9 to go!

A short little note for today :)


Today was a big day in my life of preparation for Africa. I am officially going to Africa in less than 10 days! I can't believe it! For months I have prepared, told everyone that I was going to Rwanda, learning more about the country... and now it is finally here. In nine days I will boarding a plane that will take me to Chicago. From Chicago, I will be traveling to Brussels. Then.... Brussels to Kigali.

If any of you are curious as to where I might be when... here is a peak into the flight schedule!

Monday - May 6th

• Leave from Minneapolis, MN at 2:30 p.m. Arrive in Chicago, IL at 3:55 p.m.
• Leave from Chicago, IL at 5:40 p.m. Arrive in Brussels, Belgium at 9:00 a.m. (Tuesday)

Tuesday - May 7th

• Leave from Brussels, Belgium at 10:50 a.m. Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda at 7:00 p.m.

This will be my longest flight ever, and I am eagerly awaiting this adventure. 

I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly nervous, because let's face it.... I totally am. It is going to be so much fun though. I'm a little nervous about the flight, and missing my loved ones and their big life moments, but I have been blessed to have such an opportunity as this. 

This afternoon I spent and pretty solid chunk of time hanging out with my friend Brittany, who is also going on the trip. It was reassuring to know that she was nervous/freaking out as well, and we had a great afternoon of lunch and Starbucks to talk things out, quadruple check our packing lists, and talk about the life changing journey that is quickly approaching. I can't wait to see how we both cope being so far away from home, but also to see how this trip changes the both of us as we are going into our senior year this upcoming fall. 

Well, I should probably go do some more packing. I love you all, and can't wait to share more within the upcoming days and my journey. 

Love,

Leah :) 

So close, but yet so far away...

15 days. Wow. I really can't believe it. 

Today we had our last group meeting to divide some of our supplies up, and to just go over a few last things. It just seems so unreal. I have been able to tell people that I'm going to Rwanda, and now it is happening in 15 days! 

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't freaking out. Let's be real... I totally am. But, with this, I know that things will be ok. As it reads in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  He is in control of everything, I have nothing to fear. I am so glad that I can put all of my burdens, my fears, my uneasiness into the hands of the Lord. Everything will be ok! It will! 

I have really worked on preparing mentally the past few days. I will move home in two weekends, pack my bags, say my goodbyes, and then leave. I think that is what I am most uneasy about. Saying goodbye to my family, my boyfriend, and my friends will be so hard. I will be able to email them every so often, and perhaps skype them once or twice, but 6 weeks is a very very very long time. I know that I will not be alone though. In church today, we heard a sermon on Mark 3: 20-21; 31-35. For those of you who might need a refresher, here is a link to the verses. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A20-21%2CMark+3%3A31-35&version=ESV

 One aspect of the sermon that hit me was the point that God's family is open to all. Whoever does the will of God is someone who is in my family. Those who trust and obey the word of the Lord are my sisters and my brothers. Although I will be 7887.7 miles away from my "blood" family, I will be in the presence of my family in Christ. Wow. It really hit me. At the time where I was worried and stressing, the word that was preach was exactly what I needed. This started to excite me even more for my trip. I am so curious to see how those relationships will be formed, and I can't wait to see what this journey does for my faith and my relationship with God. 

Although these last 15 days in the United States will be a bit stressful, busy, full of packing, tears, and goodbyes, I need to remember to give it all up to God. Matthew 6:31-34 says, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Time to go do some packing! Love you all, and will be in contact soon!

-Leah :) 

(p.s. Does anyone have any awesome book recommendations? At night we will have some down time, and I am a big reader! Let me know!)

30 days!

Hello everyone!

I hope you had a splendid Easter break. I know it has been a few weeks since my last post. I have been really busy lately with trip preparation, Easter break, and working through my education practicum. Life has been spinning with excitement lately, and the countdown to my trip keeps getting smaller and smaller. I am officially about a month away from departing, and the excitement is evident! :) 

Like I said before, I have been working through my education practicum, which I have loved! I am currently with a class of 4th graders that I work with every day. They are full of curiosity, joy, and a crazy large passion for life. They ask me daily about my trip, and multiple students have asked if they could come with me. My school kiddos want to know what I am doing every day on my trip, but are also begging to know what the kids over in Rwanda are like. 

The passion for learning that my students have make me excited to see what the kiddos in Rwanda will be like. I think that the love for learning students have, and their natural curiosity serves as a way to communicate. It is almost as if there is an unspoken happiness that comes from students, especially the younger ones, and those relationships can just grow and flourish through time talking and teaching. I can't wait to make the connections between the kiddos in Rwanda, and my fourth graders here. 

Education is something that I am so passionate about in life, that really propels and drives me forward in life. I can't wait to see how this trip will also change my views surrounding education, and how I will use these experiences in my future classroom with my future kiddos. :)

If you would like more information on education in Rwanda, feel free to check out the UNICEF website. Here is a link : http://www.unicef.org/rwanda/education.html Who knows, maybe some day I will end up back in Africa teaching :) Only time will tell! 

Hope all is well!

Love, 
Leah :)