New Job, new house, Africa... the Awesome Summer Adventure!

Two months isn’t that long is it? Here is the reasoning behind the hold on blogging. A. I had nothing to say for the first part of June. Then.. B . I started the interview process for a prospective job. I didn’t want to write until I had some news. Fortunately, there is wonderful news. I got the job! Yes.. I am now a first grade teacher for the Academy of Academic Excellence in Apple Valley! Mr. Awesome has a real job! The interview process was quite the experience I must say.
For the first interview I needed to prepare a presentation based on some questions they had given me. Long story short, and quite the effort later, I spanked the interview. Props are due to the Parks kinder team for helping me prepare. So, Karr, Lakin, Navaro, and Thompson.. I owe ya! Three days after the interview I was called for a second, “informal” interview. This was far from informal, but certainly promising. They said I might hear from them within a week. Mind you.. I am now 8 days from Africa. The following is where God really came into play and showed his sense of humor, plan, and care for me.
The week before Rwanda transpired as follows. Thursday June 25, 2nd interview. Monday July 29th, Disneyland. Tuesday- day off waiting with the phone in my hand all day. No call.
Wednesday- noon, the phone rings. A 760 #. It’s the Lewis Center. They offered me a job! I drop everything and drive an hour to sign papers. 3pm- off to Apple Valley Public Library to search Craig’s List for a place to live. 4pm- email several places. 4:30- a return email from a guy with a house. 5-10 pm, corresponding with perspective landlord via email.
Thursday- 8am- finger printing. 10am – house viewing. Application completing.
Friday- 10am – coffee with Geri. 12pm- meet with perspective landlord. 2pm- sign the lease. Wirt e a check. Agree to move in on the 15th via friends and family since I will be in Rwanda.
Saturday, July 4th- 730 am- meet at the Globe at CBU. 8am- on the road to LAX.

Ok, lets review. In 3 days my life changed. I signed for a new job, a new house in a new city, and left for Africa.

The following is the synthesis from my Rwanda journal.

Synthesis:
Seven months of training, 4-6 days of travel, 3 continents, 5 countries, 11 visits to an airport, 5-6 trips through customs, 6 varied ways of transportation, 10 Americans working together, 25 days total. 1 purpose and 1 amazing adventure.

Five of the team members had been to Rwanda before. They kind of knew what to expect. I, one of the newbies, did not. Africa is very very different. You can not expect things to go the way you, an ignorant American, had planned.

Starting with teaching 3 days late with new plans showed varied turnouts. A whole second class was added to my caseload. Lyndsey, (my partner in preparation and execution of teaching) and I had 10 office staff development lessons prepared. We used…3 of them. You can not assume that time or plans matter, electricity or water will function, seats on the bus will open up, if it will or will not rain, when you will eat, or if you can sleep.

You have to turn American off. Talk slowly. Repeat yourself. Realize that mozoongos (white man) are quite rare. That is why they stare at you. They don’t hate you. Make up, fancy clothes, cute shoes, clean underwear, forget it all. You are lucky to be alive. Every day is a gift. Rwanda has a vision and a promise to its people. Rwanda 2020.

They will get past and become resilient of 1994. They don’t talk about it openly. They don’t seem to hate. They work together. Rwanda is a developing country,” was the phrase I heard a lot. I’m glad our team was a reflection of that.

Our team mind you, trained for seven months for this, but we spent most every waking hour with at least 1 of the members. 25 days… someone should had died, or so you would think. Nope. Very minimal quarrels. We functioned under accountability to be a unified light for Christ in all that we did. Accountability was in the following areas. Bible reading and discussion, emotions, reality checks and job accomplishment. It was a true blessing.

I was “stable” most all for the trip. I wish I would have taken more time to seek God in Africa. For that I feel selfish and slightly less fulfilled. I spent my down time reading trash novels and magazines. I don’t regret reading. It was what I read. I wish I would have forced myself to meditate more on the Lord.

Trying not to think of home was a different task. I was unsuccessful. I thought of home all the time. That made the task at hand more difficult. Knowing I had business to take care of was torture. I’m so thankful to have had good people here at home helping. For that I am truly blessed.

I recommend and highly suggest that willing Christians do some sort of service project. Of course, this should only be done after correct and complete training. I saw so many ignorant Americans in Africa.

First, attire. Women need to be covered up in Rwanda, not wearing daisy dukes. Yes it was hot, but looking into the culture, little to none of the nationals dress that way and they perceive it as whorish. Men also. No shorts. Same rule, just unneeded attention should not be called.

Second, volume. The Americans, or whites at the compound looked obnoxious when they used loud voices. Despite the American stereotypes, black people are not all obnoxious. Only Americans. I apologize for the cultural insensitivity here, but there is truly a significant difference in cultures.

Third, approach. Street evangelism is not a good idea. My point being, understanding culture makes every difference.

In conclusion, this trip checked my reality, stretched me in many ways, and challenged e in ways I didn’t think were possible. I hope and pray to live out God’s plan for me as I develop a more clear understanding of it.

Our plane came in at 12:30pm. Home in Riverside about 2:30. A home cooked meal full of protein!!! (meatloaf and mashed potatoes). Next on the agenda, drive to my “newer” home in Apple Valley. Freshly furnished by Heather and my mom, things moved by some of my other friends, I was again blessed to have something taken care of. I tried to sleep. Couldn’t. soon I was up for work the next morning at 630. Here I am. End of week 1 of the new job, new house, new town, new life. Still processes. Still looking for God’s plan.