Thursday June 24th

Bite (What’s up)?

Thursday June24, 2010

This week as been frustrating but it is also been awesome. I am starting to feel comfortable getting around town myself. I am starting to know where things are and people are always willing to help me if I look lost. The frustrations I have are the same as always. Things don’t work on my time. J I am struggle with being patient and waiting on God. Not that I am trying to force stuff but I get tired of just sitting around waiting for stuff to happen. I like to start finding solutions to stuff. I haven’t really done anything with sponsorship stuff this week. One of the projects that us interns are working on is getting a library up and running. We have 1400 books coming in early Aug. and we need a place to put them. We have been bring in different carpenters to get quotes on bookshelves which us interns are paying for out of our own pockets. One guy tried to charge us $600 for four bookshelves. I could believe it. The problem is people see the color of my skin and just try to get as much of out me as they can. It is hard for me to say that but that is what happens. I have to spend time negotiating prices on most everything. So finally we found a guy who gave us a fair price. He is in the process of building one and then we will go look at it and decide if it meets our standards. Andrew who is the guy we are training to do sponsorship emails has also volunteered to be our librarian after us interns leave. So he is going to a librarian training next week in Kigali with Peace Corps.

We also had a contest here at the Center for name rights for the library. We asked students to submit a piece of paper with a name for the library with and explanation why. When we asked the teachers and the head master to help us with this process they told us that the students didn’t need to vote on the name that they (the teacher) would just pick the name. We (Melissa) fought that and said absolutely not we are trying to get students to take ownership of this library and to train them up to be leaders. I was just there when she was telling them all this. J It is hard to watch these teachers not invest in these students. How are they every going to feel like leaders or that they amount to anything unless the older generation HELPS them. BUT!!!! Yesterday after all school prayer times Melissa and Andrew got up and presented all 26 students who participated in the competition a certificate that Melissa produced. I was a very nice certificate signed by both Melissa and the head master (principal) I guess we would call him in the states. It was a very special time for the students. The two runners up each got a magazine and a new nice pen. And then the winner of the contest who had been voted the winner by his class mates received a Dictionary to help him with his English a pen and then the big prize a night out to dinner with Melissa, Andrew and I. When the room heard this they erupted to clapping and cheering. It was a very special moment. It is moments like that that make all the frustrating times worth it. I am crying while typing this. It was special. Afterwards everyone came up to him and congratulated him and wanted to see his dictionary. So next week Wednesday we will be taking him to dinner at the Dereva Hotel which one of the nicer places in Rwamagana.

Melissa and I were then invited by a student who is in a choir at his church to come listen to him sing at a Wednesday night service. The student insisted on carrying my bag for me which was cool. We got to the church we meet all his friends and people at the church. They sat us right up front. It was in an open air sanctuary with a metal roof. They set up these big speakers, microphones and keyboard and they began to sign and worship. There were maybe only like 15 people tops in this big room. They were going to sing 5 songs and on the fifth song this student came a grabbed me from my seat to bring me up on stage. I DON’T LIKE DOING THAT KIND OF STUFF!!!! So when I got upfront I joined in with this dance they were doing and the whole room the few people that were there joined in clapping a cheering and laughing I’m sure at me but I could tell that they loved seeing me up there. It was a blessing to me. Melissa was hiding behind the camera the whole time and ended up videotaping my dancing performance so I will see if I can get that sent off soon. I sorry I don’t know the students name but he then walked us to our taxi (while carrying my bag for me) as we were walking we put his arm around me a told me that it made his heart happy that I danced with his choir. That to was a special time for me. I had some tears on Wednesday. God is good. Can I get an AMEN!?!?!?!?!

I also had an experience in Kigali yesterday while I was waiting for my taxi. I walked over to this store which is actually a pool hall. I saw one of the guys who runs one of the taxi companies, he came over and said “hi” then introduced me to the pool hall owner and made an announcement to the whole room. He introduced me as his friend and then everybody came over to greet me. Then a couple of guys were explaining to me how the game worked. Another special time.

