Rwandan adventure
Weather!!!!
Sunday is a very important day for the Rwandese and especially yesterday which was Palm Sunday. Yesterday we rose at 6 o’clock. Well, I must tell you that in my day there is usually only one six o’clock and that is definitely not in the morning. But we did not want to let the family down. We had a quick bowl of porridge that we made over a gas ring on the floor in the kitchen, donned our ‘best’ clothes and headed for the cathedral. The English service is held at 7.30am for one and a half hours, before the Kinyarwandan service for the locals.
We were a sparse congregation – some Rwandans and some umuzungas (white foreigners). I sat next to a man from Yorkshire who has been coming to Rwanda for many years. He is analysing part of a Rwandan flower which might be able to be used for medical purposes. The choir, dressed in day clothes, with a keyboard and microphones sat in the front row of the church and led the singing with great gusto. The pastor who preached was helped by a young man from an Arkansas bible college who explained in great detail about Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
As it is the rainy season we were lucky to get to church without getting wet, but during the service we could hear the rain pounding on the roof, but thankfully it had stopped by the time we emerged. We returned home for a delicious lunch – prepared by the girls, Joanna 21, Gloria 17, and Faith 16, potatoes, rice, matoke, peas, and dodo (spinach like local leaves). We have yet to see the boys help out in any way. We do the dishes as a gesture of thanks for all the hard work the girls do with preparation and cooking.
In the afternoon we decided to ‘escape’ and go for a walk on our own. I wanted to find the house I stayed in last time I was here in 2007. But the rubble-y streets all look the same her. We had only gone a few minutes when the heavens opened. I have said it is the rainy season – I was wrong - it is the torrential season!! We put on our waterproofs and up went our umbrellas, and we also sheltered under a tree. But we were fighting a losing battle and got absolutely drenched. The rain came right through our waterproofs (must buy some better ones!). The streets ran with rivers of brown mud and it was difficult to even cross the street without getting wet feet. No wonder they all wear plastic flip-flops here.
We did not find the house, but got absolutely lost. Eventually we sought out the route to the main street and from there hesitantly found our bearings to the place we are staying.
In Rwanda they eat four meals a day and the family was busy preparing tea for us. Tea is usually taken between 4pm and 6pm. As this family grew up as refugees in Uganda maybe this is because they are used to the English ‘system’, as Uganda was a British territory, whilst Rwanda was under Belgium’s control. Tea is not a meal, just a snack – boiled eggs, bread and bananas with tea or coffee. Supper is similar to lunch - another big meal. So although we are eating mainly vegetables and fruit, straight out of the ground or off the tree and wonderfully fresh, we think we might be putting on weight. As everyone walks here as transport is an unnecessary expense and most things are done by hand, not machine, they quickly burn it off. So, for us, we will have to walk more and make sure we do not store the extra calories – or take smaller portions! Last night at supper the usual fare was supplemented by a small tin of sardines – heated up and served in the tin – between eight of us. We took a sparse portion but they did not seem to want it. Perhaps it had been purchased just for our benefit. This is the sort of thing they do here. They give what they can hardly afford to make strangers welcome. One of the girls even mended my umbrella and put my wet shoes out on the verandah to dry in the little sun we are having at the moment. We have been told that we are not visitors, but part of the family. We feel loved by them all and are very humbled by their generosity and kindness.
I WAS AWAKE FOR MY OPERATION!
(Sun 04/03)
Me and Sir Jimmy Savile
(Thu 03/11)
What not to wear!!!
(Wed 15/06)
Rwandan adventure Our sponsored child
(Mon 06/06)
Rwandan Adventure - Lunch Was Alive!
(Mon 23/05)
