A restful weekend

This past weekend was great. They were the first days since I've been here that I really had nothing in particular that I needed to be at or get done. Saturday morning I slept in (does 7:30 count as sleeping in?) and then went to a market down the road that sells mostly food products and fabrics. One great thing about Kigali is that it's really easy to find inexpensive fabric and then find a seamstress who can make you whatever you want out of the fabric - skirts, purses, computer bags, etc - also inexpensively. It was my first time at this market and I was a little too overwhelmed by colors and patterns to actually buy any fabric, but it was fun to look around and see the possibilities. Saturday afternoon was spent reading and hanging out with the students at the house.
Sunday morning I went with Aryn to the large Anglican church in Kigali that she attends. It offers an English speaking service that attracts many American and UK citizens who are in Kigali. As I stood there during worship I was overwhelmed with the realization of how much I had missed corporate worship over the last couple weeks. It was so refreshing to be in the presence of God with other believers that way again. After church my friend Rachel and I went downtown to a coffee shop/restaurant called Bourbon to eat lunch and read. This Kigali based chain has actually recently reached the states and it has a very Western feel. While it feels like cheating the African experience to visit Bourbon too often, It's a nice break once in a while. We also visted a craft co-op downtown that features a lot of beautiful African jewelry and souvenirs for really cheap. I'm sure I will make several more trips there while I'm here.
I also had today off thanks to a Rwandan public holiday. This morning I continued my shopping spree and went with several girls to Amahoro, a Christian organization that employs women who might not otherwise have income to sew all kids of bags, clothing, bed spreads and other items which they sell in a shop on the premesis. These women are incredibly talented and had alot of beautiful things.
After lunch today, all the students along with Aryn and Kate left for Giterama, a small town about an hour outside of Kigali, where they will be for the rest of the week. The empty house made for a nice quiet ending to a relaxing weekend.
I am excited for another week of learning about the city and the people of Rwanda. My prayer is that as I go through this week I will also feel a strong sense of God's purpose and direction. Often times short term trips like this can feel very self-centered. I get to learn so much and I am working for an organization that does so much for the Kingdom but how much can I contribute in such a short time? I know that God has a specific reason for my coming here and I want to feel that reason and purpose even as I go through my work in the office here and interact with the people I come into contact with.