the sweet ride

as promised.
Levi is now the proud owner of a TVS Apache 160cc.




It was a long discussed purchase, but eventually we decided it would be best so we have an easy way to get to school early and home from our late meetings. I usually go with him about half the time. I don't know quite how I feel about the feeling of seat-belt free riding and missing four metal walls around me - not the best feeling in the world and not the worst. I really appreciate how helpful it is for us to get around. You see, there are not any street names and our home is down a big hill on a very bumpy road - not a majorly unique description. It made me fairly uncomfortable attempting to 1) take a moto 2) at night 3) separated from Levi 4) without speaking Kinyarwandan. But the white sedans used as taxis were very expensive and not really capable of the fourwheel driving required to the house. It is a serious incline with massive ruts in the mud. It is as steep (or more) as my parents driveway and not as nicely paved.

Anyway, I'm trying to nickname the bike Sam because I don't like calling it a "moto" or "motorbike" or "motorcycle" - too much of a mouthful and "motos" are the guys in the bright vests who don't speak English. There's a valid reason for calling it Sam -









Anyway, it's been great fun for Levi and one of the other teachers just bought one last week too. They are just following after our fearless headmaster (Trevor Maxwell) who also is a proud and happy bike owner (his is actually a dirt bike). Levi is a very good driver and always speaks English well. I'm not such a good passenger because I don't anticipate the surges in the clutch and end up knocking my helmet with Levi's at least once a ride.

Speaking of my helmet...




I'm very happy there was an alternative to the bright pink one a friend got.





my reflection in the top photo is the most you'll see of me in the helmet. I about die of embarrassment when we have to take off in front of a gathering of the high schoolers.


I'm trying to convince the kids to use Levi's helmet as a R2D2 costume for Halloween.





She said she would rather be a bunny.

a day in the life

5am - Levi's alarm goes off. He's up for coffee and Bible time on the balcony.
6:15am - Erin's alarm goes off. She does not get up unless it is a very productive morning.
6:25 - most likely out of bed. Thanks the Lord for a voltage converter so the curling iron works.
6:45 - Levi leaves for school on his sweet ride. (next post.)
7:15ish - Erin and the kids leave for school in the car with in the car with Africa (our driver. more on that next post too).
7:57 - Levi puts the yellow Fox 40 whistle to work. He is the school bell.
----------
1st period . Mr. Fletcher teaches Geometry. Mrs. Fletcher thanks the Lord for first period prep, enjoys Bible time, and very spiritually prays that one of the two printers and copy machines a) work. b) have ink. and c) have electricity.
2nd Period. Mr. Fletcher teaches 6th grade math. Mrs. Fletcher teaches 9th-10th World Studies.
Chai Break. Aunt Erin peeks out and watches Ella, Weston, and Ava playing.
3rd Period. Mr. Fletcher enjoys a prep period, often strumming a guitar, serenading Mrs. Fletcher next door. This is usually not a problem unless Mrs. Fletcher is giving a test on US History to 15 students who have never been to the US.
4th Period: Mr. Fletcher is very loud and rambunctious teaching 7th grade math because he got lonely about 10 minutes earlier during his prep. Mrs. Fletcher enjoys a prep period to sit and contemplate how to be a better teacher.
Lunch! Both the Fletchers enjoy free hot lunch provided by the school.
5th Period: Mr. Fletcher finishes eating because he has spent most of lunch helping kids with math or playing a little foursquare or supervising the lunchroom. Mrs. Fletcher teaches 6th grade Bible every other day.
6th Period: Mr Fletcher teaches 7th or 8th grade PE, while Mrs. Fletcher has the opposite grade in Bible.
7th Period: Mr. Fletcher supervises 6th grade study hall. Mrs. Fletcher teaches 9-10th or 11th-12th grade Bible.
The yellow Fox 40 whistle retires for the day. The owner does not.
----------------
Depending on the day, we get home between 3:30 and 5. We eat a little snack, play with the bunnies and kiddos, work a little in our office, and then help Kris with dinner.
After dinner we do the dishes and then settle in for a long night of work.
Levi heads to bed as early as he can. He is very good about having a proper bedtime.
Erin works until her eyelids get too heavy to go on, then jumps in the shower and says a little prayer of thanks for the excellent hot water. Sometimes the shower is revitalizing enough to get a little more done, but other times it's just relaxing to crash into bed.

and then it all begins again.

Collection of thoughts

This is going to be a random post because there are so many little things to say.

-You prepay for electricity here by buying a code sold by "Cash Power." The first time I heard someone say they needed more cash power, I thought we were off to exchange money.

-It's currently 6:12 pm and pitch black. The sun sets every day all year by 6:15. One minute it's bright, then next it's black.

- I continously have new bites on my legs and can't figure out why. I've always had more than my fair share of scrapes and scars on my legs, but it's a new record here. It doesn't help that I think I scratch in my sleep when I'm stressed.

-You can buy bagels and tortillas here that are very tasty. Cream cheese however is $7 for the smallest carton.

-The school just formed two soccer teams. Makes it feel more like home to have high school sports to root for.

-Culture shock does hit after a month.

-I am totally used to sleeping under a mosquito net.

-I am not used to the extreme disparity of wealth: mansions directly next to concrete walls.

Settling in...

Hello friends! Sorry for the long delay of posting. Making plans here in Africa is much easier said than done. :) We plan to post weeekly, but only the Lord knows for sure.

We are getting settled now in our 5th and final house. It's absolutely lovely and truly a wonderful set up for us and the Urquhart family. Levi and I have the lower level with a bedroom, bathroom, and even miraculously, a study. We have one small desk right now that is thankfully just long enough for two laptops. The hot water has worked ever since Day 4, and for that we are very very thankful. I'll attempt to remember to post pictures soon, but there are two great porches where we sit and enjoy the pleasant evening weather. The couches have yet to arrive, but there is at least a lovely dining room table big enough for all of us.

We continue to enjoy our school, staff, and the students. God is doing great things here at school and it's such a joy to serve him with fellow believers. It is tiring work each day, of course, but comforting to know that God is with us, strengthening us.

For those of you who can, please enjoy the following creature comforts we're missing. We'll try to live vicariously through your senses.
-sour candy
-clothes with the fresh dryer softness and warmth
-shopping at Trader Joes
-frozen yogurt
-boneless, skinless chicken
-sunsets that last more than (not exaggerating) 4 minutes. It goes from sunny to pitch dark so fast.
and now I should stop. :)

We are enjoying fantastic pineapple, ripe avocados, and delicious handmade bagels. So far, the most adventurous new food has been goat, thanks to Louisiana's finest host and hostess. We stayed there for House #2 and they threw us all long awaited goat roast once the rest of the Karisimbi clan arrived. It was some of the best barbecue I'd ever had. Kristen's food is of course delicious as always. Sadly are moving through our dearly loved rations of almond butter, brownie mix, brown sugar, chocolate chips, M&Ms, etc.

The kids are thrilled with each gecko and toad and skink that they find in the yard. There are lovely little birds that Kristen could tell you about, but so far all I know is we've seen a brightly colored kingfisher, a crowned crane for sale in someone's pocket along the road, a cute little black and white bird, and a cute little gray bird. Kristen announced yesterday there were bat droppings on the window and apparently this is something to cheer about, not be grossed out by.

All in all, we're still getting settled, but at least we're on the path. It's hard to believe we haven't even yet been here two months. Thank you for your prayers for us as we try to love and teach the students of Kigali.