Hi Everyone,
This week-end has been great. On Friday, we went swimming at Novetell, this nice hotel. It was nice and we let Levi swim for the first time in the baby pool. He loved it. Later, we went to SOS orphanage to teach songs and games to the children. They forgot we were coming and we had to wait an hour. Then, they told us the children were to busy. We had to wait because Christy was not suppose to pick us up for another hour. We ended up playing basketball with the teenagers. It was tons of fun even though I am very bad at basketball. I told a one of my team members "I am sorry. I am really bad at basketball." He saids, "Yeah, I know!" On Saturday, we went to the soccer camp again. This time we actually got to work with the children playing soccer. We passed the ball to them and did some re-lay races. We gave the devo on how we should look to Jesus as the perfect example. It went really well. In the afternoon, we went swimming again at Brian's secretary house. She has daughters our age so that was fun. On Sunday, we went to a low-income church, one that would most resemble a village church. It was all in Kenya-Rwandan but someone came to translate for us. The worship service lasted 2 1/2 hours. There was a praise choir and crazy back ground music. Before the lesson, the preacher got up and gave scriptures. The congregation would then have to guess where it was from. The preacher also did this with people from the Bible. Right before the lesson, all the children came in to sing a song. Then, the praise choir sang another song. It got alittle crazy. People were dancing down the aisles. It was an interesting experience. We just relaxed Sunday afternoon. Today, we are giving tests to children at Brian's school. Later in the afternoon, we are suppose to go to SOS orphanage to try to teach the kids songs. Hopefully, this time they will remember we are coming. Either Tuesday or Wednesday we are suppose to go out in the village. I am really excited about this. We will prepare the village for an incoming mission team. To let y'all know, this will be my last blog. The internet has been out at Brian and Christy's for a week now. I leave Thursday night and should be back in Amarillo Friday around 11 p.m. Please pray all my flights are on time! If one is delayed I will miss my flight to Amarillo and have to spend the night in Dallas with Brian and Christy. This would not be bad but I just want to get home without having to spend the night and fly out again on Saturday. So please pray all goes well with our flights. Also pray God works through us to impact people. That God's light shines through and people can see Him through us. Thank you so much for all your support and prayers. It really means alot. I can't wait to get back and tell of all my adventures! I will be home Friday!!! See you then- In Him- Whitney
Monday, June 23, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The past couple days
Hello all!
This was been a great eventful week! :) On Monday, we went up to the school and taught English for 2 1/2 hours to the kids. The kids enjoyed the games and hopefully we helped them with common English words. The students also know the "seven days of the week" song and "head, shoulders, knees and toes" very well. The teachers even left us alone with the kids while we taught. When the headmistress came up to us, she hugged us and kissed us on each cheeks. It was really cute. I know they loved us coming. On Tuesday we went up to another private elementary school and sorted books all day for the library. There were so many books! We sorted them as best we could and the headmaster was very grateful. On Wednesday, we came and helped Christy sort books for the library at Brian's international school. There were even more books!!! We managed to get about half of the books donated sorted so that helped Christy alot. Then it was Wednesday night worship at Christy and Brian's house. We always prepare snack foods for the people to eat and fellowship afterwards. Jim Beck, my professor at LCU, spoke at the devo. The lesson was very good and I can't wait to work with him back in Lubbock. The singing was amazing. We sing most songs in Kenya-Rwandan and its just beautiful. I wish I could record it so y'all could hear it. I am catching on with how to pronounce the words but sometimes I just like to listen. It was really funny last night because the college guys came and even though they have met me and Clare once before they all remembered us. They can't pronounce my name very well so they all say "whenny!" They found out we had camras, so we took many pictures. All Rwandans love camras because they don't see many. So they love to take pictures and then look at them. It was really funny. They are very nice and as they were leaving one told me and Clare "I