38. John Returns from the US

May 30, 2016
Happy Memorial Day! John got back from his 2 week trip to the US today. The trip was timed to allow him to attend some meetings that were important for his clients, so that makes it a "business trip." But a major objective was also to spend time with Noah. We have been feeling pretty guilty as parents for being so far away as Noah graduated from UofM (on Dec. 22nd) and then transitioned to his new job with Ford in Memphis, TN. These are pretty momentous milestones!

John also took the opportunity to visit as many family and friends as he could. We hope people still remember us and we have friends when we get home in August! He also visited Naomi's school. It was such a joy to see the photos of the many wonderful Rwandan things Naomi's classmates made to show what they had learned about Rwanda and to display at the school's big end-of-year-party which is "Multi-cultural Night".

Welcome home, honey!

John with kids and "bag of goodies from the US."

5th-6th Graders at Ann Arbor display the Rwandan symbol (note it includes a coffee branch).

The students did a great job making Imigongo art!

37. Violin recital, International Marathon and More!

Sunday, May 22                                        
John has been in Michigan for a week now. It was a week ago that we took him to the airport and he boarded a plane with a bunch of people from the World Economic Forum that had just completed its 3 day conference in Kigali. He was with Noah this weekend. He will continue "week 2" of business meetings around the state this week and fly back to us on May 29-30.

It has been a joy this weekend to have Rebecca Hiemstra and her friend from Banda, Francine, here with us in Kigali. Rebecca actually came from Goma (DR Congo) on Tuesday night and stayed here with Naomi and Isaac while I went out to a washing station for three days. That place is about 3 hours from Kigali. The work at the washing station went well. When I got back on Saturday we went to Naomi's favorite cafe-for-foreigners, "J. Lynn's." We treated Rebecca and Francine to bagels & cream cheese and freshly squeezed lemonade.  That evening we played a wild game of hide-n-seek around our house -- Isaac, Naomi, Rebecca, Francine, Simiyon (our guard) and me! Then

this morning was Kigali's International "Peace Across Borders" marathon. Rebecca and Francine ran the half marathon.  It was fun to be on the sidelines and enjoy some of the excitement. I especially enjoyed seeing the front-runners (mostly Kenyans) when they were near the finish. Reminded me of when I saw the Kenyans run the Honolulu marathon.

This afternoon (Sunday) was Naomi's violin recital. It was at the lovely home of the American woman who started and runs J. Lynn's cafe. Turns out her daughter takes lessons from the same private music teacher who teaches Naomi. Naomi did a wonderful job being confident (something she's found to be a challenge at past recitals) and her 3 pieces sounded beautiful (at least to her mother!) The student with whom Naomi played a duet was named Caitlin (like Naomi's

cousin) and there was another student named Naomi there and a mom named "Ruth" from Germany with a daughter named Noemi! Very surprising! Rebecca and Francine came along, too, which was really nice, because John couldn't be there and Isaac didn't want to go.

[author: Ruth Ann]

Enjoying a bagel and cookies at J. Lynn's cafe.

Rebecca negotiating at the tailoring booth at Kimironko market.