Adventure's with Dad continue

Well, time for another blog, and this time I am writing from the shores of Lake Kivu in a town called Gisenyi. And all I can say is, PARADISE! We arrived late last night and had a plate of chips, a couple of beers and some chats to other residents here at Paradise Malahide where we are staying. Now, if anyone ever travels to Gisenyi, you MUST stay here! We had a long lie this morning, finishing the movie we only got half an hour into last night and opened the curtains to glorious, glorious sunshine! I was so cold when we were at the volcanoes and now it is so much warmer, and a bit more “my thing” than colder regions. We will update later after our first day here. I’m already looking forward to swimming in the lake (no crocs etc) and reading my book!

So, to give you a picture of yesterday. If only you could feel the pain in my legs this morning. I can barely move, and even walking down steps and going to the loo is killing me! We woke early in Kinigi guesthouse and had a nice hearty breakfast of omelettes and coffee and a couple of bananas. We drove along to the Gorilla Tracking HQ, just down the road where at 7am, was heaving with people already. We had previously decided against the Gorilla’s as it is incredibly expensive, even for me, with a resident’s card and thought we might take a walk up to Volcanoe, which I can’t remember the name of to see the flooded crater at the top. After hiding the initial shock of the price of walking we set off in a group of five. Dad, me, Meri (more about her later), Bart and Zeuren. Now Bart and Z were very fit, and not bad looking I might add, and I could feel my lack of fitness start to voice itself before we’d even left HQ. So, off we drove to the foot of the Volcano, at around 1000ft. Meri came in the car with Dad and I. She is American. Retired and travelling the continent of Africa on her own. She has done so much, and didn’t we hear it! Bless her, but some people don’t know when to shut up and just enjoy the scenery! After trundling our way through the villages, lush, fertile landscape and a lot of volcanic rock, we made it to the car park. We were all given walking sticks, with little gorilla’s on them (SO touristy) and off we went with our guide, Vincent and a few porters, in case any of us needed carrying. Turns our Vincent knows almost all of my friends back in Kigali (where is that again?!) so we had some good chat until I got too puffed out to talk. We must have walked an hour up through the heavily cultivated field until we reached the Volcano National Park boundary. After the climb, I couldn’t believe we were only just entering the bloomin’ park! However, I was positive and still feeling relatively fresh so ready for the next climb up to a small clearing 3000ft up. Let me just take a minute to recommend not hiking in rainy season. Mud, mud and more mud. And also, let me say that I DID enjoy the time we had up there. In a humid rainforest, so high up with amazing views of volcanoes around us.

We reached the clearing, where Vincent told us that now the climb would start. Eh, what?! Haha! Dad said in Scotland, it would be classed as rockclimbing as we were on a gradient of about fifty percent for the most part. I had my friend, Timothy helping me up the big steps, which was such a blessing. And although my kinyarwanda is still painfully limited, we had a nice conversation about his family. We reached 10,000ft. Dad says that the effort it took, we could have easily climbed Ben Nevis, and boy, I believed him. Unfortunately, at this altitude, things were starting to go a bit fuzzy and I was feeling pretty faint. Dad was too, and we decided to call it a day and not hike for another 2.5 hours up. I wouldn’t have made it, and Dad claims he wouldn’t either, although I did feel bad for some time that we didn’t get to the top. There’s always next time right? We made it to the bottom and drove back ourselves. Sadly, our little Rav4 couldn’t quite make it the whole way back to the main road, and we had a pretty spectacular puncture 1km from Kinigi. What’s more interesting than watching a tyre get changed? Watching a tyre get changed by a muzungu! Well, we must have been the talk of the town that afternoon, and at least 100 people surrounded the car to watch Dad change the wheel. Although this is normal for me, it was definitely an experience for Dad to remember! Anyway, after that, back to the guesthouse for a quick coffee , then hitting the road to Gisenyi. Took us about an hour with no problems and straight round Lake Kivu to Paradise Malahide. We passed the still smoking volcano, which we will have another look at tonight, as it still glows.