will miss you each day." Once again, it was like we were movie stars. I started cleaning up and the some of the guys were very impressed. They came up to me and said "Whenny, do you know what this means? You are a good woman." I died laughing. Today, we came to Brian's school and helped out with field day. I was a judge, guarded water ballons, and cheered kids on as they ran the re-lay race. It was great because I am starting to learn kids name and teachers. Tomorrow, we are going to the SOS program (which we visited Monday) and teach the kids some English songs and games. I have the younger kids so I am thinking I will do "duck,duck,goose" and "London Bridge" (not very American). I will also teach acouple easy songs that I have learned from my mom being a pre-k teacher. Saturday we are doing soccer camp again. I have been told to have a lesson prepared for the younger kids. So I am prepared this time! I am planning on doing the lesson on "who is Jesus." Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. This has been such a wonderful blessing! Keep praying for God's love to shine bright through Clare and I. Pray the right words will come when communicating with people and for the lesson at soccer camp. I love you all very much and am thinking about you! In Him, Whit :)
This was been a great eventful week! :) On Monday, we went up to the school and taught English for 2 1/2 hours to the kids. The kids enjoyed the games and hopefully we helped them with common English words. The students also know the "seven days of the week" song and "head, shoulders, knees and toes" very well. The teachers even left us alone with the kids while we taught. When the headmistress came up to us, she hugged us and kissed us on each cheeks. It was really cute. I know they loved us coming. On Tuesday we went up to another private elementary school and sorted books all day for the library. There were so many books! We sorted them as best we could and the headmaster was very grateful. On Wednesday, we came and helped Christy sort books for the library at Brian's international school. There were even more books!!! We managed to get about half of the books donated sorted so that helped Christy alot. Then it was Wednesday night worship at Christy and Brian's house. We always prepare snack foods for the people to eat and fellowship afterwards. Jim Beck, my professor at LCU, spoke at the devo. The lesson was very good and I can't wait to work with him back in Lubbock. The singing was amazing. We sing most songs in Kenya-Rwandan and its just beautiful. I wish I could record it so y'all could hear it. I am catching on with how to pronounce the words but sometimes I just like to listen. It was really funny last night because the college guys came and even though they have met me and Clare once before they all remembered us. They can't pronounce my name very well so they all say "whenny!" They found out we had camras, so we took many pictures. All Rwandans love camras because they don't see many. So they love to take pictures and then look at them. It was really funny. They are very nice and as they were leaving one told me and Clare "I will miss you each day." Once again, it was like we were movie stars. I started cleaning up and the some of the guys were very impressed. They came up to me and said "Whenny, do you know what this means? You are a good woman." I died laughing. Today, we came to Brian's school and helped out with field day. I was a judge, guarded water ballons, and cheered kids on as they ran the re-lay race. It was great because I am starting to learn kids name and teachers. Tomorrow, we are going to the SOS program (which we visited Monday) and teach the kids some English songs and games. I have the younger kids so I am thinking I will do "duck,duck,goose" and "London Bridge" (not very American). I will also teach acouple easy songs that I have learned from my mom being a pre-k teacher. Saturday we are doing soccer camp again. I have been told to have a lesson prepared for the younger kids. So I am prepared this time! I am planning on doing the lesson on "who is Jesus." Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. This has been such a wonderful blessing! Keep praying for God's love to shine bright through Clare and I. Pray the right words will come when communicating with people and for the lesson at soccer camp. I love you all very much and am thinking about you! In Him, Whit :)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Week-end
Hi Everyone,
