ENJOY!!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
i promised...
I said I'd post a few photos...so here they are. But that's it :) You'll have to wait until I get home!!
ENJOY!!
ENJOY!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
what the?!?
WOW
i'm back in civilization...how weird...
i will post photos soon...
and i will be home in 6 days...
HOLY COW!!!!
love you all and thank you for your prayers...
kisses...b...
i'm back in civilization...how weird...
i will post photos soon...
and i will be home in 6 days...
HOLY COW!!!!
love you all and thank you for your prayers...
kisses...b...
Friday, March 27, 2009
I have experienced...
LEADING THE BLIND
FUN PHOTO SHOOTS
INTERESTING TOILETS
AMAZING SUNRISES
BUYING TOO MANY GIFTS
BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES
PEANUT SAUCE AND SWEET POTATOES
SOCKS AND SANDALS
CUTE LITTLE BIRDIES
NEW TOOTHBRUSHES
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
BEING SILLY
A TASTE OF SBS
SHOWERING FROM A BUCKET
WHATSUP WITH NOAH
SWEET DONUTS
RWANDESE DANCING
INSANE HAIR
LOOKING AFRICAN AND EATING CHOCOLATE
AWESOME HAIR
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sometimes...
Sometimes...I forget that I'm white.
Sometimes...I forget I'm in Africa.
Sometimes...I only eat bread rolls for breakfast.
Sometimes...I forget to wash my feet in the shower.
Sometimes...I forget the taste of strawberries.
Sometimes...I miss my comfortable bed.
Sometimes...I wake up at 6 am.
Sometimes...I watch movies with Carla only in our igetenges.
Sometimes...I almost pee my pants.
Sometimes...I draw.
Sometimes...I enjoy cleaning the toilets.
Sometimes...I speak French.
Sometimes...I fart openly with our girls.
Sometimes...I really miss playing with Jett and Elleana.
Sometimes...I wear tank-tops.
Sometimes...I drink home made tree tomato juice.
Sometimes...I speak Kinyarwanda.
Sometimes...I miss my mama and papa.
Sometimes...I wish I could watch Braveheart with my Scottish friend, C.
Sometimes...I miss youth.
Sometimes...I talk to my family and Siah on Skype.
Sometimes...I miss baking cookies and cupcakes.
Sometimes...I sit in class and dream.
Sometimes...I wish I could cuddle up with Siah and watch a movie.
Sometimes...I miss eating poutines with Sabrina.
Sometimes...I miss Matt's jokes.
Sometimes...I miss Solomon's Porch and working with the greatest staff ever.
Sometimes...I wish I could drive in our little Corolla.
Sometimes...I miss singing English songs at Maranatha.
Sometimes...I wish I only had a little privacy.
Sometimes...I would like it if Africans didn't yell when they spoke to the person beside them.
Sometimes...I wish I could be home.
Sometimes...I remember how INCREDIBLY AMAZING God is.
Sometimes...Sometimes I do a lot of things.
I love you all and miss you all very much.
kisses and hugs from Africa.
Sometimes...I forget I'm in Africa.
Sometimes...I only eat bread rolls for breakfast.
Sometimes...I forget to wash my feet in the shower.
Sometimes...I forget the taste of strawberries.
Sometimes...I miss my comfortable bed.
Sometimes...I wake up at 6 am.
Sometimes...I watch movies with Carla only in our igetenges.
Sometimes...I almost pee my pants.
Sometimes...I draw.
Sometimes...I enjoy cleaning the toilets.
Sometimes...I speak French.
Sometimes...I fart openly with our girls.
Sometimes...I really miss playing with Jett and Elleana.
Sometimes...I wear tank-tops.
Sometimes...I drink home made tree tomato juice.
Sometimes...I speak Kinyarwanda.
Sometimes...I miss my mama and papa.
Sometimes...I wish I could watch Braveheart with my Scottish friend, C.
Sometimes...I miss youth.
Sometimes...I talk to my family and Siah on Skype.
Sometimes...I miss baking cookies and cupcakes.
Sometimes...I sit in class and dream.
Sometimes...I wish I could cuddle up with Siah and watch a movie.
Sometimes...I miss eating poutines with Sabrina.
Sometimes...I miss Matt's jokes.
Sometimes...I miss Solomon's Porch and working with the greatest staff ever.
Sometimes...I wish I could drive in our little Corolla.
Sometimes...I miss singing English songs at Maranatha.
Sometimes...I wish I only had a little privacy.
Sometimes...I would like it if Africans didn't yell when they spoke to the person beside them.
