Murabeho (good-bye) to Rwanda!

 Tuesday, September 25, 2007

With a good night’s sleep under our belts, we decided to venture out today for an adventure at the open air markets that are so common here.  Donna and Gertrude struck out on a bus, along with Gertrude’s son, John, to the bank and exchange money.  Pastor Eugene took the rest of the team on a driving tour of parts of Kigali that had never seen before.  Our plan was to reconnect with each other at the market.

We had a wonderful time, going in and out of stalls, buying fabrics, baskets, crafts, jewelry.  The Rwandan market is fun and interesting.  We were fortunate to have one Rwandese with each muzungo (white person), so bartering and making purchases went very easily. 

We wrapped up the shopping with a nice lunch at what could be Rwanda fast food.  It’s the same food we always eat, rice, meat with sauce, peas, and potatoes, but the restaurant is buffet.  We saw lots of other muzungu there too, more than we have seen all week!  This meal was the setting for another unfortunate hot pepper incident.  The name of the victim is being withheld to protect their dignity. 

The women spent their last few hours packing up the treasures we purchased at the market, freshening up and saying good-byes to Gertrude’s children. 

Right on time our driver, Gilbert and our friend, young Jean Claude, showed up to take us and our luggage to the airport.  We stopped by the EPR office to pick up Boyd and Eugene and were surprised that so many people were there to see us off.  A quick guess would be 20 or more.  They caravanned with us to the airport, where more people were waiting as well.  Another quick guess is that probably about 30 people were there altogether. 

Through tears, hugs, and kisses, then more tears, hugs, and kisses, we waved our way off into the maze of security at the Kigali airport…no longer able to see them. 

It was dark when we crossed the tarmac, once again on a warm Rwanda night, this time going instead of coming.  We looked straight up at the full moon, and realized that when you’re that close to the equator, the moon is straight up over your head, not above the horizon as we see it. 

Another memorable time has passed.  More progress for our Rwanda Partnership.  More friends made.  Once again, an experience of a lifetime.

Murabeho (good-by) Rwanda!