Excellence

Tuesday morning (25 Mai), we had breakfast with Dr. Carter Crockett, with Karisimbi Business Partners, a consulting firm. He moved to Kigali with his family and a few other families and friends in order to start this business. His method is to become partners with businesses, not only consulting but coming alongside them and making sure they succeed. The business is not a non-profit organization, but is participating in Rwanda’s market. They make relational ties with their clients, who are typically mid-sized businesses.


Dr. Crockett noted that Rwandans are not typically motivated to start a business by greed, but by social factors. They are interested in learning business, but progress is slow just because of the systems in place (or not in place) in Rwanda. What it really takes is people to stick with clients, to be flexible, and to be committed. Short-term trips to fix things don’t show that much desire to invest in people here. Dr. Crockett wants to equip people to steward what they have; to do that, one has to know what they need and want. And to do that, one has to listen. More impact can be made if you go in to a situation ready to learn, humbly.

Then we visited with Martha at Eco-Tours, one of Dr. Crockett’s clients. Martha is the Managing Director there, and she’s such a vibrant, admirable woman of integrity. She said that this is the busy time of year because it’s nearing summertime for lots of people, and “each traveler thinks he is the only one traveling.” That puts it into perspective; I need to be careful to be considerate and not expect that I’m the only person whose needs are worth meeting.

Martha had so much good advice. The following are some things she said. We need to be the same, whether under pressure or no; who you are shows up in the difficult situations. That’s something we talked about in our debriefing time on Monday. You need to die to yourself when working in customer service, to work as if this is the last day you are working. Martha seems as though she has not taken complaints personally; she is persistent and flexible at the same time. She speaks amazing English. She is patient and generous, and very wise as well, about people and about business. She said she wants to learn more, even though she already knows so much and has had experience. I think that shows a certain humility. Someone pointed out that the office is very organized and simple, that the nonessentials really aren’t there. I love that they aren't all about themselves.

Eco-Tours also works with a cultural village by Musanze, where former poachers are now employed to exemplify the Rwandan traditional way of life instead of killing animals like the near-extinct gorillas. Martha works with the people in the villages to convince them that the children need education, and she also provides school supplies. This involves changing an entire mindset that the people have, one which includes them questioning the importance of education. She mentions that such changes take time, persistence, and relationship-building. It was a very pleasant visit; I could have listened to her for hours.

Driving to lunch, we noticed an excellent establishment called Hair Force One Salon. Eventually we arrived at the Africa Bite, where we had more delicious Rwandan food. During debriefing time, Parker agreed to be the king if we visited the cultural village and they had us choose a ‘king.’ Ms. Coldwell also said that Taylor might be allowed to ride the mototaxi in front of the hotel so we can take his picture. Then we started discussing the name Patel.

Later in the afternoon, some of us went down to play football again. When we got down there we saw some threatening clouds moving very quickly towards us. I sat under some overhanging plants next to Travis’s backpack, and then I took a few pictures with Dr. Wu’s camera, and then the rain started to fall. For not knowing how to play, Dr. Wu got in there pretty well. For a few minutes, people kept playing in the rain. Then there was lightning and we decided to head out. We had to climb up the dirt hill which was now sort of like mud. I can enjoy getting dirty; getting wet is another matter. So walking back in the rain was fun. Parker’s shorts still had detergent in them from when they’d been washed. The reason I know this is because suds were streaming down his legs after we’d walked for long enough to be soaked. He was a good sport about being drenched after not really being eager to go in the first place. Blake ran uphill to the hotel and then back down to the field to bring Travis a rainjacket to cover his backpack.

That night, the students went back to the Indian place while the adults ate off somewhere by themselves. And it all went fine! I went to bed contented, and as I walked back to my room I could see the cards group assembling in the restaurant area, just as they have done basically every night. It was comforting to know that all was well in our little hotel. (rhyme!)


Items of note:
• The former Rwandan king lives in Texas. Of course.
• Giving your best consistently will lead to success.
• Do all things without complaining.
• Whoever is more than a little late has to sing a song about Baton Rouge.
• My feet may be permanently red-brown.

Friends

I woke up Monday morning incredibly stiff and sore from that intense football match. And it was our earliest morning yet, as we left in time to be at Urwego Bank for their twice weekly devotions. We were able to attempt to sing along in worship, to hear them sing, and to share a song with them as well. We sang ‘Be Thou my Vision,’ and it was all right. We had to try intentionally to not outdo our hosts. Just kidding - we definitely needed way more work, and the Urwego choir was amazing. But it was all enjoyable. One woman shared about unity within any organisation, and I thought this was remarkably applicable to what we are doing right now, even just being a team. She did not put things gently, which I very much appreciate. She meant what she said and it was great. Don’t talk about people, don’t fight for your own way, etc. No division! That was a great message.


After UOB, we drove out to Les Enfants de Dieu, an orphanage of sorts…but not exactly. Rafiki, the man who runs it, helps boys who used to live on the street. The program helps the boys rehabilitate so they can re-enter the community, prepared and effective. The home is completely voluntary because too many rules and keeping kids there makes it seem like a prison, like they’re stuck. Instead, they are taught responsibility and discipline in a really neat way. Everything that happens at Enfants de Dieu is run by the kids who live there. There are different ministries for each boy to participate in. Four boys head each ministry, such as Home Affairs, Administration, Health, etc. So they have ownership in their own community, and that authority is real. The adults rarely ever override a decision made by the boys. What empowerment!

Rafiki had so many good things to say about life in general. One thing he said is that “giving is not having, but giving is filling.’ If you can give nothing else, give a smile. He said that he wants to change himself so that he can help others. He survived the genocide, after being left for dead in a hole. It is amazing that he has come out of that experience to say that revenge does not work. He is investing in these boys so that they will change Rwanda.

Then we watched some incredible drumming and dancing by several of the boys, after which one of them, the Minister of Administration, welcomed us. Here are some things he said: “We have nothing to offer you…only God can reward you for what you have done.” “We didn’t used to have people coming to see us and smile at us.” “We can just pray for you.” “Thank you for the love you have shown us.”

The boys all have great vision for their futures; some want to be doctors, teachers, government officials. Football players, pastors, and beyond. One wants to become rich so he can help street kids. We spent time talking and playing with them. One named Damond told me his sadness of not knowing his parents. I asked him if he knew that God loves him, and he said, “I used to think God hated me, but now I think He loves me.” I wonder what brought about that change; I love seeing the Lord work transformation in people’s hearts. One boy named Rukundo wrote down many Kinyarwanda words for me to learn. I also collected several email addresses. Some of the questions I heard were the same from each boy: Do you have a brother? Do you have a husband? Do you have parents? What are their names? And it broke my heart when some would talk about how they don’t know their family, or their mother is too tired for them, or something like that. It almost made me embarrassed for what I do have, but I’m learning to turn that into gratitude. These boys were so easy to love, and they also easily love.

After that we went back to Amani Ya Juu to hear Grace’s testimony and to see the women dance. They started out dancing and singing, but then pulled us in to join them. It was so fun and relaxing. Grace talked about how she lost her husband in the genocide and found Amani Ya Juu when she was lonely – and now she’s been comforted.

Things of note:
• The only way to force you to smile at me is for me to smile at you.
• The way to get someone’s attention here is to make a sharp ‘sssss’ noise.
• You can feed fish with the help of rabbits.
• Sometimes, letting go of things can give you a better grasp on them.
• Think about what love can do.