Zumba Lessons

Zumba lessons continue across continents!

 From the living room of my house...

To the roof top of the Bridge2Rwanda
Training Center.

Global Leadership Summit

A friend of B2R from Chicago who is a member of Willow Creek sponsored all 30 of our students for the Global Leadership Summit.  Today was incredible; I loved all of the speakers!  Brene Brown's books have really impacted my life over the past year, so I was especially excited to hear from her.  Our students have never been to anything like this and are absolutely loving it.  Such a great opportunity and worthwhile experience for these future leaders of Rwanda!

A Poem

In English class last Friday, the students were charged with writing a poem in response to an Emerson piece they had just read.  Their poems were awesome, to say the least.  Cassie, their teacher, read them a poem she wrote in college; therefore, they wanted me to write a poem and share it, as well.  Since I like challenges, I took them up on it.

As I was jounaling on Saturday morning, I began to reflect on my experience here.  Then the idea to write a poem on this particular "topic" came to mind.  Here's the result:

Why me, O Lord?

I am so undeserving.

Yet you chose me “for such a time as this”

to spend a year in this promised land experiencing utter bliss.

You brought me here

without an ounce of fear.

Driving to the airport felt so right

in my long maroon skirt and green shirt that was oh so bright.

Confirmation after confirmation on my very first flight;

I couldn’t wait to see what this place would be like!

Getting off the plane, I was filled with delight –

standing on African soil for the first time in my life.

14 hours of sleep, no shower or clean teeth,

I nevertheless wanted to meet...

This group – God’s hands and feet.

Question after question with no time to breathe or sigh

they challenged me to critically think,

but all that I had planned to do was stop by and say “hi.”

Within a week I learned each name;

little did I know my heart they soon would claim.

Two weeks later I did not want to depart,

but they stayed with me in spirit, though half a world apart. 

After 6 long weeks it was time to return;

Kinyarwanda & culture – I had lots to learn.

Seeing each face was so surreal.

Hugs from all, so precious and dear.

As the days go on, love grows and grows.

What these students will accomplish, God only knows.

But I believe in every one –

their passions, their giftings, and their ability to have fun.

Working with the future leaders of this country

pushes me to live bright and free.

Learning from each other through a mutual mentorship,

I drink deeply the possibilities and moments,

for life’s too short to take tiny sips.

Bridge2Rwanda Scholars, you constantly blow me away.

I cherish every moment, every conversation, every day.

Traditional Rwandan Fare

Every day, lunch is provided for the students and staff at B2R - for free!  This began when only a handful of students were actually buying lunch during their break, for only a handful could afford it.  Shortly thereafter, Bridge2Rwanda arranged for a local Rwandan restaurant to cater food.  It's the same most days with sometimes an addition of peanut sauce or matoke.

So, here it is...traditional Rwandan fare: rice, beans, greens, beef, and potatoes.

Delphine: My Sister Who Can Cook & Clean

Delphine is another person who worked at the first place I stayed.  Super shy at first; in fact, I didn't think she spoke any English.  But after a few days of getting to know her, the English no longer remained hidden; nor did the passion.  And after a few weeks of getting to know each other, I counted her as a dear sister and friend.

Upon our first day of meeting, she unloaded all 4 of my suitcases and found a home for everything (without me asking her to do this).  Clothes were hung in the closet - not just hung but outfits were actually put together!  "Hmm, I never has thought of putting that green cardigan with that pink shirt, but I kind of like it,"  I thought to myself.  Thanks Delphine for helping me think outside of the box with some fun color-blocking.  She repacked and unpacked all of my belongings when it came time to change rooms in this particular house, and then repacked everything less than a week later when it was time to switch houses.

Fruit salad is one of my favorite things to eat in Rwanda; Delphine's was especially good.  She taught me how to make it one morning.  I taught her how to make pancakes the next.  We made brownies together another morning - something she had never experienced.  And she shared tips on how to make a pot of stewed vegetables taste really really good.

The times with Delphine that I cherish most were when we talked about the Lord.  We encouraged each other with our favorite verses, truth about God's love, and ways we see each other modeling Christ.  I'll never forget the day I turned to Zephaniah 3:17 and had her turn there in her Kinyarwanda Bible.  We had almost exactly the same passages underlined; we both love not only that one verse but also the few leading up to it.  I got chills when I saw this.

We hardly speak the same language, yet we love the same God and love each other - an immediate and lasting bond was formed becasue of this.

The Story of Gisore

It’s now been exactly 2 months since I officially moved to Kigali.  I’ve lived in 2 houses already and will be moving to my 4^th room today.  Each situation has had its pros and cons, whether that’s involving internet, insects, location, exercise conveniences, etc.  But the consistent positives have been the roommates and house help I’ve gotten to know along the way.