Sometimes...I wish I could be home.
Sometimes...I remember how INCREDIBLY AMAZING God is.
Sometimes...Sometimes I do a lot of things.
I love you all and miss you all very much.
kisses and hugs from Africa.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
...YWAM...
I couldn't be a YWAMer for life. No no no. Here are my reasons...
a) I HATE, absolutely HATE good-byes.
that's about it. I said goodbye to the Hawaii team today. There were about 17 of them on their DTS outreach. Yeah, they were a great bunch. I miss them already. They each have a special place in my heart. They all love Jesus sooo much and they made a HUGE impact here in Rwanda. They will be missed very much.
Good-byes suck. But it's comforting to know that I will get to see them again. In Heaven. That's exciting! Well I must get back to life...hope you enjoyed reading this tiny blog.
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
befa
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
LUNCH TIME!!!!
our poor dinner all tied up...
headless dinner...
mmm goat! coke! and mutoki!!
It was a good day...
Monday, March 02, 2009
a different culture...
here are a few things that have been a culture shock or things that i had to get used to in the past 2 monthish...
1. literally NO room in the taxis. theres the driver in the front, and 2 passengers. the next row of seats holds 4. the next, another 4, and then the last row, another 4. then the guy who collects the money just stands and sort of lays or squishes beside someone...but seriously, there is absolutely no room between you and the people beside you. which leads to my next one...
2. the smells...especially the B.O. Body Odour...anyways, some people are worse than others, but it's an absolutely horrible smell!!! it's like potent onions and worse. and then when you get into a small, squishy bus taxi...it penetrates!! and if you hug someone, then the odour is left on you and then you reak like no one's business!!
3. STARES. never in my life have i gotten more stares! people stare from across the street, from behind, from in front, on the motos, on bicycles...it's a little scary sometimes, because they look like any moment they're going to crash! i don't really know how to feel about it. it's just intimidating...i feel like i can't do anything stupid or embarrassing, because im being watched...it's...different.
4. Boys and Boys holding hands. I'm used to girls holding hands, and sometimes my close guy friends, but not down the street. or with their arms around each other. but the guys here hold hands because they're friends. homosexuality is almost unheard of here. it's quite interesting. and it's nice to see any kind of friends holding hands... im starting to hold hands with people more. i never really did that, but me and carla especially link arms or hold hands etc. it's so nice :)
5. Absolutely no traffic rules. the lines on the road...don't mean anything. actually today in the bus, around the round-about it was insane. we were in this huge bus, and its maneuvering its way through traffic. motos going in and out and anywhere they please. whether its on the other side of the road to pass a car, zooming to the front of the traffic line to beat the rush of the lights, or 1/2 a foot from a 3 foot deep trench at the side of the road...yeah it's intense, but SO much fun!!! and today i almost got run over by one. it just came up onto the curb, and i almost screamed/peed/rampaged etc. but i kinda laughed and kept walking!
6. No Communication. especially here at DTS. nothing is really communicated about little outreaches etc. like last week we went to street kids, and we were just supposed to talk to the kids, which is fine, but then we were supposed to do a program for these soccer players, so we go behind this building, introduce ourselves and then erick did a little testimony and then deo preached, and then like 5 soccer players became Christians! it was so interesting, out of the blue and pretty Spirit led. it's so laid back and it's great. but a little frustrating at times. when we prepared for our first sunday outreach we had to plan an entire service...but then it was only for a few sunday school classes, the bible study at the beginning and a little testimony. it was frustrating for me and carla, because when we plan an entire service it usually takes or planning takes like a month!! but everything went well! but as for communication, laura, an american girl who did her dts last year told us that we had to pay for our own VISA...yeah wasnt informed...it just seems like they dont really know any information about things that they should. like for our outreach, they dont even know what its going to be like...ah well!! FLEXIBILITY!!!
7.Cleaning methods. since there are no carpets or any mats or anything, soapy water is just dumped on the floor and its squeegied (sp?) into these trenches that flow to this big water filter thing...its very interesting... when we clean the toilets, we dump soapy water on the entire thing, pour vim in the bowl, brush that, and then dump clean water over it. then we squeegie all the water out! its pretty great, and easy. and not very sanitary!! especially for dishes. just dump vim in a pot, scrub it and rinse it with water. water of course that cannot be drinkin...so i think God is protecting us a lot against any diseases or sickness...!!
