We knew we had visitors coming in the afternoon so Cristina, Janek, Beata, and I headed for Cristina’s and my first trip to the ‘beach’. The orphanage owns a bit of lakefront property that is about a 30 minute walk (all downhill). It’s a sweet little spot where we could soak up the sun, read and swim without the kids around (they sometimes come after church on Saturdays but not today). I know most people say not to swim in the lake but it is too inviting. Janek and Beata have been doing it for months and they don’t appear to have any nasty parasites.
There were a couple of local boys swimming and playing soccer (of course called football here) with the requisite ball made out of plastic sacks compressed and tied with a string. We had brought a ball as well, so Cristina and Janek, our soccer professionals, joined the boys for a bit.
We headed back for a late lunch at the orphanage. I hadn’t really been paying attention to how steep the earlier descent was but I sure felt in on the way back up. Luckily we hadn’t had any of the beer that we were dreaming about.
Our guests had arrived and as usual, it was an interesting array. Ralf who picked us up from the airport, his roommate, Ellie, and her boyfriend, Norman. They had driven from Kigali and brought treasures for us, most notably cheese and wine! I love these people.
Spent some time getting to know more about Ralf and his work. He works for a German company that consults with the Rwandan Development Board and his specialty is food processing and production. But we spent most of our time talking about a business that he was starting on the side and how inexpensive the start-up costs were in Rwanda. We also talked about the ecolodge project which I’m spending most of my time on. Everyone I talk to has a very different opinion on what exactly this ecolodge should be.
Norman is a PhD candidate doing research in Rwanda for a year. He is an anthropologist and is studying the effects of health care tracking on funding and policy. Not sure I would have put those two together but it was very interesting to discuss. He is currently working at the Millennium Village Project. Ellie teaches German at a private school in Kigali.
It was a lively evening (given the wine and all) with great conversation and beautiful weather. Can’t ask for much more.
Sunday started out as a another lazy day as we had breakfast with our guests and they set out exploring the orphanage and it’s grounds. They left shortly after lunch and took Cristina with them! Ralf has a lot of information for her assignment that they can work on together as well as some contacts in Kigali for her to meet with. Hopefully, she will only be gone a week or so as her energy will be missed. She is the extrovert to my introvert and keeps things lively.
I thought the day was winding down when Janek stopped by to see if I wanted to accompany them to the lake as they were taking some of the kids for some play. At the least, I was ready to master that hike so we took off. The kids had a blast and I dusted off my rusty volleyball skills. Maybe skills is a stretch but I held my own.
We returned the orphanage and after an early dinner it was time for the Dance Party! Janek set up his little DJ station, complete with solar flashlights for lighting, and pulled out his Rwandan music. The kids absolutely loved it as did I. They sing along and dance and dance and dance. Some of the little ones were originally more obsessed with my headlamp than the dancing but soon joined in. Poor Janek, dozens of kids facing his DJ stand screaming the songs at the top of their lungs. It has been a long time since I have danced so much that I’m dripping with sweat.
The dance party is a rare event and there are even those that don’t feel it should happen at all since that type of music is not in line with the Adventist values. But it’s hard to think of it as wrong when you see the joy it brings the kids and also the ability to express themselves.
You are amazing!
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