go2ndmile.org » voluntourism

Video from Rwanda

denise — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:29:07 +0000

This is a man named Emmanuel who was our interpreter while in Rwanda during the reconciliation workshop. He wants to be a song writer and this is one of many songs he sang for us and we recorded. He will be so happy to know that he is on youtube.

Community service day in Burundi

Leigh — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 06:22:21 +0000

Oh my gosh! Diane and I had the most amazing experience Saturday morning. Every Saturday the whole country is required to do some community service work to pick up trash, to clean areas, or to help a project along. They work anywhere from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The car we rode in wound through dirt roads, back alleys, over speed bumps (sleeping policemen as our friend from the Netherlands, Lesley-Ann called them), all at break-neck speed, except when we slammed on the brakes to avoid losing the very tires we were riding on in order to avert a pothole.

We stood in a long line shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of other community service day participants and passed bricks, sang, and danced our way through the morning. Apparently a news camera caught the antics of the only two mazunga’s in the entire place but we did not have a chance to see it on TV. Ultimately we ended up in the Congo later that day, buying tomatoes and corn . . . Who would have guessed? More on that later. It was an long and adventure filled day. Going to a Batwa village, walking along lake Tanganyika and ending up at a night club in Bujumbura.

Today we are heading out to another Batwa Village called Matara. Community for Burundi, our host organization while here, and the Batwa, have begun to rebuild the village from huts to more substantial houses, as well as empowering the residents to support themselves.

Be in the moment

Leigh — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:59:12 +0000

Four students, including our professor, Dr. Rose, left today. It was bittersweet. We’ve shared an amazing time together for 10 days in Rwanda. As part of our conclusion today, we did some symbolic acts of remembering. We took stones from the garden and each contributed what they stood for. Each stone was placed beside or on top of the other, thus making a symbolic remembrance. Some stood for hope, forgiveness, for Emmanuel whom we met, others for Tutsi, Hutu, Batwa, one’s own burdens and committing to keep them here in Rwanda and deal with them rather than hide them, just many, many very beautiful thoughts. Then secondly, we took some stones and placed them in another part of the garden and named some aspect of hope. It was a great way to bring some closure to our time.

I sit now upon the lanai, late at night, almost in the pitch dark. Looking out at the muted city lights of Kigali and feeling the fresh breeze blowing, I realize one segment of our trip is coming to close and I am wanting to absorb it and be in the moment with its many memories. It’s so good to reflect, to ponder and to just appreciate experiences in our lives.

This one will be right at the top of the list for some time.

More from Rwanda

Leigh — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:26:54 +0000

Yea! We just returned from being up country in Rwanda and experienced an amazing opportunity to see an on-the-ground reconciliation workshop. These people are so courageous in their desire to be reconciled with each other after such profound violation.

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Today is Sunday. The team divided to two different churches with varied experiences. More stories were heard today regarding the genocide from people who lived thru the experience. It was unexpected and continued an emotion packed time in Rwanda. Luckily, it is intertwined with singing and dancing with an exuberance that doesn’t stop among the Rwandese.

Notes from Rwanda

Leigh — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:44:57 +0000

Tuesday we heard both a perpetrator and victim together in the same room. Yikes. It’s truly a work of God.

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In an early morning walk this morning (Wednesday), several of us came upon a main trail that lead to a water hole. The place was buzzing with activity with kids fetching water; others going to school; others to work. We must have had 30 kids following us as we carried one child’s water all the way to his home. Pretty fun experience!

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Rose had the lecture today: The Theology of Evil. Yikes. Shall we say that is a packed lecture? She did a great job and great discussion in the class. Tomorrow we leave for workshop involving perpetrators and victims together learning reconciliation.

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We are heading to a three day workshop in another part of Rwanda. It is likely we won’t have internet connection until Saturday or Sunday. Talk to you all soon.