a nature bath

One of my favourite places in Rwanda is Nyungwe Forest. It is about 1,000 km2 

of pristine rain forest. It is rich with ferns, ancient moss covered trees and every shade of green, providing a visual feast. The air is beautifully clean and fragrant with earthy smells. The only sounds are various bird calls, rushing water and rustling of bushes from monkeys. Nyungwe Forest is a refreshing nature bath after Kigali.

Daniel, Luke, Yvon and Michelle in Nyungwe

We are now settled into the Top View Hotel on the western edge of Nyungwe Forest and are preparing for Christophe and Solange's wedding tomorrow.

Yesterday was very special.  Michelle has been bringing soccer equipment and clothing to the Black Eagles soccer team in the Gisenyi area. Soccer is played all over the world, often by children with bare feet who kick around a ball made from tightly rolled plastic bags. 

home made soccer ball

Michelle spends much of the year accumulating supplies and staying in touch with the team by e-mail. She filled more than two hockey bags of gear for the team. The community gathered to receive the equipment and to watch a demonstration game - Black Eagles vs the fishermen from Lake Kivu.

Opening the bags

Daniel. Luke and Emmy warmed up with some of the younger kids. The field is on the shore of Lake Kivu. It is definitely not flat! Sometimes the ball goes into the water and kids swim out to retrieve it.

Daniel playing with the kids before the game

 Michelle with her team. Black Eagles in white, fishermen in blue. All jerseys from Michelle.

Michelle and friends

Many of these photos are from Yvon. He is going to be the official photographer at the wedding tomorrow.