Road to Rwanda---Contacts from Long Ago

 I am so so touched.  We just received a phone call from Alberta, Canada.  (We are currently with Peter in South Carolina.)  It is from Clement Sitima.  Clement was an 8 year old boy when we served in Serenje, Zambia from 1981 to  1984.  His father taught at Malcolm Moffat Teacher's Training College where we were assigned.  His mother was one of the head teachers in the local school system.  They were neighbors to us and dear friends.  Clement remembered that our vehicle had an MCC marked on the side of it.  He called Mennonite Central Committee and MCC contacted us with his email address and phone number.  He has been in Edmonton for 15 years, has 4 children, and owns his own construction company.  He specifically remembered that Rick gave his camera to Clement's older brother who made extra cash through university by taking pictures. We don't necessarily know what the spiritual impact was/is, but at least cross cultural personal contact was made. What a special, special affirmation of friendship and meaning of what we hope for in ministry: to be part of the memories of an 8 year old boy for more than 40 years and it meaning enough for him to contact us, and to be able to say "God bless you" within that context.

We are coming to the end of a very long summer.  We leave for Rwanda at 6 p.m. on August 7.  We fly to Newardk and then New Delhi (No idea how India gets us to Africa? Have never done that before.) Then Ethiopia and on to Rwanda.  Pray for the long upcoming trip.

We have not written much this summer.  It has just been busy and tiring and fulfilling with LOTS of traveling: Rwanda-SC-MA-PA-TN-MN-AZ-SC-MA-PA-SC.  Wonderful times talking deeply with friends and family, but we are quite tired (and fat) and ready to go back to our teaching at Virunga Valley Academy.