Sunday, January 28, 2007
I quite like praying here, esspecially the songs in Kinyarwanda. I had a church visit experience I would like to share.
As I entered the church, my friend explained to me that prayers would be from 8:30-9:15. I noticed the podium stating "Rwanda For Jesus" etched in wood and then a fellow pacing down an aisle muttering to himself. I thought, ah, he must have mental illness. It wasn't until I perused the place and saw about 18 others doing the same thing (including my well-educated, quite composed, and intelligent line manager from work, who I knew was a pastor at this particular church). I heard a lot of "wadop, wadop", which is definately NOT Kinyarwanda, saw arms raised into the air, and some folks falling to their knees. At about 9:15, about 8 people came up onto stage. Accompanied by 2 electric keyboards and 2 electric guitars, they sang with zest.
Following, the preacher came on stage (his mercedes was parked outside and his beautiful wife, beautifully dressed, sat in the front row). He anounced that the church absolutely needed a new set of drums which would cost 400,000 RwF (about 800 dollars). (Mind you, a typical teacher salary here is 40,000 RwF = 80 dollars /month). The next 45 minutes felt like an auction house. He started asking that 1 "man" pay the total, as he said, "you can afford it". When there were no takers, he sought lower bidders. Eventually, he raised the entire sum!
After the fundraising was complete, a familiar visiting preacher from Swaziland was introduced. Dressed in a white pin-striped suit that was about 6 sizes too large for him, he opened his sermon by saying the church needed 3 things: spirtual power, economic power, and political power. Fo the next hour and a half, he did not mention spirtiual power again. His voice was so loud in the microphone, I definately thought I would have the opportunity to use my Sign Language sooner then later. I was quite grateful when the electricty went out! He taught us that the silver and gold did not belong to us ("turn to your neighbor and say, the silver and gold does not belong to us! it belongs to G-d!...the silver and gold does not belong to us, it belongs to G-d") We need to give our silver and gold to the church so that the church can go on the radio and TV and spread the word of G-d. Turn to your neighbor and say "money" "money", "again!!" "MONEY"!!!....He talked of Nigeria and how, of course, we all know how "those Nigerians" are so innefficient...But there are "shake-ups" all around this world, with AIDS and street children...and even those Nigerians who are so backwards have the right idea about how to stop these shake-ups. They say "Lawdy"(the congregation/audience chuckled aloud as the visiting preacher made fun of Nigerians) "Lawdy, here is my silver and my gold". And they do it right! The proof: we [the world? Rwandans] are no longer watching Chuch Norris films, we are now watching Nigerian films!!!!! Turn to your neighbor and say "shake-up" shake up" again...!
Following the visitor's sermon, we all got up and walked to the front of the church to donate our silver and gold to G-d.
After this English and French service and sermon, the Kinyarwanda followed. About 20 folks came up on stage with one lead singer. Although I have never been a big concert goer, I imagine this felt like a mix between a concert with the Indigo Girls (lots of hand holding), Metallica (lots of sliding on knees), Criss Cross (lots of bopping up and down in small jumps), Phish/Dead (lots of speaking in tongues), and of course, Michael Jackson (lots of moon walking)!!!!
As I entered the church, my friend explained to me that prayers would be from 8:30-9:15. I noticed the podium stating "Rwanda For Jesus" etched in wood and then a fellow pacing down an aisle muttering to himself. I thought, ah, he must have mental illness. It wasn't until I perused the place and saw about 18 others doing the same thing (including my well-educated, quite composed, and intelligent line manager from work, who I knew was a pastor at this particular church). I heard a lot of "wadop, wadop", which is definately NOT Kinyarwanda, saw arms raised into the air, and some folks falling to their knees. At about 9:15, about 8 people came up onto stage. Accompanied by 2 electric keyboards and 2 electric guitars, they sang with zest.
Following, the preacher came on stage (his mercedes was parked outside and his beautiful wife, beautifully dressed, sat in the front row). He anounced that the church absolutely needed a new set of drums which would cost 400,000 RwF (about 800 dollars). (Mind you, a typical teacher salary here is 40,000 RwF = 80 dollars /month). The next 45 minutes felt like an auction house. He started asking that 1 "man" pay the total, as he said, "you can afford it". When there were no takers, he sought lower bidders. Eventually, he raised the entire sum!
