Last Wednesday Mark, Griffin, and I went on quite an adventure. Griffin is the new Tour Manager for Ishema Hotel and is going to do amazing things for the tourism in Rwanda. We wanted to try out some of the activities available so that we can have a better idea of what to suggest to our visitors. Our day started out going to a Community Walk in Musanze. They walked us through the village and explained what the community would have looked like during the time of the last king in 1959. We dressed up and the warriors danced for us in the king’s hut. Then we visited the medicine man and he showed us different healing plants. I ground seeds and the boys shot off bow and arrows. We were given traditional drumming and dancing lessons and had such a wonderful time meeting the people and learning about their culture. They are so generous with their time and so inviting to their guests. We then drove out to Lake Barera to look into boat and fishing tours. We ran across a little restaurant and decided to order some food. As is typical in Rwanda, we had to wait a very long time for it to be prepared. In fact, they actually had to catch and kill the animals that they were serving us. In the mean time, we played with the little children that were swimming and fishing on the shore. You’ve never heard such contagious laughter. It was surreal to be surrounded by an area so untouched by western culture. Most of the boats we saw were dugout canoes and the fishing rods were just strings tied onto sticks. The restaurant kitchen was outdoors and the luckier rabbits were still hopping around outside. They pulled a crude wooden table and some beach chairs up on the shore while we ate. It was incredible!! It is moments like these were I look around and I am overwhelmed by the Lord that we serve. And humbled at how beautiful His creation is. I don’t believe that anyone can come to Rwanda and not feel God’s presence here.

All of our Borrowed Talent Blog about their experiences. Read their profiles and follow them by visiting, http://www.bridge2rwanda.org/get-involved/borrowed-talent/.

 Rwandans call them “borrowed talent” The media calls them “social entrepreneurs” People of faith call them “a new generation of missionaries” You can call them “an investment in a better world”

This January, Bridge2Rwanda is sending a group of energized – ‘20 somethings’ – to make the largest on ground support in the history of the organization.

Peyton Greenwald, a recent graduate from the University of Arkansas will be moving to Rwanda in January 2010. Peyton will serve Bridge2Rwanda as an IT advisor and tutor at Sonrise High School.

After graduating from Clemson with a degree in Secondary Education/English, Kelly Simpson traveled to Tanzania to work in an orphanage. During her trip, Kelly came to meet the B2R team in Rwanda and a seed was planted. After returning to the US, Kelly decided to join Bridge2Rwanda and will be moving to work at Sonrise in the ESL program.

University of Central Arkansas graduate, Kat Watson, will be moving with the team in January. Kat will serve directly under our Country Director Tom Allen, using her skills to host teams and individuals coming to Rwanda with Bridge2Rwanda.

Griffin Richards will bring his education and experience in hotel service as a volunteer consultant to the Ishema Hotel. Tourism and customer service initiatives are a primary focus of the Rwandan Government . The Ishema Hotel is located in Musanze which is a tourist destination for those traveling to see the Silverback Gorillas in the Virunga Mountains.

These individuals will join our current team in Rwanda.  This Fall, Bridge2Rwanda sent Anna Reed and Mark Darrough to serve. Readers can see their stories firsthand by following their blogs.

Interested in knowing how you could serve Rwanda, check out our job board or follow Bridge2Rwanda by signing up for our E News Letter!

 Donate or check out the profiles of team members by clicking here.