Umuganda

Umuganda is the coolest concept I have come across in a long time. Today was Umuganda in Kigali. This happens one Saturday a month here, and what happens is everyone is expected to work for the morning doing community service. The shops are all closed and everyone gathers to work in their community. The police are out in force and if they see someone driving around, they will flag them down and they will out the people to work right there. Could be picking weeds, smoothing a dirt road, whatever. Some tell me that really what happens is that this is 99% social and only 1% work. Either way, I think it is very cool. Most muzungu's do not participate however. Too bad.

As a result, today was another low key day. We hung around the house in the morning and went downtown in the afternoon, however, most shops were closed - a side affect of Umuganda. So we didn't really do much there.

Tomorrow we will go to the Vineyard again. It will be great to be there as we were not expecting to be there twice. Then Monday off to Immigration to try get passports done.

Other than that, nothing much going on. I miss our kids at home tremendously and wish we could all be together.

Blessings.

-dale