After the fundraising was complete, a familiar visiting preacher from Swaziland was introduced. Dressed in a white pin-striped suit that was about 6 sizes too large for him, he opened his sermon by saying the church needed 3 things: spirtual power, economic power, and political power. Fo the next hour and a half, he did not mention spirtiual power again. His voice was so loud in the microphone, I definately thought I would have the opportunity to use my Sign Language sooner then later. I was quite grateful when the electricty went out! He taught us that the silver and gold did not belong to us ("turn to your neighbor and say, the silver and gold does not belong to us! it belongs to G-d!...the silver and gold does not belong to us, it belongs to G-d") We need to give our silver and gold to the church so that the church can go on the radio and TV and spread the word of G-d. Turn to your neighbor and say "money" "money", "again!!" "MONEY"!!!....He talked of Nigeria and how, of course, we all know how "those Nigerians" are so innefficient...But there are "shake-ups" all around this world, with AIDS and street children...and even those Nigerians who are so backwards have the right idea about how to stop these shake-ups. They say "Lawdy"(the congregation/audience chuckled aloud as the visiting preacher made fun of Nigerians) "Lawdy, here is my silver and my gold". And they do it right! The proof: we [the world? Rwandans] are no longer watching Chuch Norris films, we are now watching Nigerian films!!!!! Turn to your neighbor and say "shake-up" shake up" again...!
Following the visitor's sermon, we all got up and walked to the front of the church to donate our silver and gold to G-d.
After this English and French service and sermon, the Kinyarwanda followed. About 20 folks came up on stage with one lead singer. Although I have never been a big concert goer, I imagine this felt like a mix between a concert with the Indigo Girls (lots of hand holding), Metallica (lots of sliding on knees), Criss Cross (lots of bopping up and down in small jumps), Phish/Dead (lots of speaking in tongues), and of course, Michael Jackson (lots of moon walking)!!!!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Umwaka myiza! Happy new year everyone!
Upon request, I will do my best to give you some context, an idea of my daily life here.
Mugitondo y'kuwa mbere (Monday morning)
5 am Wake up to the sounds of Gerard (the guard and man dressed in his best for the picture I took and posted on an earlier blog) dusting the outside window frame and humming a Swahili tune. Light a candle in the bathroom so I can put in my contacts (electricity out).
5:30 am Meet my VSO friend Jo and Rwandese running partner (ex-hair salon employee) Noel for our morning run. Watch the sunrise over the hills of Kigali as we run past people carrying cans of water and baskets on their heads or going to pray. Hear people muttering, "abazungu" about us, as we run past.
6:10 am Return home and check the bathroom for any cockroaches (remove). Bathe in a bucket of cold water. First washing my face, hair and feet outside of the bucket then stepping in and standing while pouring water over me using a plastic cup. Using the same water to pre-rinse and post-rinse. Dump the water into a different bucket so that I can use it the rest of the day to "flush" the toilet.
6:45 am Eat a quick small banana and amazing Rwandan peanut butter breakfast while downing my anti-maliarial.
7 am Walk next door for am prayers at work (all in Kinyarwanda). Spend 10-15 minutes clapping hands and greeting ALL of my colleagues. Hear "Julie, you are quite fat" because I am wearing my gray pants which seem to accentuate my hips. (Though most of you know what I look like, for those of you who don't, I am just about 5' and under 100 lbs...hence I always say, you need good body image self-esteem when you come to Rwanda : ) )
7:40 am Organize toys so that caregivers can see which are most appropriate for their kids. Organize trainings for the day.
9 am Greet all of the children and caregivers arriving. Spend the morning demonstrating appropriate therapeutic activities and positioning for the room full of kids with CP, Down Syndrome, Erb's Palsy and more. Typically, there are about 12 kids with just as many caregivers in one large therapy room. About 3 kids are receiving direct therapy at a time.
12 Walk back next door to eat my lunch that I had cooked the night before (rice, peas, carrots, tomatos) and then take a 20 minute nap!
1 pm Equipment fitting with two children who have been referred to the center by their social workers. Work with the technicians, consult with the PT and tailors. The child has returned literally 7 times for this fitting of a standing frame.
2 pm Facilitate a training on typical Rwandese childrens' occupations. Facilitate a visual day map activity (in English, and my best Kinyarwanda) and a stereognosis activity (hidden objects in a sea of other tactile input).
3:30 pm Complete my work day walking to the other office down a few roads to print something out.
4:00 pm Early dinner- same as lunch. Quick wash of a few articles of clothing.
4:45 pm Visit the orphans with my friend Jo. Teach them "inhene (goat), inhene, inka (cow)" - you guessed it! "duck, duck, goose"! Give them each a small banana (52 small bananas go quickly!).