Today, we had our long lie, then a beautiful breakfast. With lovely pottery and wooden cutlery and spoons, Fresh fruit salad, coffee, omelettes and toast. Perfect! We headed to the Lake Kivu Serena hotel for the rest of the day. Chilled out, read books, watched the water and (well, for me anyway) soaked up some sunshine. For a mere 3000rwf (3 quid) it was worth it and we really needed a day of nothing. We’re now just about to have our afternoon nap (because today has been so strenuous, you see) then head to another place for dinner.

Lots of love,

A rather pink Carla

Dadio comes to Rwanda

Here I am, in Volcanoes National Park, 4000ft about sea level writing this blog! It has already been an amazing adventure since Dad arrived last Tuesday. After only a few days, he is beginning to become more Rwandese. With sugar in his coffee, and his small kinyarwanda words. Papa Umugwaneza can now say Turkey, Good morning and No Problem without any help.

I will try and blog as we are doing things so that what I write can be fresh, and we don’t miss anything out. Perhaps Dad can have a wee paragraph here and there too.

Yesterday, we had quite the African experience in Akagera National Park, Eastern Province. As we are now, as a nation, in a week of mourning for the ’94 genocide, parks and tourist attractions are quieter. We had the whole park to ourselves, and the very good Sa’id as our guide. We stayed North, and had seen plenty of impala and zebra before we had even entered the park. We spent some time in the plains seeing zebra, impala, antelopes, buffalo, water buck, topi and the majestic giraffe. We were also lucky to see a couple of mongoose scampering into their homes, abandoned turmite mounds as we passed.  We took some time to chill out with a young, male giraffe which feels unreal when you are standing 30m away from it. The roads were rough, and this time we had Dad’s driving skills. All I can say is that my “African massage” was much stronger than Dad’s was! On the way to the lake, we saw what many people never get to see at Akagera. Grazing on the shores below us was a lone elephant. It does not feel like real life when you watch them. These are wild animals! In their natural habitat, with no fences or boundaries to stop them. No one looks after them, or gives them food. We are merely observers in their daily lives. We raced the rain to get down to Lake Mihindi where we saw hippo, croc and beautiful birds. Sa’id showed me the plant used by locals to treat ringworm which we squeezed all over my growing circle! Here it is called the money disease as the mark it leaves is similar to the coins. Finally, as it often does in rainy season, the rain hit us as we set off on the bumpy, horsefly ridden mountain road back to reception. I am SO thankful that I have a Dad who knows how to handle a car. Our little Rav just made it slipping and sliding all over the place. The elephants had passed through the day before. They usually follow the tracks, and they certainly left their mark in fallen trees, branches and a lot of dung! It was fun and a great experience. Many people criticise the park and compare it to the savannah in Kenya or Tanzania. But for sure, this is a real safari, with no tarmac roads and picnic places. It feels like you are really in the African bush, I can’t imagine how it was for Dad, after being in Scotland 3 days ago, and then that!

Unfortunately, the rain did not ease off and we had a nasty drive back to Kigali. Heavy rain, heavy traffic, no water or food and a crappy windscreen wiper. We both got back to the base, crashed into bed with banging headaches and had a well needed rest. We nipped out for a plate of steaming pasta for tea and then a good, solid sleep.

Feeling refreshed this morning, after a hot bucket shower and strong coffee, we nipped through town to get snacks and plenty of water and headed towards to northern town of Ruhengeri. The drive was spectacular. We probably reached an altitude of 5000ft. It was amazing to see this part of the country! After spending the majority of my time in Kigali city and out east, it was refreshing and eye opening to see this part of Rwanda. Land of a Thousand Hills really shines out it’s name as you drive along narrow roads between ridges of the mountains. People everywhere of course! To think that they walk this road every day, carrying water, wood and a million other things along the way. I have come to the conclusion that if I was to come back here in the future more permanently, I would have to live up here. City life is grand, but I’m a country girl through and through, Rural life suits me, and I would happily wake up to those views every morning! Ruhengeri as a town, feels prosperous and buzzing, mostly due to the mass tourism that passes through every day.