8. Touch. the hand holding thing is enough to get used, but thats not an issue anymore...our dts class is very ticklish, so guys can come up to girls or vice versa and just tickle them in the side (ribs)!!! which is like only for flirty people or couples back home....its a little awkward, but they dont mean anything at all by it! sorry, but this one is for the ladies to relate to, guys if you read this, you might not want to read this next part!! so for ladies, everyone is very touchy ad physical. anyways, so one time we were doing this thing for big group where we just going aroud complimenting each other and Anto my leader, was like Umuhoza, I like your eyes. and these,--and she just grazed my boobs!! i was like ANTO!! and we burst out laughing! Noella, the married lady in our dts, constantly walks around with her top and bra off...seriously ALL THE TIME!!! and she like grabs mine and carlas boobs, and well it's just very interesting!! awkward and funny and weird! yeah, thats alll i have to say about that.
9. singing or bellowing or even wailing...one girl has intense vibrato, one wails, one sings very low, but they all SING SO LOUD!! they definately give it their all when they sing. no holding back at all!! they clap all the time, off beats, on beats, whenever they want, and it always sounds good. they are rarely off tune, and if they are, they dont really care!!!
10. This isn't really a culture shock, but I'm jsut going to tell you what ive been dealing with lately...so most of you probably know that i deal with self confidence...well if you didnt know, i did. and seeing as everyone stares, i just feel like im constantly stared at (which i am) and in return because they dont smile, i feel like theyre just judging me. its really annoying. ever since i took my hair out last week, i dont feel as pretty because i really dont like my short hair, and yeah. its just been a little difficult...so yeah, its getting better, but if you remember to pray for me, that would be fantastic!!
thanks so much for listening and your prayers. i love you all. blessings from africa.
kisses and hugs.
bethany jade.
1. literally NO room in the taxis. theres the driver in the front, and 2 passengers. the next row of seats holds 4. the next, another 4, and then the last row, another 4. then the guy who collects the money just stands and sort of lays or squishes beside someone...but seriously, there is absolutely no room between you and the people beside you. which leads to my next one...
2. the smells...especially the B.O. Body Odour...anyways, some people are worse than others, but it's an absolutely horrible smell!!! it's like potent onions and worse. and then when you get into a small, squishy bus taxi...it penetrates!! and if you hug someone, then the odour is left on you and then you reak like no one's business!!
3. STARES. never in my life have i gotten more stares! people stare from across the street, from behind, from in front, on the motos, on bicycles...it's a little scary sometimes, because they look like any moment they're going to crash! i don't really know how to feel about it. it's just intimidating...i feel like i can't do anything stupid or embarrassing, because im being watched...it's...different.
4. Boys and Boys holding hands. I'm used to girls holding hands, and sometimes my close guy friends, but not down the street. or with their arms around each other. but the guys here hold hands because they're friends. homosexuality is almost unheard of here. it's quite interesting. and it's nice to see any kind of friends holding hands... im starting to hold hands with people more. i never really did that, but me and carla especially link arms or hold hands etc. it's so nice :)
5. Absolutely no traffic rules. the lines on the road...don't mean anything. actually today in the bus, around the round-about it was insane. we were in this huge bus, and its maneuvering its way through traffic. motos going in and out and anywhere they please. whether its on the other side of the road to pass a car, zooming to the front of the traffic line to beat the rush of the lights, or 1/2 a foot from a 3 foot deep trench at the side of the road...yeah it's intense, but SO much fun!!! and today i almost got run over by one. it just came up onto the curb, and i almost screamed/peed/rampaged etc. but i kinda laughed and kept walking!
6. No Communication. especially here at DTS. nothing is really communicated about little outreaches etc. like last week we went to street kids, and we were just supposed to talk to the kids, which is fine, but then we were supposed to do a program for these soccer players, so we go behind this building, introduce ourselves and then erick did a little testimony and then deo preached, and then like 5 soccer players became Christians! it was so interesting, out of the blue and pretty Spirit led. it's so laid back and it's great. but a little frustrating at times. when we prepared for our first sunday outreach we had to plan an entire service...but then it was only for a few sunday school classes, the bible study at the beginning and a little testimony. it was frustrating for me and carla, because when we plan an entire service it usually takes or planning takes like a month!! but everything went well! but as for communication, laura, an american girl who did her dts last year told us that we had to pay for our own VISA...yeah wasnt informed...it just seems like they dont really know any information about things that they should. like for our outreach, they dont even know what its going to be like...ah well!! FLEXIBILITY!!!