This past week-end has been wonderful! On Saturday morning, Clare and I went to a soccer camp that is hosted every Saturday for street kids. We worked with 7 year olds. Although the majority of the kids were boys there were some girls that came to watch. One girl sat by me and as we were watching the game she keep getting closer and closer until she was laying in my lap. It was so cute! After the children played, they went in for a devo. When the leader found out we were studying to be missionaries, he said, "Well since you want to be missionaries you can help with the ideas for the devo. This is your test." So we had to come up with ideas for the devo right then. We came up with the idea God is always in control when you trust in him. Charles translated for us. The children really liked it and had lots of questions. It was so neat but hard because we were put on the spot with our knowledge of the Bible and our faith. I was so excited after words because that was the first time I actually got to share the Good News to Rwandans (even though they were just children). Later that night, we went to a national soccer game. It was crazy! When we would score everyone would start screaming, dancing, blowing whistles, just going crazy with excitement. It was very cool to watch and it only cost $4 US dollars to get in. On Sunday, we went to CCR, the nearest thing to Church of Christ in Rwanda. It was very different. There were drums and a piano. Women had an active role in the service. One of the problems in Rwanda for the missionaries, like Brian and Christy, is there are no churches that are completely following the Bible. It is very hard on them to find encouragement and feel comfortable worshiping. To start a church though would cause many many problems with other people, so right now Brian and Christy feel its best to wait and see what happens with certain situations before starting a Bibically sound Church. Today, we are going back to the school to teach English. I think our lesson is very good and I feel alot more prepared. We are also going to another orphanage too. This is a really cool program. Mothers who have lost their family in the Genocide are matched with orphans from the genocide. So they make a new family together. Thank you so much for your prayers. Keep praying that God will use us to further His kingdom and give us the right words when communicating to others! Pray that God's unconditional love with show through us as we work with the people. I love you all! In Him- Whit :)
This past week-end has been wonderful! On Saturday morning, Clare and I went to a soccer camp that is hosted every Saturday for street kids. We worked with 7 year olds. Although the majority of the kids were boys there were some girls that came to watch. One girl sat by me and as we were watching the game she keep getting closer and closer until she was laying in my lap. It was so cute! After the children played, they went in for a devo. When the leader found out we were studying to be missionaries, he said, "Well since you want to be missionaries you can help with the ideas for the devo. This is your test." So we had to come up with ideas for the devo right then. We came up with the idea God is always in control when you trust in him. Charles translated for us. The children really liked it and had lots of questions. It was so neat but hard because we were put on the spot with our knowledge of the Bible and our faith. I was so excited after words because that was the first time I actually got to share the Good News to Rwandans (even though they were just children). Later that night, we went to a national soccer game. It was crazy! When we would score everyone would start screaming, dancing, blowing whistles, just going crazy with excitement. It was very cool to watch and it only cost $4 US dollars to get in. On Sunday, we went to CCR, the nearest thing to Church of Christ in Rwanda. It was very different. There were drums and a piano. Women had an active role in the service. One of the problems in Rwanda for the missionaries, like Brian and Christy, is there are no churches that are completely following the Bible. It is very hard on them to find encouragement and feel comfortable worshiping. To start a church though would cause many many problems with other people, so right now Brian and Christy feel its best to wait and see what happens with certain situations before starting a Bibically sound Church. Today, we are going back to the school to teach English. I think our lesson is very good and I feel alot more prepared. We are also going to another orphanage too. This is a really cool program. Mothers who have lost their family in the Genocide are matched with orphans from the genocide. So they make a new family together. Thank you so much for your prayers. Keep praying that God will use us to further His kingdom and give us the right words when communicating to others! Pray that God's unconditional love with show through us as we work with the people. I love you all! In Him- Whit :)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Past couple days...
