First Day in Rwanda

Bronwyn sent us an email describing her first day in Rwanda.  

Here is a small part of her note that we thought you might be interested in:

Hey guys! Today has been CRAZY! The internet has been down all day today. We went to sewing class and the grocery store today. It was so different. It's weird here... I can understand portuguese, english, spanish, french, italian, some german. But Kinyirwandan is NOTHING like any of this. It's crazy! So hard to understand. I bought a journal today in the grocery store to write down words I want to know... basic stuff like thank you, please, excuse me, blah blah blah. 

Today at lunch Louise told me the person she knows that has a connection with an orphanage is in Europe for the next 3 weeks. Then, we went to the grocery store. While we were checking out, this family started talking to us. They run an orphanage about 20km from here and invited me to stay/visit with them for however long I wanted to. Is God cool or what? Here's their blog... www.tyrrellsinafrica.org


One of the things that Bronwyn wanted to do while she was there was to help at an orphanage. Meeting this couple on her first full day in Kigali can only be described as a "God thing." Only He knows where this connection will end up but just the fact that He had the grocery store conversation already waiting for Bronwyn today is just amazing! 
 

We would definitely agree with Bronwyn's words that God is extremely cool.  

She put up some pictures of her first day on her blog if you want to check them out and leave her a note.  Just click here to go there. 

She Made It

We just had a video call with Bronwyn on Skype.  Everyone was excited to talk to her.

She made it to Rwanda without any problems or flight delays.

She's already enjoying her time with our buddies Marty and Louise.

Thank you for your prayers for her safety.  God is good.

Kenya

We've been following Bronwyn's flights on the internet.  We just found out she landed safely in Nairobi, Kenya.  Our daughter is in Kenya!  That is very cool.  Okay, she'll only visit the airport but it's cool to think that we have a child in Africa.

She has one more short flight before she arrives at her new home for the next 2 months.  She's made it safely through the longest flights and most boring parts of sitting in different airports.

She wrote a very insightful blog about her feelings leading up to her trip.  If you want to read it on her blog then just click here .

Thank you for blessing her with prayers for safety.  She's almost there!

On Her Way

Friday night we had a surprise going away party for Bronwyn.  It was great.  She had no idea as noted by her face in between the arms.

Yesterday we took her out to eat at one of her favorite restaurants.

It was a time of reflection as it was one of our last meals together.

Okay that was a lie.  We don't really do serious very much around here.

She then came back home.

She had some more visitors (our neighbors across the street and Freitas, Auristela and Maurício) that wanted to come by and give her a hug.

Then she finished packing.

Today we got up early and took her to the airport.  Before we left we put her in the middle of a circle in our backyard and each family member prayed for her.  In typical Blume fashion it wasn't all teary, but funny.  Why?  Two family members (who will remain nameless) released noises from two different parts of the body.  That's pretty normal for us (sorry Marie and Jane).

When we got to the airport she had some friends waiting for her to tell her bye.

Garrett helped her check in.

We gave her hugs and kisses and sent her on her way.  She cried just a little.

We then went to our celebration.

After that we came home to eat lunch and then got a chance to talk to Bronwyn on Skype.

She was blessed with an internet blown kiss.

She was very relaxed and enjoying herself.  She said she relaxed once she got on the plane.

Next stop after an overnight flight: Johannesburg, South Africa.

Thanks for your prayers for our daughter!

As the trip has approached and gotten started Bronwyn has been blogging more.  Click here to read her latest posts.

Feel free to load up the comment section on her blogs with encouragement.

Andersonism and Rwanda

Bronwyn and I took Anderson to an Inter game on Sunday. He talked for 4 straight hours. If you think I'm lying or if you don't think it's possible then you don't know our son. It is possible. It's always interesting when we take him to a game.

I am continually amazed at how much he can talk and the stuff that comes out of his brain. There is no filter - so if he thinks it, he says it.

Benay and I were laughing the other day thinking of the day when the four bigger kids have all moved out and we only have Anderson and Giovanni in our house. Giovanni won't ever be able to get a word in. It doesn't seem like he is going to be as talkative as Anderson.

Come to think of it, I don't know anyone as talkative and expressive as Anderson.

Here's an Andersonism (just because our Aggies buddies ask for them) from our drive to school today:

Anderson: "Hey dad, what does HPS mean?"
Me: "I don't know. Did you see those letters on a sign somewhere?"
Anderson: "No. I was just thinking of them."
Me: "Okay."

Believe me, we get those tidbits every day.

Bronwyn goes to Africa in 3 days.

She talks about what that's like on her latest blog. She also let Anderson do a blog from the game we went to.

Go here to read here to read her last couple of blogs.

She and Benay are enjoying every last minute together.  This morning the words "blueberry pancakes" came out of someone's mouth and they immediately started cooking.

Tomorrow I think I'll mention steak and see what happens. 

Rwanda

More than one person from the Aggies for Christ group that was here last year is involved in Bronwyn's ministry to Rwanda.  

One of them sent Bronwyn an email the other day with a link to the video below.    

The only words this person put on the email were, "Be inspired."

You will be.  Here it is:

In case you have forgotten, you can follow Bronwyn's blog here.