aaaaaand - we're back!

It's been crazy getting back into the swing of things and the jet lag was much more than we expected it to be.

So as not to overwhelm you (or me), I'm going to put up some posts with pictures off and on for the next few days.

The first pic is before we left the Denver Airport. It amazes me how tired we all look considering the trip was just beginning.




This is Brandon and Yamid on the plane.




I wanted to show you the above picture as it's a nice preview of what Brandon taught the kids in Rwanda (see below).





yup... that's my boy.


On the trip we had a 13 hour layover in London, so we thought we'd make the most of it and head out for some sightseeing.

So here we are... Big Ben and Little Ben






Honestly though, we were so exhausted we should have found a few chairs at the airport and slept.
This is how Ben spent his lunch in London, England...











After 20-something hours on a plane and a short layover in Nairobi, we made it to the Kigali International Airport...





... where we made our way to our first "home" - Moucecore.




We were told to be sure and take a picture of that sign. That way if we were ever lost, we could show the picture to a Taxi and they can take us back. A good thought for anywhere you are visiting.


At Moucecore we were greeted by old friends and new.

Below: Pastor Ernest and his wife Martha with Tammy, Matthew, Brandon, and Ben.




Below: Ben, Willy (giving thumb's up in the back) and the CMP Team




It had been a long haul, but in this first destination I (Tammy) found one of my favorite "spots" in the entire world - the balcony of our room at Moucecore in Kigali.

This balcony had one wicker chair, lots of sunlight, and a beautiful breeze.



NOTE: This picture is hard to see when it's smaller. If you click on the picture itself it will bring it up in a larger format for you to see.

To the right (out of view) is the American Embassy. To the far left are some nicer homes and down in the center is the stark proof of the undeniable poverty that is there.
Yes, in many ways it's sad to see, but I was blessed to observe something else while I sat in that chair... a community that is alive and thriving.

If you observe carefully, you can hear singing at almost anytime during the day. People walking the dirt roads - taking their yellow water jugs to be filled or working in the fields that sit between the village and our hotel. If you closed your eyes, you might think you were at a campsite from the smoky smell in the air as families cook their meals for the evening and/or burn their trash. One thing that can definitely be said about the people there... they are not lazy. I've never seen a group of people work so hard in my entire life. From little children to old women... they know a life that none of us can or ever will. Before you thank God for the goodness He has bestowed on your birthright, you need to know that this has also come at a cost. They have something there. Something that we're missing. These are the most friendly people I've ever met in my entire life. They don't know a stranger and everyone they meet is done so with a hardy handshake, a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. You are now family... and that my friend, is truly a blessed thing.



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