Be thankful for what seems like the small things in life. We are so blessed!

Valance and Jean cooking Mark and I lunch.

Teaching english.

Some of the boys from my (Kim) morning english class. Great group of guys!

Street corn!  We usually eat this at least 2 or 3 times a week for lunch. A little chewy, but I love it.

It only cost 100 Rwandan Francs.  ( less than .17 cents)

Not bad for a filling lunch!

Mark and John building a table together.

Kids are SO often seen trying to help Mark build things.  It's pretty cute. He is so good with them, and lets them do differnt things and will teach even the youngest kids.  The little guy in the red, put the pencil behind his ear 'just like Mark' does.  Amazing how closely they watch him and want to be like him:)

This is Gilbert. He is 17 years old and he and his Mom are apart of the Ubuzima group.  He painted this picture of a gorilla .... and we bought it from him! 

Going fishing!!

I love cows, Mark and this incredible view!

Us!

This is the street we live on here is Kigali.  We live 3 gates past the Minagri sign on the left.

Looking out over the homes here in Kigali Rwanda, and thanking God for our ' home' in Canada.

The start of a LONG walk to get water!



On the way back from getting water.


Stop and think of what your life would be like if you couldn't turn on a tap in your house and get water.
Be thankful for what may seem like the small things in life!!!!
We are so blessed!



10 days (of what felt like the Amazing Race TV show) with Meghan visiting

When Meghan got here it was like Christmas for Mark and I.  Thanks for all the treats Mom and Meghan!!



Meghan's first breakfast in Rwanda.  We went to a nice place in Kigali called Simba.



Took Meghan to one of the former street boys homes for a visit.  They made us lunch. Rice and beans!!  For a treat, we bought fantas (pop) for the boys.

Buying fruit from some ladies on the side of the road.

The fruit and veggies are SO good here!! 

We went for an afternoon to the Orphanage that I spend time at. Meghan was excited to leave some sports equipment  for the kids, and of course the kids were pumped to get it.

Kayonza village for the 'water walk'. 

We gave out balloons and played with the kids in the village before we had to head out to our next destination.

Meghan got to go and hang out with the Gorillas!!!  She said it was incredible!

Mark and I are loving life in Rwanda. We were having fun showing Meghan around.

Bat Island!!!  If you look closely you can see hundreds of bats.



Lake Kivu.  Our boat ride back from Bat Island.  We hiked to the top of the island for an amazing view of the lake and all the surrounding Islands.



Went to watch one to the former street boys play football (soccer) with his school team. It was about 40mins outside Kigali.  Great game and I'm pretty sure most of the village was there to watch:)

Safari at Akagera National Park.

At Yvette's house.  She made us lunch.  Potatos, beans, and onions.  We sang songs (Yvette has a powerful voice and sings on the worship team at church)and had lots of laughs trying to understand each other while speaking different languages.

 

It was great to have Meghan here.  Hope her life was touched in an incredible way. I know mine is everyday.

Beginning of July in Kigali (loving life)



The finished product!  Mark made this unit for the Ubuzima group to display the things they make so that they can sell them. 



Some of the street boys I (Kim) teach english to on Monday, Wed. and Friday Mornings. Amazing students, so eager to learn.



David is LOVING his new bed.  Mark built bunk beds (with the boys help) for some of the former street boys that now live in 'foster' homes.(sponsored by International Teams)  This is probably the first bed David (and the other boys) have ever slept in.  Most have lived on the streets since they were around 8 years old.  Mark has now finished 4 sets of bunk beds, 4 chairs and is working on 2 more bunk beds and 8 more chairs.  Then he will start building tables and shelves for the boys homes.  It's pretty amazing to watch Mark work with the boys.  He is teaching them how to build, and the boys are excited to learn and be apart of building furniture for their own houses. (thanks so much to my brother Mark and his wife Kristy for donating the money so that we can buy all the wood and materials we need for this project!!)



This little girl (they call her Baby) lives at an orphanage that I (Kim) have been spending a few afternoons a week at. She is the youngest of 48 children that live there.  She gets lots of attention and is always smiling. 



Having fun with the parachute. I try and take an activity for them to do each time I go.  Colouring, drawing, games, balloons, painting nails or simple crafts.

Precious little ones!

My 33rd Birthday.  Mark bought me flowers (along with other things) and my Mom sent me money and I bought this purse! (from Ubuzima)

Having lunch (rice and beans) with the 4 boys that live in the house that we gave bunk beds and chairs to. 

When we got to their house in the morning, I noticed that the mattresses that they sleep on (on the floor) had holes in them from mice. 

 It was a long morning putting together the beds in their home, but well worth it to see the smiles on their faces as they set up what could be their first bed ever.  We were excited to get them off the floor away from the mice.

Mark and I feel so blessed to be apart of these boys (and many others) lives.