We also took the opportunity to pop up to Virunga Lodge for a coffee. Known as the most beautiful place in Rwanda, we had to agree. Stunning views of Lake Ruhuno and Bulera on one side, and the volcanoes on the other. All the way at the top of a very steep hill, you feel like you are on top of the world. We stayed for coffee and the best chips in the world, according to Dad. At $500 a night, I have to say, it’s worth it, if it’s within your budget! We had a private tour with John. Checked out the bar with it’s big central open fireplace and then down to one of the Bandas. A private little house, with the gorgeous views. Of course, we had to go inside and have a nosey. WOW! We could see that the Banda’s reflect the price. Maybe one day, we can take Mum there for the night. Dad says we would have to blindfold her for the slippery climb first!

So we will head out tomorrow morning around 6am. Have a big breakfast and hike for 4 hours. Hopefully our fitness level (or lack thereof) won’t present too much of a problem! We are secretly hoping the gorillas fancy a descent and stumble across us. The price is high for gorilla tracking, but we can always pray we bump into them hey?

Anyway, this blog is huge! Maybe a shorter one tomorrow. We head to Gisenyi, on the shore of Lake Kivu for some time on the beach by the water. Can’t wait! Peace out.

I feel highly honoured that I’m allowed to add a paragraph to Mugwaneza’s excellent blogs.  One of my favourite experiences is watching Carla move effortlessly among the local people here, and see their faces light up as she talks to them in their own language.  She’s very modest about how much she has picked up, but you would need to see the faces of the people we meet to understand what a difference it makes.  So the trip to the park yesterday (was it only yesterday?) was totally amazing – “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Selkirk anymore”  so surreal to be plucked from a frosty Scotland to stand on a vast African plain shimmering in the afternoon heat surrounded by the entire contents of Edinburgh zoo calmly grazing away.  And hey – no flies – something I’d slightly dreaded about the vast outdoors here.  After three days I’m now slightly less paranoid about any flying creatures that make the bad choice on landing on me, although I must admit I did shriek a couple of times when some nasties got into the car.  So now we’re in the volcano park, higher than Ben Nevis, surrounded by towering mountains partly shrouded in mist, and now under a dazzling array of stars in constellations that I don’t recognise.  I’d better stop now before I break into poetry.  It’s hard to take in but quite an experience.  Glad to say my “stress rash” from work (what’s that again?) has completely gone and I now fell I’m slipping into the African way of life.  This is greatly helped by the fact that my watch has stopped and my phone is flat, so I never seem to know what the time is.  Need to stop now and watch a film before an early night as we are trekking up to the crater in the morning.  Glad that I’ll be able to use the altitude as an excuse as to why I’ll be walking so slowly.    

Can you keep a secret?

I have not often shared my long term vision on dreams on this blog. I’ve actually not shared them often to anyone. Sometimes those dreams seem so big, and far away, I forget about them for a while, as I live away the present. However, recently I have realised the future is coming! And perhaps coming up quicker than I thought.

In the past, God has left things ‘til the very last minute with me. Revealing His plans just before I had to live them out. It was exciting, fast paced and incredibly faith strengthening as He poured out provision and confirmation that I was walking in His path.

Now, it seems that the future is coming, my vision is growing and God is whispering in my ear. I know that He is gently calling me back to Scotland, and I can sense that He is being gracious with time and letting it sink in, that maybe I will not be back in Africa (for an extended stay) for some time. It hurts my heart to think of leaving without knowing when I’ll be back, but I have the same faith I had two years ago, when I last left Rwanda, that my work here is not finished. Seasons change, and so does my walk with God. I am happier to adventure down a river with twists and turns than to stand in a stagnant pond with nothing new approaching me.

I have grown so greatly in the last year. I can feel a new attitude and perspective towards life has taken root and is being strengthened with each new situation I face. In the past few months, I have been blessed to live alongside individuals and families with beautiful visions for the future. As people share their dreams, I feel swept away too, and find myself imagining being part of them. Most of these visions exist outside of YWAM which is more signal that my time here is also coming to an end. These visions are SO “of God” and I pray that as steps are taken towards them, He would breathe His life upon them.

