Monday, March 31, 2008
What's in a name?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Chickens and attack helicopters!
Ndagakunda cyane! Imana ibahe umugisha!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Happy Easter!
I have not been able to get to the internet as much but will try to do
better. Ministry here is going well although it is already tiring. I
spent two days the beginning of this week in the hospital. Don't panic
family:) My friend got malaria so I stayed in the clinic to take care
of her. It was a good glimpse for me into the way clinics here work.
They took good care of her but so many other things were frustrating.
I want to work at a clinic like that so that I can see it improve! As
for the other things I've done; probably the most exhausting and also
the most rewarding is Amacet. Amacet is a home for young children
living with HIV/AIDS or babies that need someone to take care of them
for a time. It is grueling work, particularly the 14-hour overnight
shifts, but the kids make it all worth it. This afternoon our team is
going to an Easter celebration where we have been asked to
participate. I'm not much of a singer but at least I'm in a group.
Today makes exactly three weeks left in Soroti and then we will
hopefully go on to Athi River, Kenya for the last month. Your prayers
about that would be appreciated. The other thing to pray for is the
upcoming month of April. It is the hardest month of the year for
Rwandans because it brings so many memories of the genocide and is
often the anniversary of the deaths of their families . I am grateful
actually that we are not in Rwanda next month but it will still be a
difficult time for many of our team members. They are my family now
and the pain they experience is intense enough that I feel it as well.
Oh, to be honest I quite miss Rwanda. I will be back there for two
weeks before I go home at least. Well, I must go...Monday is my day
off next week so I will try to write more then. Bye! See you in June!
Isimbi Johanna
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Hello from the other side of the equator!
The bus trip was long and very bumpy. We drove across the equator along the way which was cool. I found it even more fascinating to drive across the Nile! On one side was all big modern buildings and the on the other side down by the shore I looked out the window and saw some fishermen in little dugout canoes. That is what I have found Africa in general to be like; a blend of modern up to date technology and old old traditions that have hardly changed in the past few thousand years. Maybe that is part of the appeal.
Oh, I need to go. I will post a more complete update later that includes what it was like working with little children with AIDS. Talk to you soon!
Isimbi Johanna
Friday, March 14, 2008
Arrival in Uganda...
Her roommate Laura posted an update on her blog to indicate that they have arrived safely in Soroti. The highlights are as follows:
- Left Kigali base early on Tuesday morning and were on our way to Uganda by 6 30. We crossed the border in less than 2 hours.
- We raced along the highways until we arrived in Kampala in the afternoon. The scenery is very different here, much flatter and drier. We also crossed the equator, which was cool.
- We spent the night at a friends house in the city and had a late dinner before all falling asleep while standing up.
- The next morning we awoke early again and caught a bus to Soroti. This one was much bigger and full of people. We raced along the bumpy pothole-filled high ways, through flat Ugandan marshlands for most of the day. By the time we reached Soroti, we were all exhausted and our backs were aching from the incredibly bumpy ride.
- We found our way to the YWAM base and were greeted by a small staff. The base here is spread out and each ministry has their own compound. Soroti is much more rural than our base in Kigali, and we are in the middle of a big, hot field.
- We were shown to our very "cozy" room, where eight of us girls will live. However, you could put me in a box for all I am concerned, because we have running water, our own bathroom, and a shower!!! Oh, and there is a toaster here as well, in the kitchen!
- We spent our first night meeting them, looking at the stars, and sweating while being eaten alive by mosquitoes.
- We awoke this morning to breakfast and an orientation about the ministries we will be involved in. Mostly we will be working with FACE (facing aids with compassion and education), a primary school, and Amachet, which is a phenomenal ministry for children with AIDS. We will be working night shifts at the center for children and helping ease the pain of some of those who are very progressed in their symptoms. I know it will be very difficult, but this is an incredible ministry to show children love and dignity before they die, and to nurse those who can be saved back to a healthy and somewhat normal life.
- Please pray for us as this will certainly be an emotional experience.
Johanna's Dad
Monday, March 10, 2008
Africa's Potential
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Leaving for Uganda!
I have no idea where I will next be writing you from as I am leaving
this Tuesday morning to go to Soroti. It is a long bus ride but the
exciting thing is that we will drive across the Equator and right by
the source of the Nile! We expect to be in Uganda for about a month
and then we will hopefully be heading on to Kenya depending on how the
situation is by then. I am looking forward to seeing another African
country. Mostly I am excited for what I know the Lord can do through
our team. My prayer is that we will put aside who we are in order to
better reflect our Creator.
It looks like I will probably not be going straight to South Africa
after DTS is over. The base has not responded to me yet and I have a
very limited time in which to prepare the details if I were to go. I
am sad to miss the adventure it could have been but I know that I will
have others. So that means I will most likely be coming home in the
end of May. I expect I will be around for at least a couple months
before heading out somewhere. I am also still going to pursue going to
the Primary Healthcare School in South Africa next year. That will
give me time to work before I go. I will be spending time praying
about this next stage in my life as I come home.
First, though, I am looking to be used in ministry in Uganda and
Kenya. There is more than one AIDS ministry that I hope to be able to
work with. I will write to all you dear people as soon as I can!
Isimbi Johanna
P.S. I have not seen or heard from Selassie. Even if I never see him
again I will pray for him the rest of my life. He is my twin brother.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
A quick hello
I will be leaving a week from today to go to Soroti, Uganda. In fact,
I just came from the Ugandan Embassy here where I was working on
getting my visa. It is exciting to go and sad to leave Rwanda. OK a
short recap of my time here...In the past three months I have:
- Eaten cow stomach and intestines
- Become an expert at bucket showers
- Learned a very little bit of Kinyarwanda, Swahili, and French
- Cooked over charcoal
- Completely lost the whole idea of personal space
- Seen zebras, giraffes, antelopes, warthogs, baboons...
- Heard the most horrific testimonies in person
- Swam in Lake Kivu
And the list could go on and on but I am out of time! I will try to
write again soon. Miss you all and love you!
Isimbi Johanna