Telling Time

Time is a tricky thing to track. Of course we know it ticks away in measurements of seconds, minutes, and hours, which turn into days, and months, and years. But somehow, those months can flash by quick as a blink, and memories, held tight, can last forever.
Saturday (January 29th) marked two years of living in Rwanda and with just 2 months left, the days seem to be flying.

But as they fly, my projects are finishing up too.
This is exciting! (Often bringing to mind Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ ”)

The preschool, I wrote and received a grant for, finished construction and re-opened this month! Its dirt floor and packed mud walls have been replaced by clean solid classrooms and a reading room with books.

Before:

After:

It was so exciting to watch the transformation, and now to see it put to good use.

Another something I’m excited about connects with my work in the hospital pediatric ward this last year. It’s been such a blessing to be in that environment and be providing (and training nurses in) psychosocial support. What does that mean? Play, of course! However, toys aren’t as readily available here. So, as I’ve mentioned before, I began sewing dolls and beanbags (used for games and to explain medical procedures.)
This was great, but…I’m leaving soon.

So, guess what? I learned that the local prison houses both women and their young children. How’s that relevant? Well, I introduced the dolls and beanbags to the social worker there and we distributed some to the children and developed a plan. We now have “The Sew Good Project.” That means a group of female prisoners are sewing dolls and bean bags, so that children living in the prison and hospitalized children have access to play materials.

My hope is that this will be a sustainable, and it should be, as we are using free fabric scraps from the local tailor shop and beans grown in the prison’s garden. What a neat thing it is to see these women now using some of their time to sew for the good of others and in doing so, learning some new skills and thinking about how they can give back to the community. They seem to love it, the children sure do, and I do too!

Other fun events from these last few months include:

Facilitating for a girls leadership camp (Camp GLOW),

organizing a Christmas Nativity skit with my host sisters,

climbing Mt. Bisoke,

hosting neighborhood kids for craft activities,

and beginning to plan for my trip home (will be stopping in Europe on the way back.) But for now, I’m still here.

And how glad I am for that! You know, we talk about “African time” meaning most things start later and take longer than they’re supposed to. Well maybe that is true, but there’s another side of it too. It means slowing down to visit with neighbors instead of rushing by, stopping to smell the flowers, and giving thanks to the God of the Ages, who holds each day and life in His hands. Yes, time is a tricky thing, but that’s all the more reason to treasure it. Every day is a gift, each moment an opportunity.

“Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; and His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5