Relationships
When we arrived at Pastor Augustine Habimana’s home in Gisenyi we were warmly welcomed by him, his wife, Mama Erise, his nine-year old daughter, Erise, his four-old son, Sam, and his five-month old baby boy, Shamu. Also staying at the house at the time were his mother, nephew, and two girls that they have living with them right now. As the two weeks progressed, we felt like we had a home and a family with our new friends. We had many, many conversations together about things both light-hearted and serious. We played with the children, watched television (mostly soccer) together, visited churches, talked with visitors who came to the house, and visited families in the neighborhood. One time we walked to a church member’s house, then joined him on a visit to his neighbors to talk to them about Christ. It was interesting to be observing and praying for people during these visitations and exciting that the Friends church people are reaching out to their neighbors.
Learning
One of the most difficult things I did each day was to gather up my courage to “put myself out there” into some situation where I could learn something new. However, I had some very fun and fulfilling times learning/observing how to make some kinds of foods, how to wash clothes, how to go and buy things at the market, how to use a charcoal iron, etc. I would often write down words that came up in conversations and, later, Brad helped me remember them by asking me questions in Kinyarwanda. One day, Brad and I walked to the market to buy some fruit that Mama Erise asked us to get. She told us the expected prices and the quantities of what to buy, but I knew it was up to me to do the talking. I practiced ahead of time, and was nervous, but I did it! The ladies selling the food were kind, and didn’t try to make us pay an exorbitant amount, and for that I praise God!
Fun times
Sometimes Brad and I walked around town, one Saturday morning we had a great time kicking the soccer ball around with Sam and Erise, and every day we got to enjoy playing with little Shamu. He loved to smile and laugh! The first morning we were there, Mama Erise told her son that he needed to teach me Kinyarwanda, so he got out his book about constellations (in English) and I actually did learn a couple words. One morning, Pastor Habimana guided us on a thirty minute drive to the hot springs - a nondescript little place on the edge of the lake that had hot water bubbling up out of the earth. I had never seen anything like it before, so it was pretty fascinating. Also, one day we told our family that we wanted to cook something for them. So, we went through the sreps of buying the food, washing, cutting, peeling, and cooking (the whole process took about five hours). Everyone liked it and Mama Erise asked us to teach it to her a few nights later! This family cooks over charcoal and has places for three pots to be going at once. So, it was a new experience for us, but fun!
There were times I felt tired, confused, and even a little sick. But, there were also so many times I felt at home, excited to be learning, and loving our new family. God helped me so much to have courage, to give me rest when I needed it, and to just see the beautiful things He was doing around me.
