Life in Photos

We're not even half way through and already so much has happened

I've finished a stick of deodorant 

I stopped eating Rwandan food and starting eating PB&J's

 I feel in love with African tea

 I became a first time renter

*More on this later*

 I have gone on walks, taking in Rwanda's beauty 

 I, along with all of Rwanda, have entered rainy season 

 Which has made me want to eat and drink all warm things 

 I've discovered I don't like funfetti anymore

But I still, and always will, love chocolate chip cookies 

I ate my first salad in Rwanda

I spend the weekend in Kigali with my new family

And watched American TV on a real TV

We celebrated Ange's Birthday 

I held my first meeting

*Again, I'll explain later*

And I typed up this blog post lake side 

You can follow my on instagram to get updates in a more timely manner!

Have a tubular Thursday! 

How Many Families Do I Have Again?

For awhile now I have really been struggling with being alone all the time. Which is weird for me to admit since I actually love being alone (100% introvert right here). But four months of being away from the people that offer me love, comfort, support, encouragement, a good laugh, wisdom and so much more, has started to take its tole.

So in my state of loneliness I prayed. I prayed for someone that could offer me love, comfort, support, encouragement, a good laugh, wisdom and so much more. And you know what? God answered that pray with Josephine and her family.

She called me up on Wednesday and immediately invited me to spend the weekend at her house. When I got to Kigali she and her husband, Didas, and their two kids, Trisha and Nicholas (their oldest daughter is studying in America) picked me up and drove me to their home. Along the way Josephine warned me that this would be the last time I would come to visit. She told me that after today I would not longer be a visitor but that this would be my home.

I do not need to call to tell them I am coming, I can come as often and as long as I would like, I am not allowed in the guest room but have a room upstairs with the rest of the family. I am now apart of their family. I do not like to cry, especially in front of people, but let me tell you, I had to hold back the tears as they went on and on about me being apart of their family. God took care of me in a big way.
Besides the mushy stuff this weekend consisted of pizza, dinner rolls that tasted like golden carol, lemon cake, ice cream, African tea (can you tell that I love food just a little bit?), watching an episode of Amazing Race and What Not To Wear on a real T.V., driving around Kigali, jamming out to Taylor Swift with Trisha, getting quizzed on American history (which I failed, miserably), watching Megamind, going to church, watching a soccer match with Nicholas, talking, laughing and relaxing with my new family. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Is it too soon to be planning my return trip?......Pshh, of course not, I'm family, remember?

And since I wasn't able to get any picture of my new family I have decided to give you all a little treat today and show some of the true faces of the people I love and miss back home. Enjoy!

And because I'm a good sport 

*I hope they don't hate me now*

Have a wicked Wednesday! 

Thanks, Faith and Hope

So I don't even remember the last time I did a Thanks, Faith and Hope post but I missed writing them, I had time and this is my blog so I'll do what I want. (It's hard to convey tone through writing but just in case you missed it that right there was a joke.)

Thanks, Faith and Hope

1. WhatsApp. Being able to send my sister, mom and best friend messages whenever I please have been lovely.

2. Speaking of my best friend (for those of you who are new around these hear parts her name's Christina), I could not be more thankful for her and our friendship. Seriously our friendship is pretty redonkulous. You know when you are watching a movie or T.V show, like for instance, Boy Meets World, and you are all the sudden jealous of Shawn and Corey's best friend bro-mance and you hope that one day you'll have a friendship as great as theirs? Yeah, well Christina and I's friendship blows Shawn and Corey's, and any other fictional characters you can think of, out of the water, it's that good. And even though were on different continents right now I still receive her love, support and encouragement and it means the world to me. I am thankful everyday for our crazy awesome sis-mance. (I think I just invented a word!)

3. Pinterest workouts. Saving my butt.....literally.

4. Josephine and her family. They are amazing, wonderful, beautiful people and I am so thankful that they have invited me to be apart of their family. More on their awesomeness tomorrow!

5. My church. I grew up going to church but because my dad is in the military we never stayed in a place long enough to where I felt like that church was my family and than we started going Grace and all of that changed. The people at Grace Community Church are my family, are my support system, are my encouragers, are my prayer warriors. I am so thankful to have that family.

So many things to be thankful for but my OCD is forcing me to stop at 5. What are you thankful for today?

Have a splendid Sunday!

By the way, despite what our faces are conveying, we were on a bus getting a university tour,

 not some thrilling ride at an amusement park. 

Weekend Plans

I’m a list maker. I throughly enjoy making lists. I love knowing what I’m going to be doing for the day and being able to check and highlight things off. Sometimes my lists will be incredibly thorough, including times and things like *wake up, brush teeth, shower, get dressed etc.* The more things I have on my list the more I get to check and highlight. (I might have a problem)

Since coming to Rwanda I have taken a break from my list-making (much to my dismay). Everyday life was just too unpredictable to write an accurate list (and the list must be accurate other wise I can't check and highlight). Recently though life here has felt more settled and so the lists are back and I couldn’t be happier! I spend my days feeling accomplished, motivated and satisfied with each check and highlight. List making is a beautiful thing. (Ok, I definitely have a problem) 

Anyways it's Friday which means the majority of people back home are excited for the two day break from school and work and busy making plans. Well, I don't have a job. And I don't go to school. So the weekends normally don't excite me. BUT this weekend is different. My list for this weekend includes plans. Do you guys remember Joshephine, my Rwandan Aunt? No? Well that’s weird, you should probably read this than.

Ok now that you’re caught up I can tell you, Joshphine has graciously invited me to spend the weekend with her! Three days, two nights in Kigali. This will be my first time staying the night with a true Rwandan. Well, except that one time Megs and I were trapped and abandoned in Kigali. I didn't tell you about that? I think I'm becoming a bad bloggger. Ok, real quick: Me and Megs went to visit the boarding school kids way back when. We weren't using our brains, which meant we didn't check when the last bus would leave for the night. This resulted in Megs and I taking an hour long moto ride to the city, in the dark, on a holiday (remember we weren't using our brains). Once we were in the city we learned we missed the last bus. Luckily we know someone, called him up and he let us stay in the night at his house....and than I found 20 bucks. 

So back to the point of this post, I have weekend plans! That's pretty much it. I hope you guys have an equally fun planned weekend!