KHADIJAH IN KAYONZAVOLUME 4  •  MARCH 2019

MAKING THE WORLD SMALLER ONE MISSION AT A TIME

TAKE A PEEK!WELCOME TO

EPISODE IV- 1

KINYARWANDA: THE

GOOD, BAD, AND UGLY- 2

KAYONZA ROADWORK -

3

ALL SORTS OF UPDATES- 4&5

WELCOME TO EPISODE IVO.M.Goodness everyone! It is already March which hardly seems possible. This is the fourth installation of my newsletter and time is flying by faster than ever. Once again, I want to thank you all for the love and support you have given to me to get me this far. In this newsletter, I will introduce you to some projects that are going on around me, from the huge project of updating Kayonza's roads to the more personal project of learning Kinyarwanda. As we are already over halfway done with the service year, I have also included some updates at the end! God Bless and Happy Reading!

KINYARWANDA: THE GOOD, BAD, AND UGLYTo be clear, the good, bad, and ugly all refer to me trying to speak and learn Kinyarwanda. The language is significantly different from English, and It is pretty intense to try and learn. Here is how my progress has gone. THE GOOD: When I arrived in Rwanda, I had already done a few weeks of lessons via skype with a tutor, Denyse Umuneza, who also worked with the volunteers during orientation. It was with Denyse that I was able to learn basic greetings, numbers, and a bunch of vocabulary. I would say that I have gotten very proficient buying a bus ticket, which means I can greet, say where I am going, and tell the cashier my name. This tends to give people the illusion that I know much more Kinyarwanda than I actually do.

THE BAD: I would say close to every Rwandan who lives in Rwanda can speak Kinyarwanda. English was chosen as the international language so many of the younger generation (around my age) can speak decent English. I have been in many situations where the language barrier has been pretty large, but I am also surrounded by a lot of people who can communicate in English. I have been a bad student of Kinyarwanda by relying on the English speakers around me to help me translate. This includes my 5 year old host brother, Clever, who is so smart and will translate for me at home. THE UGLY: This comes courtesy of the time the cohort spent time in Kigali for New Years and our program director's visit. Denyse gave us a review quiz of everything we should have known from our lessons thus far and I failed miserably (sorry Denyse). I really gotta step up my Kinyarwanda game. Wish me luck!

Khadijah's Kinyarwanda Korner

things I say to the kids at home:

Itonde! ~ Be careful/behave Icara neza ~ Sit nice/good Urakora iki ~ What are you doing?!

KAYONZA ROADWORKIf you read that title and are still deciding to continue reading, props to you. This may seem like a boring subject and you might be wondering why I would waste valuable newsletter space to talk about something that you, especially my Wisconsin and Minnesota friends, are pretty familiar with. That is the exact reason for writing about something so mundane. I am trying to show you that I made it halfway around the world to a country that has consistent climate and I STILL couldn't avoid roadwork season! All joking aside, the road construction going on in Kayonza is very intense and I have seen the entire landscape of the district change because of it. If you saw the video I sent, then you will be familiar with the cow statue. She is at the intersection of the main road from Kigali and the major road that goes from Tanzania all the way through the Eastern Province to Uganda. This road is where the majority of the roadwork is taking place. The main objective is to reinforce the road with tarmac and, in some place, widen the road. Major semi trucks with shipping containers on the bed make their way along this road, so these measures insure that it is a safe process. The roadwork also facilitates the construction of better drainage pits on the side of the road. The amazing thing about roadwork is the pace that it moves. I will walk by a project taking place in the morning and when I walk home it will be done. Most projects are overseen by a Chinese foreman and completed by a completely Rwandan work force. The improvement of the road is a major sign of the countries development, and it has been a very interesting saga to watch.

ALL SORTS OF UPDATES!

Thank You Journey Lutheran!

My home church in Onalaska, WI has been an amazing source of support of this whole journey (pun intended).

Before I left for Rwanda, the congregation was able to raise over $2,000 from special offering to support my fundraising efforts. I found out a few weeks ago that they have decided to bless my family once again. They will be collecting special

offering for the month of March to support my mother, Alyson Islam, with her travel expenses to come and visit me here in Rwanda before I leave. I am unbelievable grateful

and humbled by this amazing blessing, and for that reason I wanted to give them a special shoutout.

What I've Been Reading

How Long Til Black Future Month by N. K. Jemisin Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates The Autobiography of Malcolm X The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

What I've Been Listening To

"Scenery" by Emily King "Primero Soy Mexicana" by Angela Aguilar "thank u, next" by Ariana Grande "All American Made" by Margo Price

ALL SORTS OF UPDATES!

End of Service Date Announced!

That's right folks! Even though it feels like I just got here, I now have a date for the end of my service year. My last in placement will by July 1st, 2019. The rest of the cohort and myself will gather in Kigali for a final retreat and the last

day of service is July 5th! It is coming up quicker than I could imagine. Here's to savoring

every last minute!

Spring Retreat Madness!You are receiving this near the end of our spring retreat! The cohort has gathered to spend time

relaxing and discussing the casual topic of liberation. We appreciate your prayers and I look

forward to sharing a video of highlights soon!

Prayer RequestsThere are many ways to be in community and one of them is in a

community of prayer. Please keep these thoughts in your prayers and feel free to send prayer requests of your own my way.

For the family of Pastor Martin who are mourning his loss and celebrating his life

For the cohort for safe travels to and from spring retreat

For the YWCA staff as they look forward to completing

the Twiyubake program

To the God of All Creation We Pray