When I arrived in August, Gisore was the first person I met at the house.  Immediately, he carried my luggage (4 heavy bags + 2 carry-ons) upstairs without letting me help. We didn’t speak the same language, but I could instantly tell that he was a special guy.  My roommate was in Uganda for the weekend; he motioned for me to sit in the living area with him as he prayed for her safety.  After sleeping 14 hours, I popped in a Billy Blanks workout DVD to help me shake off the jet lag.  Gisore joined me for part of it.  That afternoon, he took me into town to get a new SIM card for my iPhone.  This guy killed cockroaches when I would see them and freak out, he fixed a broken toilet on countless occasions, he tended to scratches and bruises on my legs when I got into a minor scooter accident, he had the idea to bring a mattress into the den for the movie night I had for my students, he went to the market to buy fruits and veggies for me at "non-muzungu prices," and he often negotiated moto rides in the mornings as I’d get ready to leave for work. 

Gisore is full of character; there’s never a dull moment when he’s around.  Both of his parents were killed when he was younger, and he has a miraculous story of survival (…there’s a bullet scar on his thigh to prove it).  His unwavering faith is admirable, and he has such a servant’s heart.  He’s not afraid to tell others that it’s because of “Imana” (God) that he’s able to love and serve others so well.  I visit him every few weeks to say hello, give him a hug, and communicate through our broken language and gestures.  The story of Gisore is too good to keep to myself.  He will always hold a very special place in my heart!

Gisore & Filo

big smile, big heart, & a big personality

"Mukundwa," the pink scooter

As you can see above, I was on a mission to find a scooter – and not just any scooter, a pink scooter! I didn’t want to pay for a brand new one; besides, the only 2 colors available this year were not exciting.   It was rumored that only 3 used pink scooters existed in Kigali.   I had yet to see one until a few Mondays ago…

I was walking home from work, and out of nowhere, an older Rwandan man driving a pink scooter appeared at an intersection I was crossing.  Immediately, I exclaimed, “A PINK scooter!  Where did you get it??”  He spoke no English, so someone came over to translate.  He asked me if I wanted to buy it.  I asked him if he was selling it.  He said that he would be willing to since he needed money for home repairs.  This seemed a little too good to be true.  Nonetheless, I got his phone number and thought/prayed about it that evening.

Yves, one of my B2R colleagues, met Apollonaire and me the next afternoon to translate regarding the potential purchase.  Yves said that he sounded trustworthy and that he actually needed money for his house.  Sounded like a win/win to me! I went for a test drive and felt good about proceeding.  

After the transaction, I had Yves ask Apollonaire if he’d given the scooter a name.  Sure enough, he did.  “Mukundwa” = the loved one.  I promised him that I’d keep the name and take good care of it.  

What a miracle!  I often smile and laugh to myself when I think about this supernatural occurrence that provided me with a pink scooter and Apollonaire with money to fix his home. 

A big wad of cash...

...in exchange for the key

 

Apollonaire & Yves

"Mukundwa" & me

Girls Gathering

One of the things I was really looking forward to when returning in August was starting a “Girls Gathering.” I didn’t know what it would look like exactly but with the input of the 11 girls, we now have a plan.  We’ll meet at my house every other Friday after class.   Tea and dessert are a must.

At our first gathering two weeks ago, I provided a few varieties of green tea from the states.  This was out of their comfort zone.  What’s also out of their comfort zone is drinking tea without sugar.  When we ran out, I encouraged them to try powdered sugar.  They thought I was crazy but gave it a try anyway; it was that or nothing.  The girls chipped in money to buy “biscuits,” which are basic cookies sold just about anywhere.  Today, they’re providing African tea, but I’m providing dessert – chocolate zucchini bundt cake!

More importantly, the purpose of us gathering together bi-monthly is to provide a place for the girls to get to know each other on a deeper level.  Already, they support each other academically.  But why not get to know each other emotionally and spiritually, as well?  Being together, sharing in struggles, encouraging each other: this is what make friendships rich.  Plus, life is hard, and we need each other through all seasons, both good and bad.

Two weeks ago, the girls shared about their families.  This week, we’re moving onto where we are in life right now and how we need support, specifically.  One of the girls mentioned studying Proverbs 31 in the coming weeks, so it looks like that’s where we’re headed!

Brownies + Movie & Popcorn

The first week that I was back in Kigali, there was a national holiday on a Thursday; that meant no school!  So I had the students over to learn how to bake brownies as well as watch a movie.  

They had never heard of brownies, nor had they heard of M&Ms (which we mixed into one of the batches).  I even took it to a whole 'nother level by teaching them the trick of adding Symphony bars between layers prior to baking.  After the brownies were gone, the boys literally scraped the pans with forks to dig out any remaining pieces - it was quite a sight!

Microwaveable popcorn also was an unknown concept to them.  Another crowd pleaser.

After taking on vote on 4 movie possibilities, "Rat Race" won, and we indeed had a captive audience.

Three wins for the afternoon!

Blessed

Dear Scholars,

I wanted to send a quick note to let yall know how incredibly blessed by each one of you.  When I was with you in June, I did not want to leave; two weeks was just too short!  Now I’m back and am in the middle of my 3^rd week. What a gift that I have many more weeks with your class!  I know that time will fly, and I sure do not want to take a single day for granted.  Every interaction with yall, whether it’s individually or as a group, teaches me something new.  I truly am honored that I get to be your college counselor and friend.  I treasure each one of you – your personality, passions, and overall uniqueness. 

