Nancy Strachan and Cindy Charles with our Nancy’s jewelry idea worked out wonderfully. She brought suitcases full of beads and jewelry making supplies with her. Today we met with six women to show them the craft and leave the beads with them. We all had a blast! Cindy videotaped all of the instructions for putting on the ends and fasteners, how to bend the wire, how to measure and cut, etc. and left the tape with them. These were women from the church including a woman named Beatrice (The Bishops secretary /assistant). The women sang songs and laughed and teased and were so gracious to us.
After a little while of getting comfortable with the materials, one of the women began to sing. Within seconds all were singing beautifully. It was a lovely feeling to be in the gazebo on this pretty day, making jewelry and knowing that this is a project that could spin out and help many people. It was an easy and friendly time. And the singing and fellowship made Rwanda feel more like visiting the home of close friends.
While I’m here my mind never strays too far from the genocide but during that time my thoughts of death were suspended. These women were happy and grateful and leaving these materials and information behind seems like the kind of idea that will make a difference.
We didn’t get the chance to go to the bush hospital as we had planned because of Immaculee’s schedule changes. But by chance we met this American Doctor who has devoted his life to the healthcare of Rwandans. He and his wife have four kids and run a very earthy and simple medical facility not far from here. It’s called Shyira Hospital. [Shyira is the town where one of the “practice genocides” occurred. This area of the country was one of the worst outside of the city (Kigali) for violence during the genocide.] We did end up donating a bunch of money and stuffed toys for children and clothes. It was a happy coincidence that we ran into the Doctor.
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