I know that God has given me my own personal desires and vision, which He has been adding to over the last few months. Signs of shared visions and hopes for the future have encouraged me to keep pressing into His plan. One of the main things I feel now, is that I will not be alone in my future. God is already preparing someone to do life with me. And for me to do life with him. I’m praying now for that guy, that his heart would be like mine, and we can share God’s perfect plan together. This is the surprise! I actually do not have a desire to be married right now, honestly! So then, I’m asking God what He is up to. I can only trust Him and begin to grasp the slightest understanding of how He works,

Right now, it is only a whisper, a rumour of what is to come. So I am quietly responding and obeying the One who knows me and knows what is to come.

Bittersweet

Hello Everyone!

I thought it was about time for a wee update on my girl Gikotori. I know a lot of you have been asking about my time with her and what plans are now, so here’s your update!

We had organised for her to be here in Kigali last Tuesday night. Her mum would drop her off and pick her up a couple days later. Due to problems on the border Tuesday became Friday, and a couple of nights became a few,

It was SO amazing to see her again! After so many dreams about ever seeing her again, the time was a real gift from God. It was a surprise when she arrived too. Straight after a bit of an emotionally charged staff meeting, I was feeling a bit on edge, then she just walked into the door with Celestin. So many happy tears and smiles. For those who don’t know, I met her when I was on my DTS outreach 2 years ago in Bukora. She is now a beautiful, amazing five year old girl. She moved to Tanzania with her family last October.  We had a great weekend, going into town for some milk at Bourbon coffee, a trip to the market for a new outfit and lots of snuggles looking at pictures and watching movies (which she actually just chatted the whole way through).

She was a wee bit ill the second day. As she only drinks milk in TZ, they do no cooking. And even plain food like bread and rice was upsetting her wee tummy. So we chilled out that day in bed with lots of water and cuddles. This was when we pushed back her pick up time, as she needed the rest. The day she left was sad and happy. Sad because I had loved looking after her and spoiling her a wee bit, but happy as it had been organised that she would stay with her aunt here in Kigali for some time and then go to school.

The next day, Gikotori was back and very sick. It was an awkward situation, where there was no time to think and a bit confusing. Her aunt told us she could not look after her. She had just come from the doctor who had found malaria and Giko was being sick when she arrived. The aunt told us she had no time to get her better but had the medicine from the pharmacy. Of course, I took her, and put her into bed with medicine and water, she fell asleep straight away. Then we had a right hoo ha with the base leadership as I had not consulted anyone before I took her from the aunt. This was the beginning of a difficult situation where I felt completely out of my depth. I now had an ill child in my bed, with no one wanting to care for her, and voices in my ears telling me to give her back to an aunt because “we have a policy” on children. It was really challenging, and even now I feel hurt about the way she was spoken about. As a problem, and not a little girl.

That night, we found the aunt who she was meant to stay with. At first I was apprehensive for her to go anywhere with people she hadn’t met. And I was worried that the situation waiting for her at her aunts would not be good for her. Celestin visited the family who are friendly, godly, and have much more money than many people I know. They had not understood that they would be looking after G, and so were hesitant to take her. But it was agreed she should go to them the next morning when she was feeling better. We took her. She was sad and crying but what else can you do? They are her family and could look after her, for now anyway. They asked a lot of me, money wise, which I cannot give, and things were kind of left in the balance.

I visited her yesterday, after 3 days being away in Bukora again. She was happy and well and back to her usual chatty self. As far as the situation goes, I don’t know where it is going. From what I can gather, it is either boarding school or back to Tanzania. I really don’t want either for her.

