The Little Ones

Hello my dear friends,

I'm really hoping all of you are doing well! I miss everyone a great deal and (although I've said it many times) truly am reminded every day at how blessed I am to have such amazing people in my life. Thank you for being you!

Well, the day has come... the last day of school was today. It was such an odd feeling. I remember talking with Milijana and Naomi in the middle of our time here about how hard it would be to say goodbye to these children. They have become our 'babies' if you will. They greet us, they hug us, they chase us, they bug us. They laugh with us, they laugh at us, they drag us to their classrooms, they make funny faces at us. They make us dirty with their rowdy-ness and lack of care about the huge amount of dust on their playing ground. They bring joy to my life. They have taught me so much and have truly stretched my heart to grow when it comes to learning how to love all children. Moment of honesty here, prepare yourself: at the beginning of my placement (mind you, I was still overwhelmed with everything, tired and hungry ALL the time, so that probably added to this emotion)I thought to myself multiple times a day, "Wow.. I really don't like kids." Don't judge! These children were terrors at the beginning! However, now it seems that the ones who gave me nightmares have wiggled their way completely into my heart and are the ones I was most fearful of saying goodbye to.

I tried for no tears - really, I did. I knew I'd have to come to Rwanda just to turn around and say goodbye. A big part of me was really scared that I wouldn't make an impact in their lives the way they have made in mine. However, their tears showed me otherwise. Many of them clung to me as if they wouldn't let me go. "Teacha, you come back to visit again?", "Teacha, who will teach us computers if you are gone?", "Teacha, no, you can not go. You come back next term!" Each phrase made my heart tug in many different directions.

You may never fully know how big of an impact you have on someone until it's time to say goodbye. I pray that this isn't the last time I see these kids - that I can come back one day and laugh and play with them again. You may also never fully understand how big of an impact you have on someone else's life ever. And that's ok. I embrace the impact they've had on me and trust that if my spirit and personality was warm and gracious to them they'll have taken what they wanted and learned what they wanted to learn.

I wish my words could do justice as to how I'm feeling about it all. I wish my smile could do justice to how joyful I am that these children were in my life - in my memories forever. I wish my spirit could show just how significant of an impact they've had on me. I guess you'll just have to see it for yourself when I'm home (which is in 3 weeks and 6 days).

I know that this is my second last blog while in Rwanda - probably even in Africa. I leave my new family and new home on August 2nd and take off for Uganda bright and early that Tuesday morning. Our travel plans go as follows and I tell them to you so you could pray for safety, protection, health, growth and laughter:

Bus to Uganda on Tuesday and spend a night or two on an island in Lake Bunyoni just inside the border. We then bus to Kampala to spend a couple days touring the markets and whatever else fancies our interest. Followed by another bus ride is Jinja where the TRUE Ugandan excitement lies! Whitewater rafting in the source of the nile, possible quad-bike riding in the jungle/along the river, bungee jumping if my budget and fears allow (don't tell mumsie), and whatever else our adventurous sides call us to. Step 2: boating to Tanzania. We're aiming to catch a ferrie to Mwanza, crossing Lake Victoria, and possibly stay a night there before we bus to Arusha. Arusha will be a complete free for all as our main aim of Tanzania is to make it to the Ngorongoro Crater - animals GALORE!! Which means safari! Finally! I've been craving a safari since the word 'Africa' was in my vocabulary. After a couple days in Tanzania and accomplishing our safari we'll be bussing to Kenya to check out the Massai Mara National Park, the tribe, more animals, markets and experiences. I'm pulling out my rebellious card and skipping my Kigali flight to Kenya - we're taking the long way and just catching up with our flights in Kenya after we've traveled. By the way, did I mention this is all done by backpack? We'll be carrying three months of our lives on our backs while traveling East Africa. I don't mean to sound excited... oh wait, yes I do! Be excited with me :) These plans aren't set in stone and I predict many of them will fall through, however, something new will arise to fill the gap.

That is all for now my friends!

Thanks for the love and prayers,

-Steph