The new semester here in Kigali has been very busy. It began
with a short term at the beginning of January called ‘J-term’ with students
engaging in different activities on and off campus. Some were off trekking,
others learning about Rwandan culture, still more were involved in computer
programming, computer aided design and movie making. It was disappointing that
the mission opportunities that the school had hoped to work into J-term did not
materialize, but plenty else went on. During J-term, Rachel taught her class
about the UK, which culminated in a game of cricket and an English garden party
for parents and children at our home where scones and Victoria sponge were
washed down with lashings of Yorkshire tea.
Following the conclusion of J-term, the official semester
began. Rachel slipped back into a regular routine with her Grade 2 class, as
did Corinna in Grade 1 and Lillia in Pre-K. Having concluded all my previous
taught classes in the first Semester, I began an eclectic timetable of classes
teaching two Christian Ethics classes, a course in Doctrine with the Seniors
and Health. This semester has seen both Rachel and I lead time in Chapel and
continue with teaching Sunday School classes at our local church. It has been a
real encouragement to see more local children from the area join the classes,
meaning Sunday School classes will now be assisted by a translator.
The most encouraging aspect our time in Kigali came just two
weeks ago, when the opportunity arose to partner with local Christian run
schools who offer education to primary age children from some of the less
affluent parts of Kigali. This is the kind of work that inspires both of us,
and we hope that when we leave Rwanda at the conclusion of this semester, that
we will be able to support the work of one of these schools. They have very
little to work with in terms of resources.
This weekend we were able to go on a day Safari as a family.
As you will see in the pictures below, there is real beauty in this part of the
world. Anabelle liked the Zebra best, Lillia thought the Baboons were funny,
whilst Corinna favored the Hippo. We were very fortunate to be but a few meters
from Giraffe and we spotted five Lioness (not bad considering Rwanda only have
twenty in total).
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Please
pray that in these last few months here, we are all able to live well in the
tension between finishing well and looking to the future, when we return to the
UK.
