Tuesday Night & Wednesday in Kigali

On Tuesday night, we were treated to a trip to a local artist village, Ubaranga Art Studio. It was started by Jean Bosco Bakunzi and now houses several local artists. This place is so cool! Even the entrance was special.

Jean Bosco is becoming somewhat well-known outside of Kigali, so it was fun to see his work up close. We were drawn to one painting in particular, which will be hung on the wall above our couch. He told us he was inspired to paint it only a few months ago after witnessing the zebra migration in Kenya while on his honeymoon.

Yesterday, we had another day of waiting here. In the morning, the husbands went with the kids to MIGEPROF to ask for a letter we need before they will issue passports. In the meantime, the ladies went to a local hotel spa for $5 pedicures! It was so nice to be pampered for a little while and my feet look so much better. The only pair of shoes I brought with me here are Chacos and my feet were so gross. Not anymore!

After, the men met us in the hotel lobby and we had lunch from a bakery there. After, we regrouped at our hotel (filled bottles and diaper bags) before heading out again. We stopped by the artisan market for a couple of things and then to the orphanage for a tour.

About the market: it is a long colorful building with tiny stalls. Each vendor mostly sells the same things from jewelry to baskets to woodwork. We had to bargain to buy. It's somewhat fun, but mostly tiring to shop in this fashion.

About the orphanage tour:
The Sisters who work here are the hands and feet of Jesus. The Home of Hope is one of three homes in Rwanda run by this group of Sisters. This particular home is an orphanage for infants and children up to age 5 as well as elderly men and women and disabled people of all ages. It is a clean, love-filled place run by women who radiate joy. It was difficult to see all of the children there still waiting for families...beautiful children. I prayed over as many of them as I could, knowing God was fully present in this place.  When we left, I wanted to let one of Josiane's caretakers know how important it was to us to know that she was taken care of as well as possible in the orphanage.  She told me how happy she was to see the children gaining families and reminded me of the most important thing:  "Give them Jesus.  The money and material possessions do not matter if they do not have Jesus."

After the orphanage tour, we went back to our hotel to regroup before dinner at an Indian restaurant. We had one of the most hilarious moments on this trip there, which I have to describe in person, as it won't be as funny in writing. The food was refreshing. Chicken Tikka Masala and Palak Paneer. Yum.