7.Cleaning methods. since there are no carpets or any mats or anything, soapy water is just dumped on the floor and its squeegied (sp?) into these trenches that flow to this big water filter thing...its very interesting... when we clean the toilets, we dump soapy water on the entire thing, pour vim in the bowl, brush that, and then dump clean water over it. then we squeegie all the water out! its pretty great, and easy. and not very sanitary!! especially for dishes. just dump vim in a pot, scrub it and rinse it with water. water of course that cannot be drinkin...so i think God is protecting us a lot against any diseases or sickness...!!
8. Touch. the hand holding thing is enough to get used, but thats not an issue anymore...our dts class is very ticklish, so guys can come up to girls or vice versa and just tickle them in the side (ribs)!!! which is like only for flirty people or couples back home....its a little awkward, but they dont mean anything at all by it! sorry, but this one is for the ladies to relate to, guys if you read this, you might not want to read this next part!! so for ladies, everyone is very touchy ad physical. anyways, so one time we were doing this thing for big group where we just going aroud complimenting each other and Anto my leader, was like Umuhoza, I like your eyes. and these,--and she just grazed my boobs!! i was like ANTO!! and we burst out laughing! Noella, the married lady in our dts, constantly walks around with her top and bra off...seriously ALL THE TIME!!! and she like grabs mine and carlas boobs, and well it's just very interesting!! awkward and funny and weird! yeah, thats alll i have to say about that.
9. singing or bellowing or even wailing...one girl has intense vibrato, one wails, one sings very low, but they all SING SO LOUD!! they definately give it their all when they sing. no holding back at all!! they clap all the time, off beats, on beats, whenever they want, and it always sounds good. they are rarely off tune, and if they are, they dont really care!!!
10. This isn't really a culture shock, but I'm jsut going to tell you what ive been dealing with lately...so most of you probably know that i deal with self confidence...well if you didnt know, i did. and seeing as everyone stares, i just feel like im constantly stared at (which i am) and in return because they dont smile, i feel like theyre just judging me. its really annoying. ever since i took my hair out last week, i dont feel as pretty because i really dont like my short hair, and yeah. its just been a little difficult...so yeah, its getting better, but if you remember to pray for me, that would be fantastic!!
thanks so much for listening and your prayers. i love you all. blessings from africa.
kisses and hugs.
bethany jade.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
one saturday morning...
So last Saturday, at around 7:00 am, there was a light knock on the door. It continued tapping and then finally someone got up. The girls, like usual were very loud and I lay there in my bed, thinking and trying to fall back asleep until my alarm would wake me...it failed. So I got up, rubbed my eyes, got some toilet paper and went out the room. As I walked out of the room with half open eyes, I turn to left and see Noella getting her hair done! Noella! Wow! Uri Mwiza!! (you're beautiful) she smiles and says her infamous OK! 
and I go to the toilet. I figured out the mystery of who was knocking so early. Well not very early...6:20 is my morning time pretty much...I know, yuck! so early! Anyways, so I go back into the room and lay back down for a little longer...but Francoise, the girl who sleeps on the bunk above me was doing her make-up as usual, but something was a little different. There was a blanket over her back and a little lump underneath it.
.I thought to myself, there's no way that can be a baby! So I looked at Francoise and she shhhhed me and lifted a little of the blanket. I looked under it and I almost wet myself! 
It WAS a baby! A little sleeping beauty! It was the tiniest, sweetest, cutest etc. thing ever!! I didn't know how to express my excitement etc., so I went over to Carla's bed and was like, CARLA GET UP RIGHT NOW! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!!! so she got up as quickly as she could and came over to Francoise. I lifted the blanket to reveal the tiny sleeping baby. 
Carla was SO surprised and in awe! I think she almost wet herself too! We ooed and awwed over it for a while, putting the blanket back, then lifting it then putting it back and then getting another look at those tiny squished cheeks. It was the greatest morning ever. Then we went outside and talked (well gestured) with the lady who was doing Noella's hair and we told her that her baby was SO CUTE!!!! Yvonne, one girl from our room who knows the most English, translated and we found out that her baby's name was Noella as well!!! Crazy! and she was only 2 months old!! It was a great morning, like I said earlier...Makes me really want to go to an orphanage or work with babies...sigh...All in God's plan and timing though....hope you enjoyed my little excitment there!!
and I go to the toilet. I figured out the mystery of who was knocking so early. Well not very early...6:20 is my morning time pretty much...I know, yuck! so early! Anyways, so I go back into the room and lay back down for a little longer...but Francoise, the girl who sleeps on the bunk above me was doing her make-up as usual, but something was a little different. There was a blanket over her back and a little lump underneath it.