Prayer requests:

Leadership at AEE (they have been working long hours and it worries me that they are not at home with their families).

Leadership for this country. Elections are Aug. 9^th

Prayers for all the volunteers who work with AEE

SPU has a group of 6 college students here. One of them went to the doctor yesterday because she hasn’t been feeling well. Prayers for them.

Taxi Rides

In Him,

Mark

ONE MONTH

One month

One month in country has come and gone. Some days it feels like have I have been here for years and other days it feels like I just got here. It is strange. My time here so far has been all and all pretty good. I am starting to get used to people starring at me all the time because my skin is a different color. For the most part people have been super friendly to me. One of the interns the other day showed me how to take the city taxi’s around and while we were walking around this older gentleman spotted us and came to greet us. We couldn’t make out what he said to his friends but we think that he said don’t you want to come greet the Muzungu’s it was very cute. Yes I just said cute. He was a little old man with a cane. He didn’t speak English but we did hold hands for about a block which is very common for men to hold hands in this culture while walking around.

This week has been good but frustrating at the same time. We have been trying to get some book shelves made for the new Center for Champions library but we keep getting these outrageous prices. I start to think that people just look at me and think of money. So that’s hard. Thursday I hung basketball nets on the basketball rims on the basketball court. It took me two hours to hang those nets. I figured it out how they go on the hooks accidentally about an hour into the process. The temperatures have cooled off the last couple of days which has been real nice, because it has been super hot.

My late afternoons are spent around the TV either at AEE or here at Jeans house watching the World Cup. Also a group from Seattle Pacific University arrived Wednesday so I have been spending some evening watching soccer with them. They are here with Rwanda Partners and I might tag along with them next week for a couple of days.

One of my jobs while here is to help set up email communication with sponsors at First Pres. Bellevue and the students here at the Center. It has been a slow process so far but we are also starting to get emails sent. We have already sent six emails in the last couple of weeks which is actually a lot I feel like. The translation takes some time. So if you have a student who have emailed keep an eye out for an email from them soon (hopefully). J

How about that USA game on Friday? I was in a room with a lot of USA fans and that second half we were going crazy. It has been super fun watching soccer here.

I think it was in my first blog entry where I spoke about a girl I saw your had maybe had some sort of accident. The skin is falling off her face and she is drooling all over the place. It breaks my heart. I don’t know how to be. I find myself walking away from her or people like her.

Thank you for all your emails, cards and especially your prayers.

Prayer requests:

Leadership at AEE

For the leadership of Rwanda

Rwanda and its people as we draw closer to the elections

The teachers of Rwanda

That God would start to change this nation through its children

More faith for me.

I have been reading a book called “The Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne.

Two line that stood out to me that I would like to share.

“We are not called to be successful but to be faithful” I keep finding myself wanting to get STUFF done instead of waiting on God to provide.

“We can do no great things, just small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

In Him,

Mark Grayson

Picture #1 is of me with Andrew who I am training to do sponsorships.

Picture #2 is of me with a student (Peter) in front of my computer.

Monday June 14th

Hey Hey

I had an ok weekend. I went out to the Center for Champions on Saturday to help out with keeping an eye on the students because they were short staffed. I ended up playing A LOT of basketball. So by about 2pm I was about done. I was told I could leave so I did because I knew that the World Cup games where going to be starting shortly. I have been watching a lot of soccer which has been fun. I think that my evenings for the next months will be spent in front of a tv watching the games either here at home or at AEE with some of the staff.

Sunday I slept in. I have been super tired at the end of my days. I think the heat, the basketball, the walking, the taxi rides and 150 kids a day saying Teacher!!! Teacher!!! Teacher!!! wears me out. I go to a 6pm service here in Kigali about a 25 min. walk from my house so not too bad. I had a great time in worship this week. The pastor just returned from the states from visiting his daughter and he preached about bring in the word. He gave us 5 steps: Read

Study

Meditate

Memorize

Proclaim

It was good for me hear. After the service Melissa and I decide that we would go visit one of our friends who was feeling down. We just should up at his house unannounced which is the African way. Just show up without being invited. We brought him a cold COKE and watched the second half of one of the World Cup games. He was very thankful for our visit.

