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| G'ma T helping us pack. G'ma and G'pa Church helped, too. |
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| "Angel" Naomi with tick or treat friends Abby and Caroline. |
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| Naomi's questions the day before we moved: What do uniforms look like? Do I like being at school with Isaac? Etc. |
Saturday, October 31, 2015
7. Packing, Haunting, Farewells
Oct. 30 - 31, 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015
6. Pioneer Boys' Soccer Amazing Season -- Catholic Central brings it to a halt
Oct. 29, 2015
Ann Arbor
Last night Catholic Central brought the gauntlet down on Pioneer's (and Isaac's) hopes and prayers for a ride to the state championships next week. Pioneer lost the contest 0-2. Isaac warmed up with the team but did not get to play. Noah and Andrea were there in Novi to cheer him on!
The side story, and what makes the loss especially tough for Isaac, is that if they had won, the next game would by Nov. 4, two days after our planned departure on Nov. 2. We had promised Isaac that we would pay the $300 change fee (and $100 for a chaperone). So there were HIGH STAKES in terms of emotions, athletic pride and cash on this game!
Amidst boxes, errands, farewell parties and passport prep -- Isaac has been part of a legendary soccer team at Pioneer H.S. And his coach (Kevin Taylor, affectionately known as "KT") confirms that Isaac has been an important part of the varsity team this year. As an 11th grade forward he doesn't get played in every game -- 12th graders take priority -- but coach says Isaac's hard-working style and dedication to the team is valued. This article (click on link below) in MLive captures the good sportsmanship and leadership of this team.
http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/7542030349711482816/end-of-a-truly-great-season-for-2015-pioneer-mens-soccer/
[author: Ruth Church]
Ann Arbor
Last night Catholic Central brought the gauntlet down on Pioneer's (and Isaac's) hopes and prayers for a ride to the state championships next week. Pioneer lost the contest 0-2. Isaac warmed up with the team but did not get to play. Noah and Andrea were there in Novi to cheer him on!
The side story, and what makes the loss especially tough for Isaac, is that if they had won, the next game would by Nov. 4, two days after our planned departure on Nov. 2. We had promised Isaac that we would pay the $300 change fee (and $100 for a chaperone). So there were HIGH STAKES in terms of emotions, athletic pride and cash on this game!
Amidst boxes, errands, farewell parties and passport prep -- Isaac has been part of a legendary soccer team at Pioneer H.S. And his coach (Kevin Taylor, affectionately known as "KT") confirms that Isaac has been an important part of the varsity team this year. As an 11th grade forward he doesn't get played in every game -- 12th graders take priority -- but coach says Isaac's hard-working style and dedication to the team is valued. This article (click on link below) in MLive captures the good sportsmanship and leadership of this team.
http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/7542030349711482816/end-of-a-truly-great-season-for-2015-pioneer-mens-soccer/
[author: Ruth Church]
Saturday, October 24, 2015
5. What we See Out Our Front Window Every Day
Oct. 24, 2015
Ann Arbor
Sojournors Magazine Editor Jim Wallis apparently would remind his young journalists time and again that our worldview is shaped heavily by where we live and what we see out our front window every day. This is important for young and old throughout life!
Click here to learn more about Jim and his wise words for the world.
[author: Ruth Church]
Ann Arbor
Sojournors Magazine Editor Jim Wallis apparently would remind his young journalists time and again that our worldview is shaped heavily by where we live and what we see out our front window every day. This is important for young and old throughout life!
Click here to learn more about Jim and his wise words for the world.
[author: Ruth Church]
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
4. NYT Rwanda Article - The Clintons Think the Country is Worth Their Time and Others' Money
Oct. 21, 2015
Two days ago the New York Times published a long and detailed article about the Clinton Foundation work in Rwanda. It made it to the front page! With lots of photos!
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/19/us/politics/rwanda-bill-hillary-clinton-foundation.html?_r=0
Coffee is barely mentioned. It seems the CF works more with soybeans and a lot with healthcare -- specifically a physician/nursing training program, which is fine. What's interesting to me is that the "human resources for health" program is the one we first heard about through our search for other families who have lived in Rwanda for a year with kids. We came across the Hughes family via their blog, and were delighted to see that their daughter went to the same school where we hope to enroll Isaac and Naomi. Turns out the reason the family went was because Mrs. Heyes is a physician. She learned about this program that brings 100 doctors to Rwanda every year and signed up. Sounds like a well-designed program that has been on-going over several years.
Two days ago the New York Times published a long and detailed article about the Clinton Foundation work in Rwanda. It made it to the front page! With lots of photos!
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/19/us/politics/rwanda-bill-hillary-clinton-foundation.html?_r=0
Coffee is barely mentioned. It seems the CF works more with soybeans and a lot with healthcare -- specifically a physician/nursing training program, which is fine. What's interesting to me is that the "human resources for health" program is the one we first heard about through our search for other families who have lived in Rwanda for a year with kids. We came across the Hughes family via their blog, and were delighted to see that their daughter went to the same school where we hope to enroll Isaac and Naomi. Turns out the reason the family went was because Mrs. Heyes is a physician. She learned about this program that brings 100 doctors to Rwanda every year and signed up. Sounds like a well-designed program that has been on-going over several years.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
3. Soccer and the unifying force of sports
Isaac loves playing soccer. As parents, we've marveled and looked on with admiration as Isaac has poured hours of practice and conditioning into his training as a soccer athlete. His effort to improve his skills were rewarded this fall when he made the varsity team at Pioneer High School. Throughout October, as a backdrop to all the focus on moving to Rwanda, the team has been playing well and Isaac has been very dedicated to making it to practice and getting to the many games -- sometimes 3 in one week, like this past week! We see all sports, but especially soccer, as one way to feel united and find enjoyment with other people in other parts of the globe. While sports are often about competition, there is also something unifying about "the love of the game."