.I thought to myself, there's no way that can be a baby! So I looked at Francoise and she shhhhed me and lifted a little of the blanket. I looked under it and I almost wet myself! 
It WAS a baby! A little sleeping beauty! It was the tiniest, sweetest, cutest etc. thing ever!! I didn't know how to express my excitement etc., so I went over to Carla's bed and was like, CARLA GET UP RIGHT NOW! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!!! so she got up as quickly as she could and came over to Francoise. I lifted the blanket to reveal the tiny sleeping baby. 
Carla was SO surprised and in awe! I think she almost wet herself too! We ooed and awwed over it for a while, putting the blanket back, then lifting it then putting it back and then getting another look at those tiny squished cheeks. It was the greatest morning ever. Then we went outside and talked (well gestured) with the lady who was doing Noella's hair and we told her that her baby was SO CUTE!!!! Yvonne, one girl from our room who knows the most English, translated and we found out that her baby's name was Noella as well!!! Crazy! and she was only 2 months old!! It was a great morning, like I said earlier...Makes me really want to go to an orphanage or work with babies...sigh...All in God's plan and timing though....hope you enjoyed my little excitment there!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
My Berma
My best friend's name is Sabrina. I call her Berma. i don't really know how...it started out Brina, then i guess i just got lazy and started to call her Berma...so that's the evolution of sabrina to berma. yay! so berma's my best friend, and i love her so much. she is such a wonderful friend and i miss her very much.
many people dont know Sabrina that well. shes a mystery. shes shy, and yet shes not. she doesnt seek for attention. she has a very soft, sweet heart. shes very discerning but lovable. she has the most beautiful bright blue eyes and sparkling white smile. i love her so much.
she doesnt always like being the center of attention, but when she is the center...she shines! for example: when she is acting. she only started acting in grade 10, but managed to snatch one of the main female roles. grade 11 she was the main female role. and in grade 12, she wasnt quite the main role, but she sure acted it! she was AMAZING!!! when shes in front of the church or youth group sharing her testimony. it makes me cry everytime, and i love thinking about that wonderful night at bird river. love you darling! and even though she doesnt seek attention, she managed to captivate a young man's attention...mr. matthew falk.
let me give you a little history lesson...me and sabrina have been best friends since about grade 8-9ish...inseperable from grade 10 on...matt and josiah(my love) have been best friends since about grade 4. they have always been known as those two...matt and josiah. the funny guys in high school.
so in grade 10, of course me and josiah started our relationship (if you dont know the story, theres a novel for you to read a few posts earlier) and 7ish months later, matt and sabrina began their little adventure of their own. it worked out perfectly. best friends with best friends. i always wanted something like that to happen. sisters marrying two brothers or something, me and kristen always played Barbies that we sisters and they married to brothers, it was great! anyways...so we all got to know each other quite well. being in plays, going to youth, double dates, etc.
3 yearsish later...they get engaged!!! BAH!!! its a good thing josiah told me when it was happening because i would have FREAKED out! i still did, but it had quite a while to settle:) it was really sweet talking to Sabrina about getting engaged...
I was with her a week before she was to get engaged. I knew that it was going to happen, but we were just talking and she was so excited about their date the following weekend. she was so happy that he was planning a proper date, not really suspecting anything. she was pretty giddy, and i was pretty amazed at that! shes not one to get all girlie and giddy and talk too fast when shes excited, which is good, because i do enough of that! ha! anyways...im so happy for her and im so excited for her wedding!!!!!!!!!!
of course, i had to take off and go to africa and experience tons of stuff, but my gracious Sabrina was ok with it. shes so understanding and i love it. she encourages me ALL the time, and in fact we have an entire notebook of encouragments, vents etc. i love her.
i miss her. i love her. she is my best friend. she is so fantastic, and if you dont really know her...i encourage you to get to know her. shes absolutely fantastic!!!!!
Sabrina, i love you so much. i hope everything is going swimmingly, and i sorry again about not really being there for you. you shine baby....XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
p.s. i think jane is calling us for another date...with pizza, milkshakes, tostitos, carrots, cheese curds and salsa... <3
Friday, February 20, 2009
DRESSES!!!
Carla and I just got dresses (well top and skirt) and we are now Rwandese!!! with names and looks ;) woo! so here are a few photos of us:) ENJOY!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Street Kids
we had our first outreach time with Street Kids. it was great. the first picture is of a football (soccer) team. we talked with them and laughed and whatnot. it was great!! hope you enjoy!
Monday, February 16, 2009
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