Cheers, Rwanda


05 June 2010

Fin

Well, the adventure as I have known it is over. I returned home on Monday afternoon, and it is now Friday. Recuperating takes a long time and many forms. I'm exhausted by the culture here. The biggest shock was leaving Kigali and ending up in Dallas. You could hardly create a greater disparity of cultures. The trip home was full of small events but nothing too life-changing. Except that I gradually realized how much I would miss my friends with whom I had shared the time and experiences. They are the only people in the world who have those things in common with me. A couple nights ago, I had a dream that we were all hanging out together.

Being home is great, but just different from before. I can tell a new season has arrived, and I'll have to get used to it and figure out how I am now supposed to live. I can hardly believe this whole thing happened, and I would not trade it...although it was difficult knowing I missed my sister's last track meet and my friends' wedding. I am so grateful to God for calling me and sending me and taking me and teaching me and humbling me and stretching me and carrying me and protecting me and loving me. Rwandans asked me not to forget them, and not to forget Rwanda. With all that is in me, I will not. To do so would be to lose a part of myself. I want everyone to know and to remember.

Thank you for reading, praying, and supporting. I hope to be able to converse with you in person about Rwanda, and I hope that one day you also will love her or maybe move in that direction. :)  Thank you very much, murakose cyane for sharing in this journey with me. And as they say in Rwanda, 'Bye!'