Hi everyone,
These past couple days have been amazing but tiring. On Wednesday, Clare and I went to the orphanage to work. It was crazy. There were around 48 babies (ages 6 months to a year) in one room. They stayed in metal cribs all day. The diapers were cloth rags so they didn't work very well and there were flies everywhere. No one spoke English. Clare and I just walked around loving on the children. We touched them and held them. They just loved it. All they needed was some interaction. I just wanted to take all of them home with me! Some where scared of us because we were white. They would cry and scream when we came near. We stayed in that room for about 2 1/2 hours. Then we went to the babies. We feed the babies. The workers were very rough with the babies and didn't pay attention very well. For example, they gave Clare a baby she had already fed but Clare couldn't tell them she had fed the baby because no one spoke English. One realizes how important knowing the language is. It was very frustrating with that communication block. It was very hard and very sad. It was just physically and emotionally draining. On Thursday, we went to a Rwandan public school to help out. The headmistress expected us to have a 45 minute lesson on English prepared for the different age groups. That didn't work out very well because we had no idea what level the children were at. We did our best though. We taught the children the songs "There are 7 days in a week" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." The teachers and headmistress were very glad we came and surprised that we would be interested. It was a lower-income side of town. We are going back Monday and hopefully will be more prepared. The children were still in awe by us. They gathered around wanting to touch our skin and speak to us. Today, Friday, we went to another Rwandan Elementary school. It is a Christian school but just for Rwandans. All the teachers are Rwandans too. It was very interesting to see how each school compares to the other. This school had about 30 in each class. We are going back Tuesday to help set up the library. We then went to the fabric market and bargained. That was fun. I think I might be able to bargain on my own when we go to the next market. Tomorrow we are helping with a soccer camp for the Rwandan kids. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughtfullness. Please pray we can connect with the children and be shining lights to those in need! I love you all- In Him- Whit :)
These past couple days have been amazing but tiring. On Wednesday, Clare and I went to the orphanage to work. It was crazy. There were around 48 babies (ages 6 months to a year) in one room. They stayed in metal cribs all day. The diapers were cloth rags so they didn't work very well and there were flies everywhere. No one spoke English. Clare and I just walked around loving on the children. We touched them and held them. They just loved it. All they needed was some interaction. I just wanted to take all of them home with me! Some where scared of us because we were white. They would cry and scream when we came near. We stayed in that room for about 2 1/2 hours. Then we went to the babies. We feed the babies. The workers were very rough with the babies and didn't pay attention very well. For example, they gave Clare a baby she had already fed but Clare couldn't tell them she had fed the baby because no one spoke English. One realizes how important knowing the language is. It was very frustrating with that communication block. It was very hard and very sad. It was just physically and emotionally draining. On Thursday, we went to a Rwandan public school to help out. The headmistress expected us to have a 45 minute lesson on English prepared for the different age groups. That didn't work out very well because we had no idea what level the children were at. We did our best though. We taught the children the songs "There are 7 days in a week" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." The teachers and headmistress were very glad we came and surprised that we would be interested. It was a lower-income side of town. We are going back Monday and hopefully will be more prepared. The children were still in awe by us. They gathered around wanting to touch our skin and speak to us. Today, Friday, we went to another Rwandan Elementary school. It is a Christian school but just for Rwandans. All the teachers are Rwandans too. It was very interesting to see how each school compares to the other. This school had about 30 in each class. We are going back Tuesday to help set up the library. We then went to the fabric market and bargained. That was fun. I think I might be able to bargain on my own when we go to the next market. Tomorrow we are helping with a soccer camp for the Rwandan kids. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughtfullness. Please pray we can connect with the children and be shining lights to those in need! I love you all- In Him- Whit :)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Gorillas
Hey everyone,
