surrounding villages in the coming days. We enjoyed watching Patrice haggle and barter with the locals in Gakinjiro over cable for our in-field welding machine. It truly was incredible. We still can't believe that we got 300' of insulated 5/16" cable, a PVC saw and a few other odds and ends for the equivalent of $12.80 U.S. :) Try that at the Home Depot. :)
After shopping we spent the rest of the afternoon at the Nyamata Memorial (this was mind-blowing). For anybody that doesn't know this was a Church in the eastern province where 10,018 souls were killed in the Church and courtyard while thinking they were being giving sanctuary by the priest. Inside the Church on the pews and available floor space is covered by the actual victims clothing. The mausoleum below the Church as well as two built in the back courtyard were full of the victims' bones. This was moving for each of us. As I rounded a corner I saw Patrice almost completely broken down. As I was walking with Patrice trying to console him all I could think to say was "As hard as this is to see, these memorials have to stay open so no-one will ever forget." He just looked at me for a moment then said "I know Yohanna."
Tonight we are going to end our stay in Kigali before going north with dinner at "Des Mille Collinnes" (The Hotel Rwanda). Frank suggested both the memorial today and this stop for dinner tonight and where taking him up on it.
Tomorrow we are off to Byumba....after another trip to MTN to fix the computer again! :)
Johnny (Yohanna)
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