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.