"justice is what love looks like in public"

Will's post is coming soon, but Lauren and I wanted to share a mini-post.  When we can, we try to build in some loving moments before bed (for example, sharing the letters you wrote for your child at the orientation meeting...they loved these, by the way :)  Tonight, as Matthew led a powerful class on the role of education in teaching peace or conflict, we wrote a short story about the trip. The trip story dove-tailed with the activity Matthew led wherein students worked collaboratively to write a new myth of national unity for the USA.  

A disparate group of individuals came together with a shared passion for Africa. Full of enthusiasm, they set off ready to unleash their energy upon the Bright Continent. They traveled first to one of the most beautiful places on earth where they bore witness to authentic joy. They discussed powerfully, painted thoughtfully, and shared openly. They entered the land of a thousand hills with ready heads and hearts. They met with a variety of change-makers and they were able to consider how to themselves be changed by what they were experiencing. Umuganda* forever redefined community service for this group. People are impressed with the diversity they represent. People don’t even know the half of it. They are not only diverse in the way they look, they are diverse in the ways they think, the ways they speak, the values they hold, and most importantly, in the gifts they share with the world:

Alex:  courageous connection

Andrew:  integrity

Chiara:  introspection

Clara:  compassionate assertiveness

Eden:  imagination

Emmett:  leadership

Griff:  intellectual curiosity

Indie:  love

Jack: openness

Jassiem:  joy

Matthew:  critical engagement

Mikala:  depth

Philson:  humor

Rama:  bold voice

Will:  soul

Wrayzene:  authenticity

They are not without their growing edges, but they are growing together. And if they have learned from anything from Rwanda, it is that we are always stronger together.

*Everywhere we go, people are talking about Umuganda!  They ask excitedly if we attended and are overjoyed that we shared in what everyone agrees was a special, almost unprecedented, Umuganda.  The ripple effect of the day deepens the unity we experienced with Kigali and within our group.  

with Joy Ndungutse--founder and CEO of Gahaya Links Helping Hands Intl.  There is no better example of the quote that justice is what love looks like in public.  We experience this everywhere we go.