Weekend in Butare

I tried so many times to upload pictures, but it took forever to load, so I gave up.

I got up at 2:30 in the morning, I can't go back to sleep. I have not heard from Chris since he left Butare. I hope they arrived in US safely. Ted is with Gordon in Uganda, and I hope he is doing Okay too. I have not heard from Gordon. I am doing great here in Butare. It is raining, and people are telling me it is unusual to have rain like this in July.

Sunday, 23--Paul came to pick me up at 8 am to go to his church. I attended the English service and spoke at the KinyaRwandan service. I shared about my experience here in Africa using Mark 10:27. Robina and I went to Oleg's house, Oleg and Elena are professors from Russia and they teach Physics at NUR. George, Emmanual, and Gerald were there too. Robina became a friend with Oleg's daughter, and the daughter was crying for Robina to stay when we left. We had a great time eating Russian food. Chris would loved to eat Elena's cabbage rolls. When I returend home and entered the CASA House gate around 5 p.m, I heard beautiful sining from our house. There were about 25 Batwa women and children were sining at the porch and waiting for us. I recognized most of them. I showed pictures of them from the last year. They were giggling and having a great time looking at themselves. I took more pictures, and this time I made a slideshow on my Mac, and showed it to them. Probably they saw a computer for the first time, as anyone can imagine, they were amazed what they see on the screen. I enjoyed watching them enjoying themselves. They came to pay a visit and express their thanks for goats we gave them. I thank them for coming, and they thank them for goats the CASA team gave them last Wednesday.

Batwas make living by selling clay pots, and they brought four huge pots. All handmade, and very well made. Can you believe that they are selling all for 90 cents? I wish I could take the pots. They are big and very well crafted.

Saturday 22
In the morning, I taught students how to use a digital camera, and showed how to put together a digital story. It took all morning because my microphone didn't work. Went for fiting at a taylor shop in the afternoon. I ordered some pants and skirts, and I am not sure I will wear them in US, but I know I will wear them when I am in Africa.

Talked with Frank about his work with CASA. We came to understand each other. I set up an excel file for Robina and Frank.

Talked to the landload about the bathroom repair. It is going to be a major construction job. We don't know how long it is going to take, in here a construction job can last several years. I hope he will act on it quick. We told him that if he finish the job,then we will give him six month rents. He wants to see the money first, but Robina told him "no". He fix first, then he will have the money. He gave Robina some flowers to put in the garden.


Took Robina, Pascuzia, Charmant, and Skovia out for Chinese dinner. Here in this town, they consider the chinese restaurant as a fancy place. The food was very expensive and wasn't good at all. We waited for two hours, and when the food arrived, it was too salty to eat. We agreed we will not come this place again.