Life in TZ was harder and tougher than I had imagined. When they said they were moving, I thought it would be a benefit for the family. Unfortunately it has not bode so well for the five kids. The parents are gone all day. Five kids alone all day, no school fees so no education. Living in the forest in the bush, not near any other houses or community. No cooking, only milk to drink. Sleeping in the dust with no mattress or mosquito net. Wild animals around. Her brother, Steven was bitten by a wild dog during the night last week. The situation from my point of view is awful. But I know there are thousands and thousands of children living that way in Africa and all over the world. Knowing one personally seems to make it hit home a whole lot harder. And then for her to go to boarding school breaks my heart. At five years old without a family environment, and in a boarding school, where I know can be dangerous.

Now I am in a helpless position. I could give her love but not a family. Or she can be with a family, without the love that she deserves. I understand, she is not my daughter. I understand people think that I have money to pay for the world if necessary. And I understand it is not my responsibility to look after her now. People I have spoken to back home have a lot to say, but with all due respect, everything is ten times more intense, frustrating, confusing and completely crazy here where it is happening. My head spins when I think about it. I feel like crying whenever I visit her as her future is so uncertain. I really love her so much, and although we don’t speak the same language, I am blessed by God for such a person in my life. It is hard for me to talk so much about her when I am at home, as I feel it is hard for anyone else to understand, which I guess can be a bit selfish or prideful of me, and I am just a bit protective about my memories and love for her.

Please, if you know Jesus or not, pray for her. Pray for the children in Africa in helpless situations. And pray for me.

Sorry if this blog sounds really down, or sad. The time I have with her is sweet but the time when I am left with my thoughts is painful.

“I wish you could put your English in me, and I would put my Kinyarwanda in you.”

Gikotori Jessica

Akagera Wild Weekend

adventure |adˈven ch ər; əd-|nounan unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity

It’s a couple of weeks overdue, but I did say that I would write a blog about our adventurous weekend out in Eastern Rwanda at Akagera National Game Park. It truly was an amazing wee break away for me and the lovely Lauren and the weekend of rest felt like a week’s worth and we returned to Kigali feeling relaxed and refreshed. Of course, it was not peachy the whole time, and as two young girls zooming off in their own hired 4x4 for 3 days, a few crazy things were bound to happen.

So here, I will try and include our finest (maybe not proudest) moments over the weekend!

Friday morning did not begin as planned (our organisation was probably too good to be true anyway). Unfortunately, our friend Elias, who we were hiring a Toyata Rav 4 from, had an accident late Thursday night and the car was not drivable. We were up at 6am crawling through kigalilife, an online advertising and general information forum trying to find someone else to rent from. Finally, at 6:30, we had another car, from a man called Placide. We ate mango and yoghurt for breakfast which was such a treat, the mangos tasted better than any we have had yet! The car arrives. I go to the gate to get it, left hand drive, automatic, white and SO cool! I took the keys, and tried to appear very mature, as if I drove such nice cars all the time. Anyway, the driver left and I bumped down the drive into the base, feeling very suave and smug. We loaded up the car with our picnic (biscuits and chocolate) and were off to our first stop – Bourbon Coffee! OK, it was still in Kigali, but I needed a chance to get used to driving on the other side of the car. We often borrow Papa Joy’s old Corolla for going out for dinner in the evenings, or when we have something heavy to bring back from town, but that is right hand drive, and has never been too different. Lauren got the sharp intake of breath down to a tee, so I knew when I was almost hitting something(one). We grabbed two Iced White Mochas, hopped back into the car and headed back to the road that leads to Kayonza, and then on to Uganda (left at the roundabout) or Tanzania (right, where we were heading).