Monday (today) was up early to go to devotionals at AEE. Today Melissa taught me how to take the taxi’s into town if I ever needed to go to town on my own. We went to Bourbon coffee to have well some coffee and I had some fresh banana bread. So good!!! We then went to buy some stuff for the Center. One of the projects that the high school team will be taking on when they get here is painting the outdoor basketball courts lines. So today I bought a small thing of paint to do some test on the court to see what it would look like. We finally got out to the Center and everybody was like” you guys are late!!!” I was thinking” I don’t really report to anybody so NO I am not late.” The Center needed some papers taken back to AEE and they needed them there by 5pm so that only gave me a short time at the Center today. I grabbed a COKE on my way to the taxi and like 10 guys were crammed in this little gas station mini mart watching the Netherlands game. Wherever there is a tv people are watching the game here. I wish I could have stayed to just watch with them. At this gas station mini mart I also found some Dill Pickle flavored Pringles. AMERICAN FOOD!!!! I was so pumped so I bought a can. Lately I keep thinking about all the different kinds of American food that I miss. I got to AEE by 4:30pm handed over the paper work that I had been asked to deliver and then watched the second half of the Japan/Cameroon game with some of the AEE staff. I am now home watching the Italy/Paraguay game and waiting for the water to heat up so I can take a warm shower.

I am enjoying my time very much. My girlfriend put together a box of encouraging notes from some of you and they have been very help for me when I have been missing home or if I am feeling like I don’t know why I am here. SO…THANK YOU for all the support. I am very blessed. I already have some great friendships with the students at the Center and I still have 4 plus months. I am very excited about what God is doing here.

Prayer Request: Prayer for AEE staff and leadership

Prayer for the students at the Center

Prayer for the upcoming elections

Prayer for a girl from the UK who goes to my church, she has Malaria and has been feeling super sick. So prayer for healing. Jenny is her name.

My taxi rides J

In Him,

Mark

Friday June 11th

3 weeks in

This has been a good week. I feel like the weeks are starting to fly. The library at the Center is starting to take off. I was told earlier this week that we will be receiving 1400 books which 400 more than we originally had thought. This week I have spent time planning for the First Pres. student mission team’s trip out here in July. One of the projects we are going to try and accomplish while they are here is getting the outside basketball court re-painted. So I spent a day research paint costs and measuring out the court. One day I got to go to the market in Rwamagana which was super fun and crazy. Everybody wanted us to buy stuff from them. I have connected quickly with a few of the students which has been fun. I have had some good conversation with one young guy about being a Christian. He wants to live for Jesus but because of his life here in Rwanda he says it is hard for him to fully follow Jesus because he is always sinning and doesn’t know how to stop. Does that make sense? He is a very bright kid and very talented and it is students like that that give me hope for this world and this country.

Wednesday the students had a soccer game against another school. It was fun to go watch them play and I was invited to start coming to practices so I think I am going to start doing that on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday now that I know the schedule. The game was suppose to start at 3:15 but it started closer to 4:30 and I keep asking one of the staff member why the game hadn’t started yet and he said we are in Africa and smiled. T.I.A (This Is Africa) I keep having lots of those experiences. I bought my first ticket book on Wednesday which means I pay a cheaper fare now to ride the taxi so I am pretty excited about that. The taxi rides are still one of my favorite parts of the day. I meet a lot of people and get a couple hours a day of good prayer and time for reflection. I also had my first time riding on a motor cycle taxi on Thursday. I was running late and was meeting people in 5 min and it was still a 20 min. walk. So I flagged down a bike and it was pretty fun. I am not sure how many times I am going to jump on one of those. I also found out this week that I might go visit Uganda for a couple of days so I am pretty excited about that.