5:30 Walk back toward home with three kids holding each hand and several woman tersely demanding money. "Give me my money".
6 pm Visit neighbors who just had a baby boy. Hoping to go to the baby naming ceremony in about a week. Thinking about suggesting the Kinyarwanda word for "one who is in touch with his feminine side" - just kidding : ) That would definately not go over well here.
6:30 pm Say hello to about 20 neighbors along my red dirt road during my 4 minute walk home. Hear a lot of hissing, as they are calling me over to their homes or stores.
7 pm Study Kinyarwanda and return a text message about a church visit for the weekend
8 pm Bedtime. Fold my mosquito net around my bed and crawl in.
3 am Answer a call from mom, dad, joe, jennie or allie!! I love it!!!
Ok, I hope this gives you a small snipit. Let me know if you want other details.
Upon request, I will do my best to give you some context, an idea of my daily life here.
Mugitondo y'kuwa mbere (Monday morning)
5 am Wake up to the sounds of Gerard (the guard and man dressed in his best for the picture I took and posted on an earlier blog) dusting the outside window frame and humming a Swahili tune. Light a candle in the bathroom so I can put in my contacts (electricity out).
5:30 am Meet my VSO friend Jo and Rwandese running partner (ex-hair salon employee) Noel for our morning run. Watch the sunrise over the hills of Kigali as we run past people carrying cans of water and baskets on their heads or going to pray. Hear people muttering, "abazungu" about us, as we run past.
6:10 am Return home and check the bathroom for any cockroaches (remove). Bathe in a bucket of cold water. First washing my face, hair and feet outside of the bucket then stepping in and standing while pouring water over me using a plastic cup. Using the same water to pre-rinse and post-rinse. Dump the water into a different bucket so that I can use it the rest of the day to "flush" the toilet.
6:45 am Eat a quick small banana and amazing Rwandan peanut butter breakfast while downing my anti-maliarial.
7 am Walk next door for am prayers at work (all in Kinyarwanda). Spend 10-15 minutes clapping hands and greeting ALL of my colleagues. Hear "Julie, you are quite fat" because I am wearing my gray pants which seem to accentuate my hips. (Though most of you know what I look like, for those of you who don't, I am just about 5' and under 100 lbs...hence I always say, you need good body image self-esteem when you come to Rwanda : ) )
7:40 am Organize toys so that caregivers can see which are most appropriate for their kids. Organize trainings for the day.
9 am Greet all of the children and caregivers arriving. Spend the morning demonstrating appropriate therapeutic activities and positioning for the room full of kids with CP, Down Syndrome, Erb's Palsy and more. Typically, there are about 12 kids with just as many caregivers in one large therapy room. About 3 kids are receiving direct therapy at a time.
12 Walk back next door to eat my lunch that I had cooked the night before (rice, peas, carrots, tomatos) and then take a 20 minute nap!
1 pm Equipment fitting with two children who have been referred to the center by their social workers. Work with the technicians, consult with the PT and tailors. The child has returned literally 7 times for this fitting of a standing frame.
2 pm Facilitate a training on typical Rwandese childrens' occupations. Facilitate a visual day map activity (in English, and my best Kinyarwanda) and a stereognosis activity (hidden objects in a sea of other tactile input).
3:30 pm Complete my work day walking to the other office down a few roads to print something out.
4:00 pm Early dinner- same as lunch. Quick wash of a few articles of clothing.
4:45 pm Visit the orphans with my friend Jo. Teach them "inhene (goat), inhene, inka (cow)" - you guessed it! "duck, duck, goose"! Give them each a small banana (52 small bananas go quickly!).
5:30 Walk back toward home with three kids holding each hand and several woman tersely demanding money. "Give me my money".
6 pm Visit neighbors who just had a baby boy. Hoping to go to the baby naming ceremony in about a week. Thinking about suggesting the Kinyarwanda word for "one who is in touch with his feminine side" - just kidding : ) That would definately not go over well here.
6:30 pm Say hello to about 20 neighbors along my red dirt road during my 4 minute walk home. Hear a lot of hissing, as they are calling me over to their homes or stores.
7 pm Study Kinyarwanda and return a text message about a church visit for the weekend
8 pm Bedtime. Fold my mosquito net around my bed and crawl in.
3 am Answer a call from mom, dad, joe, jennie or allie!! I love it!!!
Ok, I hope this gives you a small snipit. Let me know if you want other details.
