The Journey to Agahozo-Shalom

Saturday, 7:00 PM (Kigali Time Zone)

I am currently sitting on the plane as we approach the airport in Kigali! It has been a long twenty-four hours (give or take a few) of travel, but this most recent flight went by quite fast. Since the flight was fairly empty, I was able to take up three seats in the middle section and stretch out. I spent some time sleeping, listening to some music, talking my friends onboard, and learning Kinyarwanda. While I am not nearly at the level that I desired to be, I am happy that I do know some of the language, and even if my interactions with some people are simply greetings or questions, I still consider that relationship and joy.

We didn’t really have any problems at all travelling. None of our flights were delayed and hopefully all of our baggage will be at the airport when we get there. I also hope that we get through customs and security quickly, so we can start our drive to Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (www.agahozo-shalom.org). Most of us are already jet-lagged and this will last for a few days. I am still excited, regardless of how tired I may feel, because this trip promises to be something simply different. We will be doing construction and working with the students in their various clubs and after school activities. Our mornings will start early (around 6:30 AM or 7:00 AM). I will be sure to post a daily schedule once I can.

One of the most important aspects of this trip, to me, is this idea of community service, whereby the community does not necessarily just mean that we, as Yale Reach Out participants, are serving others in our community; rather, we are in community as we serve, an element of service that I believe to be incredibly strong and powerful. Energy exists when people unite to serve one another.

Hopefully I’ll write more about this energy as I experience it in the next seven days, during this service part of our trip. Meanwhile, the flight attendants are coming around and informing us that we need to put the tray tables back to their original position and our seats back upright… J We are almost there. Safely.

I took about 200 pictures today (most of them were of all of us in the airport and on the planes) and will upload some of them as soon as I can…definitely by tomorrow.

One last thing: The group as a whole also has a blog that can be accessed at http://reachoutrwanda.wordpress.com . Please let me know if that link doesn’t work for some reason.

I hope and pray that this trip brings blessings, growth, service, and love to everyone directly and indirectly affected by the interactions that will occur.

Thanks for listening and reading.

-ZOE

Ndagenda....

The beginning of a two-week experiences starts today. The first flight departs in the afternoon and I will arrive in Kigali around 8 PM, Kigali time on Saturday, March 6. It is my hope to write everyday. Please comment on anything.

Remain protected.

Part of a Writing

Love: An Orientation

What if love were real?
What if love were intimate and close?
What if love were here?

What if we had such a desire for rightesouness and justice that we no longer had to stop ourselves and ask "'O man, what is good?'" but instead were justified by this righteousness and compassion that it becomes simple. It becomes simple to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. It becomes simple to not look away from the homeless person in order to avoid giving. Rather, it becomes an orientation. Our orientation.

And, I don't just say our because it's in me or can be accomplished by one person alone. It takes a joint effort. People, coming together in unity, a community, acting as a symphony with one rythym and one beat as we take this message of love to the street...

Coming home in three days!

MJ?

I heard MJ died this week? This is a truly sad story. His words were so inspiring. Once I get back home, I am turning on the songs, "Heal the World," and "Will You Be There?" I would recommend them to everyone. Note the beauty of the key changes in his songs too!

Although his death saddens many, let us "Keep the Faith," as he says, and continue to dwell on the happy moments and happy times we all had while listening to his music in private and public, rejoicing in the beauty of his music, lyrics, and message.

Fear of the Unknown!

What is it about me that I so desire to stay comfortable? That I prefer to do things like I know how? To speak a language I speak well? To not talk to strangers? To spend more time in the doctor's lounge than on the ward floor or in a patient's room (lately, after ward rounds I have been complacement and just remained in the doctor's lounge instead of trying to stay around where things are actually happening)?

I feel like I'm in the third grade again...in Mrs. South's class...and I just got back an english test grade and I need to get my parents to sign it or else I won't get the two points extra credit....or I'm in the 7th grade and I need some extra credit in a class and I have to go ask the teacher, but I'm scared too...b/c I'm afraid...afraid the teacher will _____. Exactly. Nothing. She won't bite my head off....She won't physically attack me...What will she do? Say No? Say something that in the end will probably only help me? If I continue to stay comfortable, then how will I truly learn? If I'm not willing to choose boldness and choose action, then how can I be a healing hand or a hope for anyone?

There was so much potential for this trip. A lot of it was seen and used. I feel, though, that after the first week or two, I leveled off...that is...I hit a standstill because I became comfortable. The good thing is there is still more potential to learn more these last 7 days. I head back to Atlanta next Thursday, and then back to school the following Monday. When I get back to the hospital tomorrow, I hope that I apply what I've said here to the environment. I could be applying it today, but I became pretty sick yesterday and last night...and so I couldn't go to work today. Things are looking better now and I should return to work tomorrow.

Our actions can be so powerful, but only if we choose to act. Our words can be so powerful, but only if we choose to speak. We have the choice.

Love the Person in Front of You

Sorry for the lack of continuation on the last post. I am almost out of time again at the internet cafe, and so I will not be able to finish. I did want to write something and that was just the title of this post: love the person in front of you.

It's true...there is so much wrong in the world. So much death, persecution, oppression, sadness, suffering, false hopes, lost hopes. But there is also hope...hope in the work that we can do. That hope can lead to action (and in turn life) if we choose to love the person in front of us. It takes more than one of us. It takes all of us.

If we can become a community of healing and loving hands, then we will, like Michael Jackson says in his song, "Heal the World," "together cry happy tears."

In a hope that comes Today,

Zach