After approximately 5 minutes, we both needed the toilet, but carried on telling ourselves it was all in our heads as we headed out of the city into the big windy roads, hills and tea plantations. It is SO beautiful, even just as you head out of town and the green, lush countryside is refreshing after the big smoke. We had no problems with roadblocks, or getting stopped (despite the speedometer not working) or accidents. We made it to Kayonza after a couple of hours (both bursting) and pulled up to the petrol station for toilet and snacks. We bought some bananas and more biscuits and carried on down the road towards TZ. We turned off the main road towards Akagera, which is 28km of red, dirt road. VERY exciting to say the least and we documented the change of terrain in one of our videos to chronicle our whole trip. We met Placide (as he was on his way back from the park) to say hello and let him see that we weren’t completely mad. He was nice, but he had a hoody on that said “I love butterflies” and Lauren was a bit freaked out. Anyway, half an hour more of the track, and waving to the kiddies along the way, we were crossing under the Akagera Game Park archway (another video). As if we couldn’t stand any more excitement we saw two baboons on the way up to the lodge. We have kind of different views on them. I hate them, and liken them to horrible, big, vicious dogs. And Lauren loves them. So my window went up and hers went down (until I found the control button on my side for all the windows) and she ogled, while I shivered at the exciting sight of our fist “ibisimba” or wild animal.

Then, in all it’s glory, Akagera Game Lodge appeared. We could almost hear the heavenly chorus as we pulled up into the car park and dragged our very windswept selves into reception. We were then showed to our room. Our room! Massive bed, countless pillows, balcony, TV, electricity, bedside lamp, and the best – BATHROOM! Hello flushing toilet, hot shower and bathtub! Well we were so overcome with it all, we just collapsed into the bed (took a video) and watched a movie, at 1 in the afternoon. We couldn’t stop laughing for the initial few minutes, as we couldn’t believe we had actually made it and were there! Wait, we did try to eat lunch on the balcony first, but got chased back inside by the guard, who told us off for bringing food outside as it encouraged the baboons, so we ate in bed. Lauren wasn’t impressed (video). We woke up and went to sort out our safari for the next day down at the other reception. It was SO cheap, and brilliant value for money. We paid under £40 for both of us, the car and a guide (which doesn’t cost, you just tip) for as long as we wanted in the park, and planned to head back down the next morning around half 6. Back to the lodge, we jumped on the bed and spruced up a bit for dinner. Stuffed our faces and watched the warthog and waterbuck come to drink at the water hole near the lodge and then back to our room, which we never liked to leave for too long. The bath was running, the bubbles were foaming, Mamma Mia was ready to play and we were in our bikinis. A-MA-ZING. Then we went to bed, around 9 and had the best sleep either of us has had since we arrived.

Up we got the next day, at 5:45 and went to breakfast to stuff our faces again with all the complimentary goodies. Omelettes, fruit, coffee, juice, cereal…we were very satisfied by the end of it and rolled down to safari reception at around 7. Our guide for the day was Sa’id. He is from Burundi but has worked in the park for 6 years and was such a nice guy.

This next part is too long so I’ll bullet point the significant things that occurred over the course of the day.

-       after being asked how long we wanted to spend in the park, we decided on 6 hours, which would take us from south all the way to the north through the foresty areas, past the lakes, and the plains, so we would see as much as possible.

-       The park is ALL off road on dirt tracks, and every other terrain you can think of, so I got in a bit of practice in 4x4 driving, and we soon realised we needed to start praying we were not going to do any damage to the car.

-       BEAUTIFUL view of the first Lake where we saw a hippo and lots of big white birds, which I can’t remember the name of. Also the beginning of a very nasty relationship with us and horseflies. Seriously, why are they on this planet? Lauren was the only one to get bitten, which she was very disappointed about (until one bit me twice on the foot while we were driving) and we soon had the windows closed, air con on and twenty big flies squashed around various windows in the car.

-       Over the first few hours, we saw Nile Crocs, more hippos, baboons (gag), so many birds, waterbuck, impala and velvet monkeys.

-       The big “Hoo Ha” happened about 3.5 hours into the day when Sa’id (yes, it was his fault) told us to look to the left to see the highest point of the park. We were going over a particularly rocky bit of road and before we knew what was happening, Lauren was practically on my lap after a VERY big bump to the right hand side of the car. Oh, gosh it sounded awful and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. We drove on a wee bit and then stopped to inspect the damage. First of all, Lauren had proper smacked herself into the handbrake and whatever else was inbetween us and had a very sore bum, and the car, named Ralph, had a completely bent footbar on the right. I mean, that rock just came out of no where and charged. You have to look out for these things on a safari you see.

