My address here in Kigali is below. I believe you have to send through airmail, which I am assuming will be pretty expensive. Feel free to send me a letter but please don't spend too much sending it.

Centre des Jeunes Gatenga
B.P. 468 Kigali - Rwanda

So today was my first day of formal teaching on my own. It went pretty well dispite the fact that most of the kids don't know English. Well...to be more correct that don't know/understand "American". They can speak and understand what they call "British" and just have a really hard time understanding English when Americans speak. But, classes went well and it seems they students did in fact learn a few things.
Last Sunday we were actually invited to two different soccer matches, which we found out after the fact. We ended up going to a game played by some of the students that board here at the school. I was very supprised when we showed up and they handed me a jersey and told me I was playing. I tried to politely decline a few times but they weren't having it. We played a pretty good game and luckly pulled out a 1 to 1 tie with a team that was noticably better then we were. They want me to play again this weekend, but we will see.

This last week has given me a better idea of what I will be doing for most of the next year. I will infact be teaching computers...mostly an introduction to the machines that many students have never ever used before. I will be introducing a few simple programs like Microsoft Work and Excel and I hope to introduce AutoCAD to some of the construction students when possible. In the afternoons we get a chance to play sports with a couple hundred children. Students that attend the school along with many local children living in Gatenga, Kigali show up to the school and play mostly Futball (American Soccer), Volleyball, and Basketball. I really enjoy playing with the kids and starting to develop friendships.
After sports the students that board here (roughly 100 plus students) all meet near out residents to pray the rosary in Kinyarwandan. Although we only know very basic greating in Kinyarwanda, me and Mitchell join in and pray the rosary with the kids. Since we have started I feel like the students give us more respect and have become much more personal.
During our free time we try and learn French. A very nice German volunteer, Hannah, that lives in the same area has been a huge help.

Yesterday was Mitchell's brithday and we went out to a nice Indian restrauant. The food was excellent and I think Mitchell was very happy that we went. Also, a few days ago, a new volunteer, Deborah, came to the school. She is a psychologist and will help with some the of the students and local children. I am excited for tomorrow, Sunday. There will be a soccer match at the school between Gatenga students (18-20) and another local Kigali district. I hope all is well with everyone back home.

Hello all,
Mitchell and I have made it to Rwanda safely. The internet is somewhat avalible but a little slow. We have spent the last few days just observing what goes on here, and so far it's been great.
The Salesian community here is very active. We live on 27 acres of land, most of which is farmed. They grow many many different types of bannanas along with many of the typical fruits and vegetables like, peppers, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, eggplant... I believe I will be helped to teach computers, general knowledge and hopefully autocad to the students learning about construction.
A few people know english, but all the Salesian speak mostly French. We are doing our best to learn it. We will also hopefully learn some Kinyarwandan at the same time.
We went out the eat the other night and ate goat meat and potatoes...it was excellent. I will start to teach and play with the students here more on Monday and will update you then.

My Skype ID is "chstjoseph", feel free to try and chat if I am on.

Departure Day

The day has arrived. I will be leaving for Rwanda to spend a year working with the Salesians as part of the Salesian Lay Missioner program. I will be working with a fellow SLM, Mitchell, and working with children in the capital city of Rwanda, Kigali. My flight departs from JFK today, 9/2/2009, at 4:00 pm. Before arriving in Kigali at 9:00 pm on September 3rd, we will stop in Frankfurt and Brussels.
I am still working on wrapping up a few loose ends as I prepare for my departure. Please feel free to post comments and questions. I will also be more than happy to respond to any emails I receive (chstjoseph@gmail.com)