Today I took the day off to rest and watch the first game of the World Cup with Jean and Sam who is our guard/yard guy who I like a lot. Anyways that’s all I have for at this time. I am going to try and get this updated every couple of days. Hope everyone is well.

Prayer request: Prayer for leadership in this country

Prayer for the elections coming up

Prayer for the FPCB high school team as they prepare to come

Prayer for AEE

Prayer for me well I still miss home even though I have having some fun time. I miss the people that I love at home.

In Him,

Mark Grayson

Monday June 7th

Monday June 7^th

Sorry I haven’t updated this in a couple of days. Thursdays are becoming my day to do nothing. I spend the day reading, praying and listening to worship music. So that is what I did Thursday and then I also have Bible study on Thursday nights. Friday I went back out to the Center and when I got off my taxi I saw a guy who had the same skin color as me. I went up to him and said hello and he seemed very surprised. Is name is Aaron and he is from Canada and is in medical school and is here on like a month internship I believe. So we hung out for awhile since he didn’t know anyone else around. I am meeting all these random people.

Friday I also got to sit in on one of the English classes at the Center which was kind of cool. After school I heard some of the students complaining to a staff member that they weren’t happy about some stuff at the Center stuff like not having any shoes. Most of the students just wear sandals around. Two days this last week I got to ride home with one of the teachers from the Lutheran school and we had some good talks about the world, faith and schooling. I was very blessed by our conversation.

Saturday I went back out to the Center to play basketball with some of the guys. I think we ended up with like 15 guys including me and just played 3 on 3 games to 3 point. My team was pretty good. We won a lot of games but I started dragging toward the end. I may have better skills on the court but these kids also have teenage legs. I was so tired by the time we ended. I might need to take myself out ofthese games and watch. Sunday I again laid low. I still hadn’t found a church yet, so a couple of the people I have met here invited me to come to church with them. It is a 6pm English service and it is about a 25 min. walk. I enjoyed the service very much. The worship was great and so was the message. It will be my church for the rest of my time here in Rwanda. Got home kind of late because it is an African church service they go on and on. Monday today I have devotionals every morning at AEE which was great and then I headed to the Center. I am still trying to figure out what is going on out at the Center and what my role is going to be out there. I should up today and they were handing out new shoes to the students. Most of them complained because they didn’t like the shoes. I liked some of them and was trying to figure out a way to get some for myself. So I was pretty stoked to see them get new shoes. One of the projects that we have been working on out at the Center is to get a library up and running. We have 1000 books coming in July so we are trying to get this one class room ready to go. After school we had about 10 students come into the classroom to help clean the walls and windows. I have never students work so hard.

I will post pictures of the cleaning time. We also had some art & crafts time today. That is about it for now.

Prayer requests: The staff at AEE in Kigali and the staff at the Center.

I still miss home.

I get frustrated with this culture and how things work or don’t work.

The students at CFC.

In Him,

Mark

Wednesday June 2nd

Yesterday, Tuesday while taking the taxi to Rwamagana I keep thinking about this hotel in town that is kind of a nice place to go have a cold drink or a meal. Melissa who is one of the other interns with AEE asked me if I wanted to grab lunch. I said yes and we both decide that we would go try out this hotel restaurant that I was thinking about earlier in the day. As we were walking into the restaurant I notice two women looking at me like they knew me. We stopped and introduced ourselves they were from Texas. They hadn’t seen anybody with white skin for 4 or 5 days. The daughter looked like she had been crying a lot. As we talked with them the daughter was to be here for two months teaching a girls school in Rwamagana but was having a real hard time being there. Which I could totally relate to, because a week earlier I was feeling the same way. So, Melissa and I were able to chat with her and her mom for awhile over lunch trying to reassure that she would be ok. We prayed with them for awhile and then they had to get back to the school. I left feeling encouraged and very blessed by the time God gave us to spend with this girl and her mother. The girl is a senior at Texas A&M and was just going to be out here for the summer.