-       We had a lot of fun charging through big puddles. Until the floor was wet.

-       We hit the plains, and Sa’id told me just to take the car off the track and over the grass until we got close enough to giraffes to get a nice picture. Totally felt like we were in the Lion King. Massive herd of buffalo with little white birds all over them and about 10 giraffes scattered around. We got close to a group of 3 and got beautiful photos, they are such beautiful animals, and SO graceful and elegant, even when they break into a canter. We also saw plenty of zebra (my favourite) and more antelope breeds across the plain.

-       The whole drive through the park turned into about 6 hours, and then we needed to get back to the lodge along the main road again. All together, I drove for 9 hours that day. But it was well worth it, and we had such a great time. I thoroughly recommend driving through it yourself, taking it at your own pace and enjoying every part! Would love to go back and do it again with my Dad, maybe next time in a slightly bigger 4x4!

We were absolutely knackered by the time we got in. We had showers and food and movies and then more sleep with a glorious lie in on the Sunday until half 9! Beautiful! Ralph had a wash too, as he was not white anymore and we hit the road at around 11 and headed back to Kigali with the music going, the windows down, and only our toilet and banana stop in Kayonza. It really is a pretty sweet life here sometimes, and it’s nice to reflect on how blessed I am to have the opportunity to do something cool like this, and someone even cooler to do it with while I’m here!

We finished the weekend with a coffee in Bourbon, and then an Indian meal at Khana Kazana, a really good place to eat in town. After informing Placide about the bad news, we were kind of dreading seeing him and giving the car back. So, just to make it better, something fell off the front as we were reversing out of the Indian. Ugh! Then Placide told us he would prefer to see it the next morning in the daylight, ahh cringe! We hardly slept that night, but thankfully it was not a big deal in the morning, and we just gave him an extra 20 quid to cover damages. I mean, we’ve seen plenty of Rav 4’s with no footbars, OR front bars. He really shouldn’t try and posh up the car so much. It’s probably the last we’ll see of Ralph, but it was a great time.

So, I would recommend a trip to Akagera. Even though there is not so much big game like the cats and elephants (which we on the other side of the lakes when we were there) it really was a great experience which I hope I can do again one day, maybe when my Dad comes out.

Here I am with the feather of one of my beloved, guinea fouls:

Hope that everyone back home is having adventures too! 

Home Is Where The Heart Is....

And where is that exactly?

I'm having a slight dilemma these days. Where is my heart? Where is home? 

Pray with me as I seek God about where He is calling me next. My commitment with YWAM Rwanda finishes in May, and another commitment is 2 years. I feel drawn back to Scotland. But know I will leave an even bigger part of me in Africa this time. Can I go back to Scotland, not knowing when I will ever come back? Is this just another question of surrender? I have an amazing friend leaving for home in the Scottish Borders in 4 weeks. Can I let her go, without getting into the seat next to her? Is it time for a new season away from Africa? 

So many questions, and not so many answers, yet.

decision 

|diˈsi zh ən|nouna conclusion or resolution reached after consideration 

Dadio

Recently, I've been thinking lots about my wonderful Dad. Or Dadio, as I usually call him. 

You see, he is pretty amazing, the best Dad in the world in fact. And I wanted to do a small blog just to tell everyone a bit about him and what he means to me in my life.

I'm a complete Daddy's girl, through and through. My Dad was the soft one when I was younger, I played him and Mum off each other pretty well I thought. But recently discovered they knew exactly what I was up to. Dad and me have funny chats about earlier years and how I was so ridiculously naughty with way too much cheek. But not too much that I couldn't get myself out of trouble!

These days, I miss my Dad, and realise how much he actually sows into my life when I see him everyday at home. He is so wise, and has the most amazing, godly, real things to say to me. I would say that God uses my Dad to speak to me often, and I love that. That my heavenly Father can use my earthly one to share His heart. I try to thank God as much as possible for a father like mine, as I know they are hard to find, and not every girl has an amazing Daddy looking out for her and loving her like mine does. 