Naomi enjoys playing soccer, too! That's another wonderful thing about sports -- they open new doors for both genders to learn about teamwork, fitness, and progressing towards excellence.
It will be interesting to see whether our kids' love of soccer helps him integrate, find friends and find meaning during our short time in Rwanda.
[author: Ruth Ann]
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| It's hard to get photos of Isaac because he's so fast! (Sep. 29) |
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| Isaac, playing forward, stays ahead of the defenders. |
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| Pioneer's Holloway field is a pretty nice pitch! |
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| Naomi comes off the field after a score! (Sep. 19) |
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| Halftime talk from Coach Kathy |
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
2. World Communion Sunday in Ann Arbor
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| Front View - First United Methodist Ann Arbor |
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| Looking towards back of sanctuary |
Today was World Communion Sunday at our church, First United Methodist Ann Arbor. It's like the culmination of the past month for us. Two weeks ago we had a Rwandan guest, Vincent Karenzi, at our church with us. He reflected on how church was "so quick." In Rwanda, church is a couple hours long and Vincent's comments implied the congregations there get more "involved" during worship, too. Our Ann Arbor church 9:30 Sunday service is pretty European-style, "folded hands" type of worship. The first Sunday in September included an informational meeting about the Kenya mission trip that will go in Feb. 2016 to Meru, Kenya. Today was the day to turn in applications for that, and now Isaac, 16, is signed up! (He'll be 17 when he's on the trip.) To tie it all together, it is fun to note that the dozen or more national flags in our sanctuary belong to Ruth Ann's parents. They stayed at the church late on Saturday night to get them displayed in the sanctuary (after the choir "Caberet" fundraiser).
Thursday, October 1, 2015
1. Getting Ready - Project Announcement
Oct. 1, 2015 -- Author: Ruth Ann
We've been getting ready for our Rwandan Adventure for months, even years, in some ways. But this seems like the right point to start recording thoughts, photos and impressions as our family starts this year of "new experiences." Our blog is named "Rwandan Adventure" because we hope we can keep that perspective as we have these new experiences.
Yesterday Michigan State University announced the grant with this posting in "MSU Today" (click here). Dan Clay is Ruth Ann's advisor at MSU and he has assigned her the role of monitoring and evaluation coordinator for this important coffee research project in Rwanda and Burundi. Yes - the project is designed to include Burundi, too. Thus it was named the "Africa Great Lakes Coffee" project, not the "Rwanda Coffee" project. But then Burundi's president Nkurunziza had to run rough-shod over the constitution, not to mention inspiring brutality against the opposition, and after he got re-elected for a third term, USAID withdrew support for any government related work there. We hope some of the activities can be rescued at some point during the 3 years of the project.
Today we had a great teacher-parent conference with Leslie Lawther, Naomi's teacher in Ann Arbor. She was very encouraging about Naomi being well-prepared to do well at a new school in Kigali and gave her some tips about what to do if the work is too hard or if it's too easy. We also talked about fun ways for Naomi to stay in touch with her classmates back in Ann Arbor if she has time. It's nice that when we get back in Aug. 2016, Naomi can anticipate joining Leslie's class again, since this is a 5th-6th grade classroom and the system at the school is that all kids keep the same teacher for 2 years in a row.
PLEASE NOTE: Postings here will be erratic. Getting ready is going to take a lot of time.
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| Leslie Lawther - Naomi's wonderful teacher in AA |
We've been getting ready for our Rwandan Adventure for months, even years, in some ways. But this seems like the right point to start recording thoughts, photos and impressions as our family starts this year of "new experiences." Our blog is named "Rwandan Adventure" because we hope we can keep that perspective as we have these new experiences.
Yesterday Michigan State University announced the grant with this posting in "MSU Today" (click here). Dan Clay is Ruth Ann's advisor at MSU and he has assigned her the role of monitoring and evaluation coordinator for this important coffee research project in Rwanda and Burundi. Yes - the project is designed to include Burundi, too. Thus it was named the "Africa Great Lakes Coffee" project, not the "Rwanda Coffee" project. But then Burundi's president Nkurunziza had to run rough-shod over the constitution, not to mention inspiring brutality against the opposition, and after he got re-elected for a third term, USAID withdrew support for any government related work there. We hope some of the activities can be rescued at some point during the 3 years of the project.
Today we had a great teacher-parent conference with Leslie Lawther, Naomi's teacher in Ann Arbor. She was very encouraging about Naomi being well-prepared to do well at a new school in Kigali and gave her some tips about what to do if the work is too hard or if it's too easy. We also talked about fun ways for Naomi to stay in touch with her classmates back in Ann Arbor if she has time. It's nice that when we get back in Aug. 2016, Naomi can anticipate joining Leslie's class again, since this is a 5th-6th grade classroom and the system at the school is that all kids keep the same teacher for 2 years in a row.
PLEASE NOTE: Postings here will be erratic. Getting ready is going to take a lot of time.
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| Naomi's 5th grade classroom at Ann Arbor Open |
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