Finishing up

This past week was our final week of teaching.
We decided together that we wanted to have our final week in Rwanda be commitment free so we could choose to do whatever we wanted, or felt we needed to. So unfortunately we had to say goodbye to our wonderful Senior 2 family.

(Kabuga is making changes for the better! They are building a library, buying text books, and have made a new sign)

Our class was momentarily interuppted by Vincent Karake and a few of his student helpers. He was stopping in to distribute some of the supplies that HUHS brought over, as well as some things that we donated.

Each student recieved two pens, a pencil, and a fork.

They were all really excited about it, and we were happy to see that supplies were being distributed in an organized and fair way. Kabuga High School is definetly on the rise.



For the rest our last class, our students finished up their "after" tests. We gave them the same test back in February and will now be able to gauge their improvement. Afterwards, they had written and prepared plays to present to the Harwood students when they visited. However, because of the circumstances, they were not able to meet the students or perform their plays. But they wanted to perform them for eachother anyways.

One of the plays was about two of the students getting married and a traditional wedding ceremony. It coincided nicely with the last day, as we brought in a "wedding" cake that also celebrated out final day.

There was also dancing, and a lot of laughing.




Although we were sad to leave our students, it was a wonderful last day. They all wrote letters in their notebooks for us, thanking us and telling us to return as soon as possible. We truly hope that other students from Harwood/VT WILL return and continue to build the relationship we have started at KHS. Although we had our ups and downs, the students were always there, smiling, laughing and eager to learn. They made our experience very special and we know we will never forget them. As they say, not only did we teach them, but they taught us.





Last week we also recieved a phone call from one of our former students at Girimpuhwe Association. He said that they wanted us to come back to Girimpuhwe one final time.

When we arrived (although not all of them) our students were present with Fantas and and gifts for both of us. They gave little speechs about us, thanking us, and telling us we must come back. As we know, and they know even more, they all have very little money. They said it was hard for them to buy even these small gifts but that they hoped we could be happy anyways, because it came from their hearts. Of course we couldn't have been more touched or happy or proud of our students.

So we had a week of goodbyes, but not forever. The connections we made are strong enough that we know it's not possible for us NOT to return. Our students have made that clear, and so have our hearts.