YAY!!!!

Well, everyone, it's been awhile since I've written on here.  So, yeah, time for an update.  This will be short but more is coming.  I'm up here on the island for the summer.  I started working at the daycare in Sister bay...about a twenty min. drive from northport.  It's been five weeks since starting and I'm moving around to all the rooms...all ages...to just see how things are run there.  It's quite intersting and I'm not sure if I could last more than two more months there.  Some days are just chaotic but the children are obviously, great.  I think I'm at the point where I'm just ready to be done with working with children hands on for awhile.  Two more months will be ENOUGH for me.  Plus, the ones I'll be working with this summer are toddlers...one year olds and that is the same age I had in Rwanda.  This is quite a different atmosphere though...not so emotionally draining.  It's not as hard in that sense but in other ways, it's crazy.  some days I just want to scream half way through the day.  Well, it's a good experience anyways and I'm glad I can see how children SHOULD be not only treated but just the life that they should be having.  It's good to see but also, I see how the ones here still have certain things that they are at risk with.  I won't go into that now but yeah....anyways...I have finally decided...with God's leading of course, where I'm going and what I'm doing this fall.  CROWN COLLEGE in St. Bonifacious, Minn.  It is about 20 min away from St. Paul.  So, yeah...I look forward to being one place for maybe three years intead of for three months..:)  Also, same friends...no saying goodbye after three months or two months.  I can invest and don't have to keep in the back of my mind the thought that I have to say good bye later.  YAY!!  Praise God.  What I'm praying for now is mostly just ONE close friend if nothing else.  That is all I reall do need...just one.  He knows what that one person has to have in order to be considered a close friend but hmm...maybe my roomie will be that.  who knows but I know he knows.  I am not going to continue going on and on for that much longer because it is about time for bed but whoever reads this, thanks for taking the time to do so and there will be more later.  Whenever I DO have pics, I will place them on here but my winter has been very intersting....isolated and dead.  I even was dead for awhile but God has refreshed me in his presence recently so yay to that and praise God!  I am still working on being in a realtionship with him everyday.  Here in the US there are so many distractions.  It's hard.  It's not easy to really focus on him when I want to be doing other things.  Other things seem so pleasent to my fleshly eyes but hmm...inside I truly do long to just soak in who he is and stay there for a long long time.  He's what keeps me going and hmm...I'm just seeing that more and more.  so, yeah, praise God even though I still struggle some!  He is never changing.  His character is the same....he is GOOD and  he is BIG.  He is more powerful than any earthly being or thing.  I will praise him no matter what because he is worthy to be honored and glorified!  Well, anyways, I hope that you all are having a great weekend and that your week is so blessed!  Well, see some of u in a week or so at Sam's graduation and if not then, well, give me a call or email.  It would be good to chat.  Love ya all lots and hugs all around..

At His feet,

Erin Uwimana

WHAT IS NEXT?!?!

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.  Proverbs 8:34

Special blessings are yours when god has your attention and you give God time.  He wants you to move on his schedule and at his pace.  He wants you to be at rest and at peace.  He wants waiting times to be growing times.  He wants you to be still and know that he is in control.  He is NEVER late.

Wait quietly.

Wait patiently.

Wait attentively.

He makes ALL things beautiful in HIS time.

(From God's Heart To Yours By: Roy Lessin)

This pretty much sums up what I am doing now.  I am waiting on him for what is next in my life.  I do not know but I have to believe he DOES.  I do not want to move without a peace on the decision I may make about anything.  I am an impatient human sometimes but he is just telling me that I need to look at what I have right now.  I have this rest time now.  I have family time now.  I have so much to be thankful for!!!  I sometimes find my thoughts drifing to the thoughts that are negative but that is when I just have to truly stand upon his word...that is where TRUE satisfaction and life lies.  Hmmm...may God bless you this day in whatever season you  may be in life!!  I love you all very much! 

Erin Uwimana

Hey,

It's time to update.  I have not done so in many months.  A lot has happened.  I flew to Switzerland after our time in Rwanda was finished for a one week debrifing.  That last week with the team (five girls), named the fruit basket went by so quickly.  It was helpful to talk about our time in Rwanda though and process.  I flew home on the 17th.  My family welcomed me at the airport.  It was great to see them...after nine months.  I was looking forward to christmas with them.  I now am here on the island, resting and doing different things to fill my time with.  I have many books I have been wanting to read, scrapbooking, playing with my cat Freckles :) and also time with the family.  I also hope to go to lunch with people here on the island and catch up on life.  Anyways, I don't want to make this too long because I want to put pictures up from the Mother Teresa Home (MY beautiful children), the team and others since being home.  If you want to know more about my experience, email me for I have all the time in the world to email others.  :)  I hope you all are doing great and had a WONDERFUL Christmas and Happy New Year.  May God bless you!  Lots of love sent your way,

Erin Uwimana

This is the poo crib in the baby room.  There were two of these lined up againt the wall.  The children would sit and wait for their baths.  It was not a place you would have wanted to stand by. 

One of the many babies in the room full of 40.  Her name is Trinita.  I fell in love with her!

My 21st Birthday.  The girls made me a wonderful breakfast..pancakes and I opened presents sent to me from my family.

This is my georgeous boy, Immanuel, my case study.  He blew kisses to me, we danced together as he held out his hand to me and laughed together. 

A sunset over the Rwandise mountains.  This was our view outside our house.

We were invited to this ladies house for lunch followed by a swim in her pool.  Karin came to the Mother Teresa Home where Vanessa and I worked.  She saw the need there and wanted to help.  Without even really knowing Vanessa and I, she invited us over to her house one weekend.  It was such a HUGE blessing for us.  We were able to relax and have fun.  God placed her in our lives and wanted to give us this.  Every good and perfect gift surly comes from HIM!  PRAISE GOD! 

My twenty six two year olds playing in the play stations I put together the last month of working there.  I spent the first four weeks of the five months working with them everyday and then moved into the baby room.  We had to place a project in place that would help with one of the needs we saw.  My grandma sent beanie babies over.

        Samie and I after the Christmas Eve service.  The braids were done by a friend in Rwanda and the shirt was made by a friend as well.  We were able to pick the fabric and then she fitted it to us.  She put a lot of work into them for all of us.  God is so good!!

Well, everyone, I have many pictures (about 300) but am not able to put them all up.  If you are ever on the island, I'd be willing to share them with you.  I love you all and hope your day and week are going well.  God bless you abundently!!

Love,

Erin Uwimana