Thank you for welcoming me to your country as well as to the B2R family.  I am grateful.

Much love,
JB

I sent this e-mail earlier today.  Often, my heart becomes overwhelmed with amazement.  Sometimes tears fill my eyes; I smile.  What a gift and blessing this experience already has been.   It almost seems too good to be true. 

Spending 2 weeks with the kiddos in June was a tremendous blessing – meaningful, life-giving, and straight-up fun!  I was able to kick off the college counseling process immediately thanks to a recycled Prezi.  They were so engaged! Then came the Myers-Briggs + acting out the various letters with Anna, the B2R Scholars Director.  Rwanda is such a community-focused country that people rarely look inward, so a personality assessment was a completely new concept to them.  You know me…I LOVED this!  (Enneagram is next, by the way.)  The journey of personal essay writing followed.  The 2^nd week was filled with back-to-back, one-on-one meetings to talk about essays they drafted over the weekend on whatever pieces of paper they had lying around.  Amazing stories.  I promise to share some soon.

Various blessings occurred throughout the next 6 weeks.  From learning that my roommates had decided to stay in the Cherokee house and would let me keep my stuff in the basement/would use my furniture & kitchen appliances to having a friend connect me to her aunt and uncle who were willing to keep my mattress/box spring in their insulated storage room, the Lord has provided abundantly and is continuing to do so.  I was blown away when Julee, my stylist, told me to use the money I would’ve spent on that particular haircut to go toward Africa.  Humbled!  Even down to the day I was leaving, God’s good hand provided.  The sweet guys at the airport ticket counter didn’t charge me for overweight bags; instead, they said with a laugh, “We’re helping the children of Africa!”  Wow. (& Phew!)

First day back at work, I was greeted with a hug from each of 30 students.  It was one of those moments in time I wish I could have frozen in order to really savor it.  Blessed.  

Myers-Briggs

1st drafts of personal essays

Origins of the Blog Title

"Passion is a gift from God, and it's a very elusive spirit."  I stole this quote from Dale Dawson, the CEO of Bridge2Rwanda; he said it an article published earlier this summer.  If you want to learn more about the organization I'm joining, I encourage you to read it.  Long story short...at 51 years of age, he wanted passion back, as he was in the midst of life's "halftime."  Dale continues to write, "I made the decision that if God was the giver of the gift {passion}, then I had to be available to Him."  And sure enough, the Lord has done some incredible things through this man! His explanation of passion really resonated with me and the season of life I'm in, and I immediately knew that I wanted that word to be part of my blog title.

"Do not be afraid to be different from other people.  The path I have called you to travel is exquisitely right for you.  The more closely you follow My leading, the more fully I can develop your gifts.  To follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your desire to please other people.  However, your closeness to Me will bless others by enabling you to shine brightly in this dark world."  I read this in a Jesus Calling devotional several weeks ago; I couldn't help but smile.  This pretty much sums up what I've been learning over the past year.  What a delight to put all of it into action!

To me, freedom means experiencing joy and peace to the absolute fullest.  I wish that I lived completely free every single day.  Sadly, I don't - part of being human, I suppose.  But I do have more control of this than I realized.  Obedience.  Obeying God's commands and callings produce freedom.  Whether it's spending time with Him, taking thoughts captive, choosing to believe truth instead of lies (the list goes on and on), His commands bring life.  Not obeying His call, whether big or small, equals bondage.  Yuck.  How often I settle for mud pies when I could be enjoying a holiday at sea (C.S. Lewis).  All this to say, being obedient to the Lord's call for me to move to Rwanda for a year has produced immense freedom.  I know without a doubt that this is where He wants me.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

Throughout my time in Africa (and in years to come), I desire to live life full of passion, shining brightly, while continuing to walk in freedom!  PASSION, BRIGHT & FREE...

Come And Listen...

"Let me tell you what He has done for me."  This David Crowder song came to mind when I was struggling with how to start this blog.  I've told friends that I do not want this to be a place where I showcase my life; if it ever turns into that, they are encouraged to let me know.  You have permission, as well.  I've been incredibly blessed by the countless people who have affirmed and supported (emotionally, spiritually, financially) my decision to move to Rwanda for a year.  I honestly feel that I'm surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - friends, old and new, who believe in me and and are WITH me.  I want you to know that I am going to run with perseverance this particular race marked out for me, throwing off everything that hinders and sin that entangles.  And throughout the coming months, I am committed to working with all of my heart.

In Priscilla Shirer's study, Discerning the Voice of God, she writes, "If God calls you, He will equip you.  Give Him the opportunity to display His supernatural activity as He uses you for His glory."  (More about this study later.) The purpose of this blog is to share with you what Lord is up to in my life, in Rwanda, in the lives of students, and in any way He chooses to showcase His glory.  I'm honored to be His vessel and am so grateful for the opportunity to work for Bridge2Rwanda.  It's neat to look back and see how He's been preparing my heart for this next season; I can't wait to tell you how it unfolded!