Today we started the day by visiting the women who have joined together for support after the genocide. They are mostly widows and HIV infected women. They are poor and eager to learn skills to earn their living. Mark Shields, on our team, has developed a business plan and all of us have contributed to the development. This afternoon we visited the local market to buy material for sewing bags. We plan to donate money for sewing machines. They only have one at the moment. There were at least 50 women in the group. At the market, we entered the fabric and sewing area and we saw women using old fashioned machines with no electricity. Also, they ironed with heavy hot irons, again without electricity.

I start my art classes tomorrow. I may be teaching most of the day. The art teacher has fixed a room for me and he is very willing to help me. There are no art teachers in the schools here, and there is no painting here. Sonrise is the first in the country to have an art teacher. His name is Gabrielle and he is on the committee to write an art curriculum for the country. I am thrilled that I get to work with one of the pioneer artists in Rwanda.

I brought a large suitcase of art supplies and some art books. The project I am hoping to get going it to paint images that are "something beautiful from God". The role model is Georgia

O'Keefe. Gabrielle has never heard of her and was fascinated with the book I bought. She is not my favorite artist, but she certainly had a way of taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary! I pray that some of the children's imagination will be pricked.

More later. We are all having a wonderful time and enjoying the community feel that one gets here. We feel united as a team. Praise God.