One week Down!

Wow! We've been here a week already. The 'gathering' (conference) has been great but jam packed and very exhausting both physically (for me) and emotionally for all. We have heard stories in detail about some of the atrocities that were committed during the genocide and as I sobbed my way through the accounts I could not understand just how one man could do such evil to another. There have been some amazing speakers including a Lakota Indian from the USA who has taught us heaps about reaching the indigenous people and we hope to be able to bring some of that back with us and perhaps use it to help our indigenous brothers and sisters. Tomorrow Rob goes off on the field trip which to my surprise goes until Sunday! The kids and I have to check out and move (probably to the Novotel) and then return on Sunday night for the debrief on Monday. THe field trip will involve visiting communities around Rwanda where both Hutus and Tutusis (perpetrators and victims) are living together in harmony. Something we believe can only be done with the help of Jesus. What some of these people have forgiven puts us to shame when i think of things we harbour against our brothers and sisters.

Okay, on a lighter note, we have met some amazing people. We have met with the two young men who operate an orphan centre called Rebero and they have begun so many programs to help the orphans and widows. They are determined not to receive handouts but to become self-sufficient and we are so impressed but not only what they've done but what their vision involves. We will be visiting there next weekend to see how it all works and perhaps how we can help. It will be good to get away from this hotel for a change of scenery. The kids have been great and not complained but even I am going stir crazy.

Well, the baby has started kicking now so that has been a real thrill. Rob and Kristi felt it first and its kind of 'neat' to think it started in Rwanda.

One of the other Aussies here has Malaria and is on the medication so we are praying for God's protection for me as I am not on anything. So far so good! thank you so much for your prayers. We have managed to stay healthy so far.

I don't know if I can stomach one more hot meal! Each day we have a hot breakky, hot lunch and hot dinner, however its always the same, there is no variety so its hard for the kids. Of course I remind them that their lucky to have food!!! Which is what Brandon reminded me of when I complained about our hard bed. "At least you have a bed mum!!!"

Well I'd better try and post this before I lose the connection AGAIN! Thank you again all sincerely for your prayers as they are truly carrying us.

Love and blessings
Kellie & Co

Arrived at last!

Hi All

We made it!  Three flights and over 25 hours later we're here.  No hiccups along the way (thank you for your prayers) and our luggage was waiting for us in Kigali (Rwanda) which was a real blessing! The kids were amazing.  BJ and Janie slept well (despite me leaving the Phenergen at home) but Kristi only managed 1 hour the whole trip!  She frequently felt sick which we think must have been travel sickness but managed not to throw up!  My 'cold' has progressed to both my vocal chords and now my chest so I have no voice and a yucky cough.   So I value prayers for restored health for me.

Yesterday, day 1 had enough excitement (for want of a better word) for the whole trip.  We decided to let the kids swim in the pool.  They were having a ball and Janie was very excited and very difficult to slow down! They were sliding down the slide into the pool and having a blast but on one of those climbs she managed to fall from the top (she was wet and slippery) and land hard on the concrete hitting her head.  Rob was only a foot away but not able to get to here quick enough.  I watched the whole thing in what seemed like slow motion. It was awful but God is so good, there was no blood and only a 'wee' egg on her head.  She cried a lot but recovered well and for the fall she had there should have been more injuries.  We were so worried we'd have to go off to the doctor on our first day.   Someone went and told the manager of the hotel who came to see if everything was ok and if we needed to get to the doctor which was very nice of him but we knew she'd be fine.   We kept an eye on here and made sure she didn't fall asleep for a while as we were concerned she might have a bit of concussion.  

So we went back to our room and ordered some burgers and chips for the kids who promptly fell asleep and could not be woken to eat their meals!!  

The hotel is probably about 2 star and if we weren't in Africa I would be very disappointed!  But as I lay in the rock hard bed last night thinking about how uncomfortable I was I thought about how many people in this very same country do not even have a bed and my complaints vanished immediately.  It has been a good prompt reminder that we are so blessed the way we live in Oz and how we take it for granted.

Rob has taken the kids exploring while I to the emails and blogs etc. 

Till next time.....

3 Days and Counting

Only three days to go before we set off for Rwanda. There's so much to do so little time! We are all very excited but I'll be glad to be on that plane knowing that whatever we've forgotten aint coming! It will be so good to be back in the land of a thousand hills and amongst the beautiful people of Rwanda who taught me so much and who I hope we will be able to help in a tangible way as the hands and feet of Jesus.