The last three weeks in Rwanda have been a whirlwind of adventure and learning and fun. What follows are three vignettes and a bunch of photos. Thanks for reading!

Meeting Zelda at Shooting Touch

We are all born into our stories, hatched into a world of more stories, all of our stories weaving together, some stinging like fire ants, others birthed in the territory of easy breathing. I can strip myself down to bones and skin, just be an animal in the orchard. I was born. I breathe and look and smile and cry. Zelda walked into the mines and dug for tungsten. Her husband died of respiratory failure. Their five children are growing. Zelda has found a new job and now she laughs. Her hands move like joyful birds as she speaks, and her eyes shine. She lives in a mud home she shared with us. She has one pig and three chickens. Her dress is a flood of color. Her sweater is yellow. She seems like a sun.

Humans visit Gorillas

It is a long way to get to them. Planes, cars, rugged roads, and rows and rows of potatoes and a stone wall to climb. Machetes sound like music, flashing in the sun as they weave through trees. Mud clings to your shoes. This is traveling back to the garden. Speaking of Eve, you will believe in wildness and not know where you are going but still go. There are bamboo tunnels. There are some days when all you do is move your legs and listen and see what might be gods.

Family Time at Agahozo Shalom Youth Village

It is perhaps the apex of a visit to ASYV. The mamma in each of the 24 families is a Genocide survivor. She cares for the children in her home (24 boys or 20 girls) for the entirety of their four-year experience. Ben & I and all the visitors (5 groups of Nobles students and 3 adult trips) we bring always attend at least one of these amazing hour-long evening rituals. It can be filled with dancing, singing, skits, games, seriou, important discussions or all of the above. Last night the mamma was helping her 24 boys understand what they can control in their lives and what is out of their control. Each boy weighed in. So much truth was unveiled. We can’t control illness, death, the beliefs of others. We cannot control time. Yet, there is so much we can do in our lives to stay on the course we want to be on. We can control our anger, our behavior, our forgiveness, our decisions. Even after making mistakes or experiencing failure, we can regain control. I learn so much in this village. As I was leaving after all the hugs and goodbyes, one boy wanted to ask me a question. “Is there a better word for what you are?” he asked, “You were introduced as a ‘visitor’ but visitors come one time and go away. You keep coming back.” This is the tenth year we have been a part of ASYV. This young man and I tested out a few new words and decided that Ben and I are ‘returners’. How amazing to make up a new word with someone just learning English. I am constantly inspired here.

Stay safe everyone.

Love,

Sarah