Newman Observer: renewed state of mind: Heart Check

My heart is filled with joy. In Rwanda more than anywhere else I have been, the focus is on developing relationships. It has been absolutely wonderful to get to know the gardeners, the guards, local nursing students, the patients, the hospital staff, and the fellow missionaries. I have been here for not even five full days and I already feel at home. Not only am I surrounded by beautiful landscape that reflects God’s wonderful creation, but I am also surrounded by beautiful people. I love the huge smiles on everyone’s faces.

The only blip in my journey so far was yesterday--when we walked down the Igishigishigi Trail (sweet name) through this beautiful rain forest in the Nyunge National Park and true to its nature, it rained (literally poured) on us for the first hour of the hike. I wore a rain jacket and thought that it was waterproof, but the rain soaked through four layers of clothing and drenched my phone and now it does not work. It is currently in rice and I am hoping and praying very hard that it works because if it does not I am without a phone, I lose my ability to text other people, my camera, my notepad, my music, and my connection to the rest of my friends via Instagram and Facebook. Also, the children love to take pictures and see themselves in the pictures, and they love it when we take selfies.

To blow off some steam I decided to run. I started to run on the dirt road outside the compound, and when the dirt road turned into the paved road, I continue to run. I greeted every person we passed—by saying Amakuru (how are you) or mwiriwe (good afternoon) or muraho (hello). Each time I greeted someone, their face would light up. Everyone here is so friendly! Up ahead I saw a Rwandan in athletic clothes stretching and looking like he was about to run. I motioned for him to join me and start running, and we ran for 40 minutes up and down in the mountainous area. Two younger boys joined wearing flip flops joined us (and kept up with us the whole time—in flip flops!). The boy (Immanuel was his name) spoke some English and from what I gathered was in college studying secondary education. It was awesome to run with someone else!

From the hills above us, I could hear cries of “muzungu” and swarms of children would line up and look at me and point and scream! I was quite the spectacle for free reasons:

1. I was white (or muzungu) 2. I was a white person running 3. I was a white girl who was running.

I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time. I kind of felt like they were cheering me on (like at the end of a race when cheers from the crowds help you get to the finish line).

This run gave me a huge change in perspective. Here I am complaining about a broken toy—a luxury that I am so lucky to have—when I am surrounded by people living in poverty. And they are so happy just to see me. Reality hit of how spoiled I have become and how much I take everything I have for granted—when I am surrounded by people who are so thankful for every small thing that they have, and they cherish it.

This is also a lesson to stay in the moment. I am in Africa—I need to be fully present here and really soak in the experience. I may have been physically in Rwanda, but a part of me was always checking in on the rest of the world. So from here on I vow to live here and enjoy every moment, and every blessing that God has given me. I hope to be able to spread the joy that I feel in my heart.