Whoa! Spent the morning clarifying our schedule for the next two weeks. Then took a trip to the home of one of the team's sponsored children. I will say up front that the roads in Kigali are wonderful. But the minute you leave them, it becomes "interesting". Red clay soil full of potholes, rocks, and washed out areas are the norm. I'm a pretty independent cuss, but I hung onto the strapping young men and women that were with us. I did not need a face plant in the mud...or worse, break something.
After leaving our home visit of we were caught in a deluge of semi-Biblical proportions turning the red clay into a dangerously slippery slope for our next visit. I wondered what the "moats" along the roads were for.... now I know. Massive run off rolls off the hillsides like water from a toppled bucket. Above is the last path we tip toed up and down, with lots of help. This isn't exactly a grandma trail.
Our next stop was the money exchange. I have never truly held a fist full of dollars before that bulged from the purse. From there it was shopping at the local market. I don't like to shop---Amazon and I get along great. This was filled with vendors inches apart, all calling for you to stop and by their wares. I have my own personal space and dozens of people filled it up --- CLOSE and personal! Overwhelming doesn't begin to describe it. I did make a few purchases, but bargaining isn't my thing either. It wasn't a bust, and I'm glad I experienced it but I won't rush off to do it again. No pictures. They don't like being photographed.
We have a lovely guest house in which we stay, and are ushered about in a van by John, our remarkable driver. He was in and out of places today where I wouldn't even walk! Driving here is a feat that blows my mind. Pedestrians, bicyclists, scooters, cars all whizzing down the road inches from one another. More than once I sucked in a gasp when I thought we might have an intimate encounter. And even though it is hair raising, everyone maintains respect for one another. No road rage here. And there does seem to be order in the chaos if you swallow your tongue and just watch.
Our home for two weeks as well as our chariot. We have been blessed by wonderful people who insist on waiting on us. I'm even protected in bed with mosquito netting. Although I have yet to see a mosquito or any bugs to speak of. They probably all drowned!
The birds awoke me at the crack of dawn, unheard of in my life (the crack of dawn part). The flora is spectacular --- bananas, plants that I try to grow in a pot, flowers, lush greenery that desert dwellers like us only see when the sprinkler runs on a regular basis. Enough for tonight. Tomorrow is church, more visits and new friends. This is the cleanest, most friendly city I have ever been in. Below is Judy and myself.
Very interesting! I am sure you all have much to learn from each other. More modern facility than I had imagined you living in. The burial site is heart breaking. Why can’t we all learn to live and let live? Life can be so difficult and it doesn’t need to be, I will never understand. Keep up the good work ladies. At least these want to learn, go to school, try to better themselves, unlike many here. God Bless you all and the work you do. Take care.