home at last

Fri. July 10: 

The second bus ride of this African trip had its advantages as well as its unfortunate points. 

Highlights (and the lowlights):

+3 of us shared 3 seats.  Novel concept.

- Dust flew through the windows by the buckets full, but the heat prevented the other option

+ lots of Bumble bars

- the bumps on the road kept my stomach lurching and book hibernating

+ quicker border crossing

- picked up random people along the route who might have had a seat

+ we arrived with time in the late afternoon to do visiting

- bus was still 9.5 hours!

The first bus ride provided me more material for pondering as it was new, but the thoughts that dominate this day happened after what in other circumstances would have been the end of any productive functioning.  Instead Jami and I met Robert from Base Choir who took us to the African Children’s Choir Primary School.  Here we were greeted by kids from Base Choir and about 100 other kids who range from grades 3-7.  This is when I knew was home not only from Rwanda but in Africa.

Robert drove us down the drive of the school which just moments before furnished the pitch for a small soccer game, volleyball practice and random running and playing of students out of school for the weekend.  I wasn’t out of the car 13 secs when children plowed me with their hugs.  Oh my, the kids have grown in statue, beauty and mostly maturity.  With the onslaught of my kids and several others I remained trapped by the car, telling stories intermixed with hugs and hearing reports of everyone’s work in school or the sport’s field.  The bell rang for snack of sugar cane so we migrated to the chopping table to prepare the cane for eating.  While Brenda readied some for us, Mark, Rita, and Peace gave Jami and I a tour of the school and boarding house.  How proud they were of each floor whether it was their classroom, devotion room or rooms.  Each girl wanted me to see/inspect their beds which I gave a fair rating.  Some had just done laundry and decided to fold the sheets in odd shapes like letters or big pieces of hard candy.  So silly but perfect.  Home for them in every way. 

We grabbed some sugar cane and told more stories and answered questions about other aunties and uncles.  I heard great reports from the older ones, many of whom have taken leadership positions at the school as head prefect or sanitary regulator.  Martie has grown so much in stature- his muscles are hugs and voice deeper- but the mind and soul of this one pleased me beyond belief.  I asked him what he was learning and he answer with leadership.  Since he’s an older boy in the school, he has taken a big brother role.  Such a position has caused him to make hard decisions maybe against his selfish desires but surprisingly fulfilling for him.