Africa

     Over the past few weeks we have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, relaxed on the beaches of Zanzibar and most recently, I moved to Kigali Rwanda for the next month.
The hike up Kilimanjaro was not an easy one. I only made it to 15000 ft. when I got altitude sickness and had to go down the mountain. I am an extremely competitive person...so when they told me that I had to go down, it was not easy to hear. I was so frustrated with myself and felt extremely week. After going down the mountain and having a few days to myself and one other member of my group, I learned more about prayer and depending on God and not people than I think I would have up on the mountain. While the rest of the group continued to climb, I continued to pray for each of them individually and collectively as a group. No one else came down after I did, so praise God for that. I realized that when I was on the mountain, I was very dependent on everyone BUT God to get me up. As frustrated as I was/still am for not being able to make it to the top, I am incredibly grateful for the lessons that I learned when I came down.
     After the climb, the whole group headed for our spring break trip in Zanzibar. We were able to relax and treat ourselves for five days, as well as catch up on sleep. The two weeks spent with both groups was a blast and I can't wait to hear about the other group's adventures in the Middle East and their time in the Philippines when we see them again in two months.
     My group and I arrived in Rwanda on Thursday and moved in with our home stay families on Friday. I am living with Aimee and Sano, a newly married couple that is already expecting their first baby sometime this month! Aimee has a sister who is my age that also lives in the home. I adore their family. Aimee and Sano are the same age as my sister and her husband and they remind me so much of each other by the way they make me feel so loved and so welcomed. They love to teach me all sorts of words in their language and they LOVE to laugh at me when I attempt to say the words. Their home is very simple with four bedrooms. Their toilet (a hole in the ground), shower room (a bucket filled with water) and kitchen are all outside of the house. The next few weeks are definitely going to be an adventure, but I know they will be good.                            
     Tomorrow I start my internship at Abadacogora, an organization that takes street kids and gives them a place to stay for three months. While they are living there, the children take classes learning basic English, math and writing. As of now I believe I will be assisting in the classes teaching the kids and helping out around the office. I am looking forward to spending the next month here in Rwanda, living with my family and working for Abadacogora!