Madeleine Muhimpundu: 2007

First Day of Work!

I've been told upon arriving how safe Rwanda is and how people are beginning to heal from the genocide. They are still finding bodies from time to time, and when I drive through the countryside, its crazy to think it was littered with over 2 million bodies at one time. The officer here has a friend who lost all 10 of his family members and was left to die himself before being rescued 4 days after he was attacked my machete. He has no family alive and lives with the horrible memories and physical scars. His experience is not alone. But when you walk down the street, you can just feel a peaceful vibe all around you, and in the eyes of everyone who looks at you and greets you. You can tell there is a spirit of peace and healing here - and yet you are sobered by what the now-teenagers saw as children, and how they cope with that.

We visited the village today, and had to drive through what used to be national reserve land where there were lions, zebras, elephants, etc. but all the animals are gone now - many were killed during the genocide and left when people spread out. But driving through the land you can just picture the animals there. The villagers were happy to see us, and they are well underway builing a community center with the first grant we received.

We met with the contractor and I am learning the ins and outs of overseeing an African building contractor. I got out my level just to make sure the foundation was correct (just kidding). I've got about 3 full weeks to learn the ropes before the current Officer returns to Nigeria. They will send a replacement, but I need to understand the plans, budget, timeline, boundaries, and the current agreement between the government, the contractor and The Salvation Army - piece of cake, I think.....

I'm learning Rwandanes from my translator so I can impress everyone - white girl speaking Africano seems to make everyone chuckle to my face, which makes me speak it all the more!! At least in the first 24 hours I haven't offended anyone with a mis-pronounciation, and I've alerted Madeleine to elbow me immediately if I step out of turn.

I have yet to see a mosquito, but I know they must be around. I've got mosquito netting over my bed, but none of the others use theirs, because the rooms all have great screens on the windows, and the windows shut as well. The weather is perfect - low 80's and dry and breezy - only a touch cooler at night and in the mornings. All sunshine, all day!

Looks like we get rice, beans, potatoes, boiled bananas, sauce and meat for lunch and dinner. But we also make runs to the store when we go to Kigali every other week, for peanut butter, cereal, and a few extras for the days when beans and rice just doesn't do it. But nothing is strange and I'd rather go simple than weird.

I think I said in my first blog that the compound we're staying on is beautiful with flowers in the courtyard. There are only 2 nuns and I don't see them often, but fyi - Rwandan Presbyterian nuns do wear habits. They don't seem scary from a distance, but do have bars on my windows, so if I meet any cute boys, sneaking them into my room will be more of a challenge....ha!

"Siesta in Africa"

Flights to Rwanda - $2400
Polio Booster $ Malaria pills - $300
Starbucks coffee at Heathrow - $6
Watching the Tour de France during Friday afternoon siesta in Rwanda, on your tv with just 2 channels - priceless jackpot!!

Made it Rwanda....... 'Land of a Thousand Hills'

Driving from the capital the couple of hours to our town was a beautiful drive. The roads are great and the rolling hills are beautiful. You pass by houses and huts along the side of the road and passing through little towns, but in contrast to the poverty you would see in a place like Mexico, no matter how poor it is, things are amazinly clean. Even the dirt roads off the beaten track look swept.

The town we're staying in has an internet cafe, so that is how I am getting online now. I'm still learning the dial up via satellite phone connection to use in my room. The compound is just up the hill from town and has beautiful grounds. We've each got our own rooms, which look about the size of dorm room and ours all have private bathrooms. Normal toilet, sink and shower, but with just cold water. They order hot water every other morning or so delivered in a bucket. I've got a tv that gets 2 channels but one was the tour de france - isn't that funny! I have a table and chairs, and so far the electricity has been on all day and all night.

I really like the Major - he is from Nigeria and has a big personality. We are going to meet the mayor tomorrow and then go to the village to see progress on the community center we're building. We're waiting on funding for the 70 homes, and then we go full steam ahead choosing contractors and drawing up paperwork for the government to approve and sign. Our translator is a young lady and she does everything with us, down to breakfast through dinner which is around 7:30 p.m. each night. We've also got a land cruiser and a driver - which is great.

The weather is gorgeous, probably high of 80 during the day, with a breeze and then 70 later in the day - Emmanuel (Major) said they usually take walks around the compound after work and before dinner because it is so nice in the early evenings. The three of us have our meals together delivered to Emmanuel's room - which is nice. I think there may be other Americans or Brits staying with us and the nuns, but I'm not sure yet.

Its good to be here and now know the unknown and I am delightfully surprised. I've been so exhausted from the travel that I just wasn't sure how I was going to feel. The beauty is an inspiration as well as the story of Rwanda's road to recovery and healing. I feel as thought the time may fly by if we actually get the funding we're expecting as there is a ton of work to do.

More later - going to bed for the first time since Monday night - yahoooooo!!