After many months of dreaming, waiting, preparing, praying, list-making and talking, the day has finally arrived.  Very soon I’ll be heading to the airport and beginning the long voyage east – and east – and south – and south.  Friday at 2:30 am (local time!) I’ll arrive in Kigali, Rwanda for the first part of my trip.

How am I feeling?  In a word – ready.  Many of you have played a big part in my preparations – thank you so much!  For the last few days I’ve been impatient, literally to just get underway.

Of course it has not been easy to say goodbye.  I know things – and perhaps even people – won’t be exactly the same when I return in five months time.  Significant events will take place without me – my niece’s wedding, the birth of my first grand-niece, the 90th birthday of Craig’s mom.  My dad will continue to age (and forget).  And other lives will move along as they always do – without me being a part of, or even knowing, the details.

But this is truly a dream come true for me.  What an experience that I am privileged to be able to have!  To have the opportunity to really live, immersion-style,  side-by-side with people in rural Kenya?  To teach in a local school 10,000 miles away?  To live in a place where values, priorities, and all facets of day to day existence are so different than here?  I am indeed feeling very grateful and blessed to have this incredible chance to learn and to grow.

Will it be easy?  no.  Will it be fun?  not always.  Will it be life-altering?  ABSOLUTELY.

So thank you to all of you for journeying along with me.  The next time I write I will be in Kigali.  Imagine that!!

Until the next time,

Cathy

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