Now onto the last post: RWANDA!!! It was very hard for me to choose which photos to post because we spent just as much time in Rwanda as we did in Kenya… and it has a special place in my heart.  In my mind, because of the genocide, I thought the country would be more rundown, the people downcast… but that was so far from the truth.  There was such hope in the people, and the cities and villages were so beautifully clean and well taken care of (and there were NO POTHOLES).

Our first view at the country

Another welcoming dance party broke out at the church when we arrived… this lady was doing the coolest noise with her tongue!

The view from where we were staying in Kigali “Centre D’acceuil”.

I spent half the time in Kigali teaching some music seminars… the other half was spent in Gitarama at the orphanage site.

Once again, we were welcomed with music, dancing, and drama!

some beautiful orphans

my lovely mother

this is what you call A GRATEFUL SMILE.  Even when it is just a sticker on your hand!

The orphanage and my mom doing what she does best… painting.

We had a big celebration for the opening of the orphanage and hundreds of people showed up… You can see them heading our way in this photo.

View from the orphanage

a beautiful girl in desperate need of some shoes!

A few hours before this next photo was taken, I handed my journal over to my sister Amy and asked her if she remembered the words to a song that I had written. YES I had forgotten my own lyrics.

I just had a feeling that they were going to ask me to play/sing… and I was right.  Thanks to Amy, I wasn’t a complete failure

We worked alongside the locals

Back in Kigali… we taught them some basic english.

Here’s mom distributing some of the donations we had received

here’s Amy “mowing the lawn”!!!!! I should say “plucking one grass out at a time”!!!!!

I’m very grateful for this man who was with me all week long.  As I spoke at the seminars, he watched my camera gear and was SO kind to me!!

Here he is with his wife.

At the end of our trip… we headed to the genocide memorial in Kigali.  No photos allowed inside of course, but here’s a few from the grounds.

this flame never goes out in remembrance of all who were slaughtered and killed

As I mentioned before.  All the photos from my AFRICA POSTS are available on the website for purchase. Every penny will go to our upcoming Zambia trip.

I hope y’all have an amazing weekend!!  I’m spending my weekend with 2000 teenagers, then heading to B.C. for a few shoots.

I’ll be posting those photos later next week!

Mel