Here's a few things that make my Dad amazing,

- He has his own paraglider and license, and likes to throw himself off Scottish mountains on his days off.

- He makes me the BEST omelettes in the world, and I'm slowly learning the art of a "Dad Omelette".

- He is so musically gifted, and can lead you straight into the throne room with God. His heart is in the right place for it too, and that makes all the difference. Thank you for your heart for worship Dad, and for sharing some of it with me.

- He loves my Mum the way your Dad is meant to. Their marriage and relationship inspires me and is an example I want to follow.

- My Dad is an amazing windsurfer, and I love seeing him flying across the Loch and hearing his whoops. I also like it when he lets me have a drink out of his RAF Windsurfing Speed Champion brandy glass.

- He was in the Royal Air Force. That's cool. He left to be with us, that's even cooler.

- He has never discouraged or doubted me. He builds me up into my dreams and my relationship with God.

- My Dad can fix ANYTHING. He can do EVERYTHING. I have no idea how I am going to find a husband who can do the things that Dad can, hopefully God is working on that already, and training someone up.

- Dad gets on with everyone. He never judges, I think thats beautiful. 

So yes, I think that's enough reasons for now, and I don't want to make this entry a big blabbering mess. My Dad is the best, 

Love you Dadio 

x

I've made plans too, You know

I surrender (almost) all

Over the last couple of weeks, God has been really challenging me. And I feel like I have almost been hiding from His voice, in case I hear something I don't want to. 

You see, I have this plan, and it's a wonderful plan, for the next wee chapter in my life. Go back to Scotland, get a nice wee flat, decorate it with Mum, do some nannying work, get a sausage dog pup and relax a bit in my home country, Scotland before taking off anywhere again, any time soon.

But recently, God has been challenging me on what, or who I am going home for. I realised that I had not let God into the picture, I had not even begun to consider how I will serve God while I am home, I had just covered my own needs, according to me anyway. 

It get's better (or worse, I felt) when I was at church on Sunday. We sang a song with the line

"all of my ambitions, hopes and plans. I surrender these, into Your hands"

I couldn't sing it, my heart wouldn't let me. How do I really give everything to God? My whole life. My dreams. My desires. My own plans. It's really difficult, and I don't feel ready for that yet. I feel like I'm not ready to obey God if He doesn't call me back to Scotland this summer. Maybe you could pray for me, that I would pray without fear of His plan. Because I know that's not the way it is supposed to work. Maybe first, I need to pray about surrender, then worry about where I'm going in a few months.

In the mean time, I am having the most amazing time in Rwanda again. Feeling settled and at home in a way I have never felt before. I think the challenges and obstacles I got over last year have really prepared me for this time. And I thank God that He really did an amazing work in me last year, and has equipped me for the job at hand now. 

This country, these people, this life is beautiful and it is a huge blessings to me that God chose this as part of His plan for me. I believe he has the best for me now, but what about my future...

Sunshine Life

Well, here I am again. After two beautiful months at home in Scotland (no time for blogging I'm afraid) I'm back in beautiful, sunny Rwanda and feeling so much at home.


If I'm being honest (which I always try to be in this blog), when I arrived home in Scotland last October, I felt like I could have stayed in Scotland and not returned to Rwanda after Christmas. And for a couple of weeks I really felt torn, and anxious that my feelings were not turning around. However, thank the Lord, they did and I've been here for just over 2 weeks now.


The best part of being back is I am actually in love with this place, this country, these people. So much so, that now I can't even imagine leaving in May after DTS. This scares me but kind of excites me too. I have my plan in my head for what I'm going to do...go home, get a flat, a dog, a job, settle. But at the back of my mind I'm feeling God saying that I'm trying to make myself comfortable. But we should all have a comfortable season right?


All I know right now is that I am happier than I've been in a long time in Rwanda. And I don't think I'm ready to start asking God the plans for the rest of my life just yet...living in the now is fine, for now.