So anyways, this is JustDrew reporting in (I appologize to some for a few things I may say that may not make sense, because if you don't understand it is entirely possible it may be an inside joke or something with that Cedar Grove team that was here). I appologize as well that it has been so long since I have been able to put a journal entry up here. I know I said Id have them more regularly, but there have been internet issues. Let's leave it at that. This is Africa and there are always issues.
The main stuff that I should talk about,... let me see. Well I would like to say hello to the Cedar Grove Baptist Team of about 15 people that was here for three weeks. I got to work with them everyday almost for like two weeks, and honestly I kinda miss them, and playing Settlers. That is seriously a killer good game. We fully put together this playground by the new church at the school that is being built called Wellspring Academy. One day I will show pictures on here and with my newsletters I send out. It is a gorgeous playground definitely.
So perhaps more than about that stuff maybe you are wondering why I am calling this time the summer crunch. Well let me tell you: First, I have been here for two and a half months, and am just now getting my work visa stuff put together. I need to have my work visa by the time I have been here for three months and three days or I will be fined 20,000 Rwandan Francs (which is about $40 Canadian) and I will get fined that much again every month following until I have my work visa, so that is some really important stuff that needs to get done soon. Why have I left it this long you say? ... Miscommunications and misinformings and other similar mis words. Let's leave it at that. I'm working on it now alright?
Next is of course the Kids Extravaganza that is coming up, which is basically Vacation Bible School (aka VBS) at Kigali CLA. But this is going to be really big, because we have this hugely popular and well known guy named Doug Horley of England coming for a couple weeks, and He is hugely popular because he does Kid's ministry things like this all over the world. He is the main guy leading this week long event. So I need to be working like mad trying to help promote and prepare for this event, as we want as many kids to come to it as possible. It starts on August 8th, so time is running a little thin now. Why have I not gotten to this sooner? ... I'll quote the same reason as before... I'm starting to get the hang of things now though, two and a half months later, so don't judge me.
Also of course there is the whole fiasco (Im not fully sure this really is a fiasco but how often do you get to use that word?) of my neighbors leaving on the 26th of July, then my moving into their house soon as they leave. Of course this is the same day that Doug Horley and his family is flying into Rwanda and naturally they are staying at my house. So that all adds a bit of crazyness right there. But what could make this more interesting still... let's see... how about we throw in a way over the top energetic young dog who needs a lot of training into the mix. Now that is a recipe for a great and entertaining story. Alright yes I have that too. I was talking with my friend Sarah who is here, and she said she has this young dog named Simba, and she is not particularly enjoying having Simba around because Simba is young and has entirely too much energy, and also her room mate Nicole is allergic to dogs. I was just talking randomly saying that a dog like that would be perfect for me, especially since Gary and Cindy (my neighbors) are leaving. Well anyways after a bit of conversation about all that, I ended up getting a dog. Won't that cost me a bit? No worries I asked about that right away because I can't really afford to have a dog and pay for it's food and all. So Sarah said Simba could stay at my place and she would still pay for the food. So that is pretty awesome. Except that Simba is indeed a little more to handle than I was expecting. I will most certainly be doing some training with the choke collar today I thinks. I will only have her for a week or two for now though because on July 28th I am heading to a camp called Kumbya which is right on Lake Kivu in the west. I am going with most all the missionaries in Rwanda, and it will be about a week long or so. Of course this is just another exciting element that adds to what I think I can appropriately call the summer crunch.
So to all of those of you who were dissapointed when you found out my acting career might not take off to me getting to be more than a stand-in, I come with joyous news! Last monday I got a call from Claude (one of the head casting people) and he asked if I wanted to help with the movie on Wednesday. Of course I said Of course. So I got picked up on Wednesday at 3:30am, and got to the studio at 4, where a couple hundred of us took off in buses for Ruhengeri. That is an area of Rwanda that is North West from Kigali, almost to the border. It was an hour and a half drive. This huge crew and myself were all there all day long, and I got to be an extra as a photo journalist. At first I just had this tiny little spot where you can see me in the background, but now in one scene just before that, you should actually be able to see me in the middle of the shot as I take a few pictures then walk away up this hill. So there we go! I'm finally on film! It was bound to come sooner or later I suppose. So, everyone go so 'Shake Hands With The Devil' when it comes out, and cheer and yell like mad when you see me on the screen!
So that is most everything for now. I have not gotten many emails from anyone other than my mom and the financial people at the PAOC, so, feel free to email me anytime . That is for everyone. Honestly they make my day. So go ahead and make my day. Email me. I will need it while I try to enjoy my big bowl of summer crunch. I'll send out a newsletter soon I promise! Bye for now and God bless!