I had lunch with them again today at the same hotel and they told me that she isn’t going stay which made me sad but I get it at the same time. A positive that is coming out of this is that they brought a whole suit case full of food that they are going to give so I am pretty pumped about that. J I spent about 10 minutes this afternoon helping the students cut grass with a machete. I don’t know how they cut grass for as long as they do. My arms are SORE tonight. I then jumped on my good old taxi bus and headed back to Kigali. As I was walking home tonight from the taxi stop I met a man on the side of the road who greeted me in English, which I was surprised about because most people don’t acknowledge me unless I saw something first. I just get starred at a lot which has been uncomfortable but I am learn how to embraces that. Anyways this man introduced himself as Dr. Paul and invited into his home to show this book he was reading so I went in and he showed me his book. I didn’t speak to much English so our time was brief but was encouraged by him making the first move and saying hello. Now I am home and I am about to go have dinner. I am enjoying what little time I have with the students and the teachers at the Center. Thank you for all of your prayers. I have felt them all. I feel God’s presence everywhere I go.

Prayer request: Continued prayer for the Center and the students

Leadership at AEE

Samantha from Texas who will be going home and her mother

My taxi rides

The people I continue to come in contact with

In Him,

Mark Grayson

Tuesday June 1st

It is Monday morning and I am out in Rwamagana at the Center for Champions. I think kids are skipping class to hang out with me. So I keep asking them if they need to be in class and they keep telling me no. Things are great here in Rwanda. I went to a Bible study on Thursday night which consists of people from other countries, people like ME. People from Holland, Germany, London, Singapore and the good old USA. I am pretty excited about his group of people. One of the guys from Holland invited me to go mountain biking with him sometime, so I am hoping to do that on my Saturdays. I am starting to have consistent rhythm. I go to devotional time at AEE in the morning and then catch a 9am taxi which gets me to Rwamagana about 10am. The drive out here to the Center is beautiful. I think it is actually one of my favorite parts of the day. Riding the taxi that is. It is defiantly an adventure. Yesterday we crammed 23 people into a 19 seat little Toyota van. The taxi companies fight over me each day. All the guys who run the taxi services pretty much know me and take care of me, making sure I get on a taxi as soon as possible.

Sunday they had a two year anniversary celebration at the Center for Champions. If you were on the team in 2008 who came for the opening ceremony it was very similar to that. Lots of dancing and some skits. Many students were giving the opportunity to get up and share about life before the Center and life since they have been here at the Center. It was a very powerful time being able to hear some of these students experiences and what God has been doing in their lives.

It has been super HOT here. My tan is going to be AWESOME when I get home. I have been sampling a lot of the local food. I am starting a tradition everyday when I get back from the Center. I stop by a little mini-mart type store and buy a couple “Sambusa” which is like a little Dorito shaped tortilla fill with meat and an ice cold COKE. SO GOOD!!!! I have been eating lots of rice, potatoes and just the last couple of days some fresh pineapple. I have been eating everything in sight. I think the heat just wears me out. Yes, I am drinking lots of water and Gatorade.

The first few days here where real hard for me. Thank you to all of you who have written me letter of support and encouragement. I know my girlfriend collected lots of letters from different people and look forward to reading all of them. I am only aloud to read a couple a weeks so that they will last me the entire five months. So thank to you all. Nick Christian THANK YOU for your letter it was great to read it and I felt super encouraged. I am showing a 2004 Red Sox DVD this afternoon to a couple of guys out here who are interested in baseball. ;) GO SOX!!!

Please continue to pray for the leadership of AEE and Rwanda. I would also love some prayers for the two AmeriCorps girls who I work with who I think could use a little pick me up. Their names are Emily and Crissy. And then of course prayer for my taxi rides each day. That should do it. Hope everyone is well.

In Him,

Mark Grayson