Vanderbilt in Rwanda

What a great past couple of days!

Tuesday evening I had the pleasure of meeting Lindsay and Justin Miller, Nick Gordon and their parents in Rwanda for some delicious Italian dinner! After a Care for Aids trip, they made their way over to Rwanda to visit the gorillas... and I got to see them!

Wednesday I had the pleasure of spending the better part of the day hanging out with the Millers (SO odd but awesome to call them that now. I have to say it is tempting to still call my friend who was once Lindsay Johnson "Big Johnson" or "Big J," but no longer (she's tall, people).

Lindsay and Justin are the first married couple from Vanderbilt, so it was so fun to drill them with questions about the past eight months of their marriage (and drill them I did!). I just chilled with them in their hotel room pretty much all afternoon. College flashback, but it was just so great to lounge with them once again. It had been too long.

It was so fun to hear about the best part, the most surprising parts, the difficult parts, the funny parts, etc. The best part of all was just to hear about how the first eight months of their marriage exceeded their expectations. Needless to say, it was unbelievably encouraging for me to spend time with them and hear about their experience. With about two months left before I go home, I am in the HOME STRETCH before it's wedding time. But being with them made me giddy with excitement thinking about the journey that John and I are about to embark on together.

Two more months. I cannot believe it! Then I will be home and it will be another month before the wedding. Sheesh!

Lindsay asked me if me leaving Rwanda would be bittersweet. I responded, "no, I'm pretty pumped to go home" and we all laughed. I will never regret the decision to come to Rwanda. It has been such an unbelievable experience. I have learned so much about development, created precious and lifelong friendships, learned more about God and myself than I thought I would, and learned more about loving those around me -- the poor and the non-poor.

However, I'm just ready to marry John! Nothing against my time in Rwanda, but it's just time to be with him!

Two more months till I'm home. Chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo! I can make it through.

Still growing, still changing, still learning. Still loving it. But will love being home too!
Love,

Rachel