I am feeling normal again! Thank you so much for your prayers! It really means alot and helped! Sunday afternoon we travelled two hours to a smaller town. The ride was up mountains and there were tons tons tons of curves. Both me and Claire got car sick but the view was beautiful! This is a beautiful country. On Monday, we woke up at 5:30 in the morning and headed to the Goriallas. There are only 700 Silverback Gorillas in the world. We hiked up the mountains between Congo and Rwanda. It was amazing. It was green and just breath-taking. As I looked out, I couldn't help but see God's glory. We had military escort for our safety since there is a genocide going on in Congo right now. After a hour of hiking up hill we found the gorillas. We saw nine gorillas in all. A huge Silverback male and several young ones. We also saw a baby gorilla that was a year and half. We were so close I could reach out and touch them. During one part, we had to jump in the bushes because gorillas were coming up behind us. One touched Brian as she was walking by. It was crazy and alittle scary. I am so thankful for this opportunity. My favorite part of the trip was driving through the villages to the mountains. It was a hour drive from our hotel in town to the mountains. Claire and I had to ride in the back of the pick-up because there was no room in the car because our guide rode with us. We got to see "real Africa," the mud huts and the true villages. It was crazy though because it was like we were famous. The children would run to the side of the road waving and shouting. Some yelled "I love you" and others "Good morning." Some just would die laughing when we drove by. Christy said it was because we were riding African style and they have never seen white people ride like that. One little girl started yelling "White people! White people!" in Kenya-Rwandan as we drove by. Some girls chased us down the road for a while. They were so nice and friendly. Even the older adults would smile and wave. It was the best experience I have had. Brian taught us to say "how are you" in Kenya-Rwandan. The kids were shocked when we greeted them in their own language. On the way back, three Africans rode with us back into town. People were shocked to see two white girls riding African style with three African men. The looks we were getting were so funny. The villages was very poor. Many of the younger children wore only a t-shirt. It was very sad. Today I am up at the school helping out in the classrooms. The children are very funny and I love working with them. Keep praying for God to work through us! Thank you so much for all you have done! I am truely grateful for the experiences I have had. And Happy Birthday to my little sister! She turned 14 on June 8th! Much love Whitney :)
I am feeling normal again! Thank you so much for your prayers! It really means alot and helped! Sunday afternoon we travelled two hours to a smaller town. The ride was up mountains and there were tons tons tons of curves. Both me and Claire got car sick but the view was beautiful! This is a beautiful country. On Monday, we woke up at 5:30 in the morning and headed to the Goriallas. There are only 700 Silverback Gorillas in the world. We hiked up the mountains between Congo and Rwanda. It was amazing. It was green and just breath-taking. As I looked out, I couldn't help but see God's glory. We had military escort for our safety since there is a genocide going on in Congo right now. After a hour of hiking up hill we found the gorillas. We saw nine gorillas in all. A huge Silverback male and several young ones. We also saw a baby gorilla that was a year and half. We were so close I could reach out and touch them. During one part, we had to jump in the bushes because gorillas were coming up behind us. One touched Brian as she was walking by. It was crazy and alittle scary. I am so thankful for this opportunity. My favorite part of the trip was driving through the villages to the mountains. It was a hour drive from our hotel in town to the mountains. Claire and I had to ride in the back of the pick-up because there was no room in the car because our guide rode with us. We got to see "real Africa," the mud huts and the true villages. It was crazy though because it was like we were famous. The children would run to the side of the road waving and shouting. Some yelled "I love you" and others "Good morning." Some just would die laughing when we drove by. Christy said it was because we were riding African style and they have never seen white people ride like that. One little girl started yelling "White people! White people!" in Kenya-Rwandan as we drove by. Some girls chased us down the road for a while. They were so nice and friendly. Even the older adults would smile and wave. It was the best experience I have had. Brian taught us to say "how are you" in Kenya-Rwandan. The kids were shocked when we greeted them in their own language. On the way back, three Africans rode with us back into town. People were shocked to see two white girls riding African style with three African men. The looks we were getting were so funny. The villages was very poor. Many of the younger children wore only a t-shirt. It was very sad. Today I am up at the school helping out in the classrooms. The children are very funny and I love working with them. Keep praying for God to work through us! Thank you so much for all you have done! I am truely grateful for the experiences I have had. And Happy Birthday to my little sister! She turned 14 on June 8th! Much love Whitney :)
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Update
Hello everyone,
