Greetings all.

Sorry that I have only just now added to my previous post. I have had trouble finding a good internet connection, but I think now I have found one fairly near to my home. I took a video of my trip to kigali today on the moto-taxi. This is my main means of transport around the city, and it is quite exhilarating. It costs between 60 cents and $1.50 for me to get anywhere around town. I don’t take the muzungu (white person) price which helps, but it still adds up.

Today I finally was able to take some steps towards getting a better idea of what my research is going to focus on a develop what I hope are feasible goals. Tomorrow is my first interview!! I am going to meet with Marie Jeanne who is the head of the womens development programs of the Anglican Church. She has promoted 30 savings groups in and around Kigali, as well as 70 micro-loan groups. I look forward to the privilege of hearing her story (she is a genocide survivor and a widow) and how God has been using the savings and micro-credit groups for his Kingdom here in Kigali. Please pray that we can communicate well with one another and that our time together will help me in forming my final research question as well as provide me with an idea of what I’ll be doing for the next eight weeks as far as scheduling is concerned.

In other news, I went the Kimironko market today by myself and bargained for some new shoes, since my church/office shoes didn’t make it to Kigali. They are pretty sweet italian moccasins and I got them for around 12 bucks.

My house and roomate situation is wonderful. Myal, one of my roomates, has been showing me around Kigali and introducing me to his friends. There is a neat community here and the city is easy to get around and extremely fun to explore.

Yesterday I went with the HOPE staff for a day retreat to a park about two hours away. I saw my first wild giraffes, as well as a monstrous African elephant. We spent some time together studying God’s word and praying for the work that is before us.

Now I will give you a glimpse of my life here in picture form. I have more at my flickr site, which you can access through my blog.

this is my house. and the view is not done justice by this photo.

me on the porch. so you know i’m alive and well, really.

my porch. it rocks.

this elephant is huge!!!

we were basically walking with these big guys.
I’m out for now, but please don’t stop praying that God would work in my heart and in this place.

Thanks for your support and for your encouraging emails.

Until next time.

will