Final Reflections

Thanks to all of you who made this trip possible! It was an experience of a life time. We had a nice balance of work and exploring and learning about the history and lives of the people of Nairobi and Bujumbura as well as the opportunity to share with and teach them. Hopefully, we made an impact on the lives of those we met.

Day 18 Final Day in Africa

8/11/07 Saturday
Laurie made us a big breakfast—eggs, muffins, and fruit. Then we watched a video of the famous African drummers.
We were able to get on the roads at 10am because we were going to the airport, so we missed the morning rush. We arrived in plenty of time.
We flew first back to Nairobi, Kenya where we had a long layover and I had a chance to practice negotiating for purchases. From there we flew to Paris, France for another long layover. We had lunch in the airport and it cost about $50 for 3 sandwhichs, 2 desserts and 2 bottles of water. Then to Washington, where we had to rush through customs in order to make the next flight, back to Chicago! I arrived back on 8/12/07 in the evening. What a trip!
Photo 1 Bob & Laurie (we stayed with them)
Photo 2 Lanette and a friend (library workers)
Photo 3 The Airport
Photo 4 An African Avocado
Photo 5 The last negotiated souveneir

Day 17 Rainbow Center

8/10/07 Friday
We worked in the library again this morning. Then we went to the Rainbow Center to visit the orphan babies. There were only 3 there that day. Many of the orphans stay with families who bring them back to get food. We went back and had lunch then worked our final few hours in the library. We had dinner that evening and then had devotions and spent the rest of the evening packing and preparing to return home. There were several roaches in the house this evening and the cats were going crazy. I was glad not too have seen that many previously as I didn’t sleep well that last night.

Day 16 The Animal Park

At the animal park we saw snakes, crocodiles, and birds. We watched as they fed a gerbil to a python. They told us for $3 they would feed a goat to the crocs. There was also the traditional African hut that we were able to go in and see what it looked like, as well as a museum with African artifacts.

Day 16 The Drive

From the Naturelle Reserve of Rusizi we drove to the animal park. We passed the lake and the refugee camp.

Day 16 Naturelle Reserve of Rusizi

8/9/07 Thursday
We again worked in the library all morning and accomplished a lot!
In the afternoon we went to the Naturelle Reserve of Rusizi to see the hippos and crocodiles. We had a guide and a guard with a large gun to escort us on our trip.

Day 15 Sister Connection

8/8/07 Wednesday
We all worked in the library this morning for several hours. Grandma did a session with the widows and then the rest of us joined around 12:30 to learn more about Sister Connection and how it has helped these women and their children. After the husband dies, the widow and her children are left with no support system. They are no longer part of the family. So $30 a month provides for a family or $500 builds a house. For more information: http://www.sisterconnection.org/index.php
That afternoon we did some souveneir shopping.