Today is Sunday. This past week has been great. On Wednesday evening it was Levi's naming ceremony. Every baby born in Rwanda must have a Rwandan name. Christy and Brain picked the name that translates to "blessing" in English. A dance was done imating a cow. It was very interesting. On Friday we went to the Genocide Memorial. It was very touching and emotional. One section of it had some bones from mass graves from the genocide. A young girl started crying when she went into the room. Yestarday I became sick. Christy says most people get sick just from the difference in food. I enjoy the Africa food although the spices are different. I threw up yestarday and this morning I woke up with a slight fever and a headache. It is getting better though. I am taking lots of medicine. Please pray that I get better and then remain healthy for the rest of my trip. Today we are leaving to go see the gorillas. It is about a two hour drive up to the mountains. Tomorrow morning we will hike up to see them. I am really excited about this. This morning church was very different from what I am use to back in the states. They have praise choirs and instruments. It is very loud and there is lots of clapping. During certain prayers, everyone would pray out loud at once so it was very choatic. The worship service lasted two hours. Christy plans on taking us to the Village Church which is the lower income church and another Africa church so we got the whole experience of many different Africa churches. Thursday we went up to the school where Brian works. There is about 100 kids at the school. About 1/3 of the kids are Rwandan, another third American and another third is from all across the world. We went to a soccer game that night. The excitement was intense. Soccer to them is like football to us. I am so grateful for this opportunity. So far it has been amazing. Please pray for our health, and safety as we travel. Thank you so much! God Bless- Whit :)
Today is Sunday. This past week has been great. On Wednesday evening it was Levi's naming ceremony. Every baby born in Rwanda must have a Rwandan name. Christy and Brain picked the name that translates to "blessing" in English. A dance was done imating a cow. It was very interesting. On Friday we went to the Genocide Memorial. It was very touching and emotional. One section of it had some bones from mass graves from the genocide. A young girl started crying when she went into the room. Yestarday I became sick. Christy says most people get sick just from the difference in food. I enjoy the Africa food although the spices are different. I threw up yestarday and this morning I woke up with a slight fever and a headache. It is getting better though. I am taking lots of medicine. Please pray that I get better and then remain healthy for the rest of my trip. Today we are leaving to go see the gorillas. It is about a two hour drive up to the mountains. Tomorrow morning we will hike up to see them. I am really excited about this. This morning church was very different from what I am use to back in the states. They have praise choirs and instruments. It is very loud and there is lots of clapping. During certain prayers, everyone would pray out loud at once so it was very choatic. The worship service lasted two hours. Christy plans on taking us to the Village Church which is the lower income church and another Africa church so we got the whole experience of many different Africa churches. Thursday we went up to the school where Brian works. There is about 100 kids at the school. About 1/3 of the kids are Rwandan, another third American and another third is from all across the world. We went to a soccer game that night. The excitement was intense. Soccer to them is like football to us. I am so grateful for this opportunity. So far it has been amazing. Please pray for our health, and safety as we travel. Thank you so much! God Bless- Whit :)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Home Sweet Home
I made it! We made it yestarday around 9 Kigali time. The flights were ok...a total of nineteen hours of flying- AH! We almost missed our flight from New York to Brussels. Our plane was delayed from Houston so the two hour layover became nothing. Then our gate was changed without our knowledge. We went to the wrong gate and then had to run across the airport but we made it! The flight from Brussels was eight hours long and after five hours I got really plane sick. I thought I was going to throw up but I just sat there really still and prayed. After a while it went away. Me and Claire got to sat with each other on two of the flights and on the last flight no one sat with me so I got to lay down to sleep. We made it with all our luggage and got through customs fine. Today, June 4th, Christy took us around the city and to the market. The people are very friendly and love Levi, the baby. It is hard to understand the English with their accent but I am catching on. I am really tired so I am going to bed. The internet is really hard to get working so I don't know when I can get on again. Jim Beck, my professor from LCU, is here also with his family, which is cool. Please pray for us to be safe and reach people here. So far, I love it here but the humidity is killing me- I'm sweating all the time. Well- goodnight all and thanks for all your prayers! Love- Whit :)
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