Home from Rwanda with Love and Joy in My Heart
Lillian and Grace in Umutara, a little village in the eastern province of Rwanda
My heart is so full, I don’t even know where to start. I promised myself I would give myself a few days to just rest and sleep and reflect before diving into stories and pictures, but I wanted to let you all know I am home safe and sound after an amazing trip.
I thought I was going to Rwanda to bring hope and a little bit of encouragement, but the truth is I am the one who will never be the same again. Being in that little village, in that little mud house, sleeping with Odette’s daughter Lillian in my arms on one side and Odette’s mother on the other (and 13 other people in the tiny room beside), I experienced kindness like I have never known in my life.
I’m having trouble even speaking now that I’m home. This experience in many ways was seamless for me. I did not feel any culture shock or discomfort or concern of any kind, even when everything about the circumstances screamed that maybe I should. Instead, each day gave way to a growing sense that I was being passed from arm to arm like a newborn baby–the love and care expressed by Odette’s incredible family was so total and complete. I walked away, after days and days of no thoughts or thinking of any kind, with only one idea: that if I spent the rest of my life caring for this one family and making sure every girl born in that village had everything she needed to start and finish school, I could die an incredibly happy woman.
I could say more, but I want to soak in every memory, every moment. So many stories and a thousand pictures coming soon.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
jen, i am so very glad you got to take part in such a special journey like that. just hearing you talk about it makes me tear up with joy and great heaps of hope. a hope for even more wonderful dreams to come out of this, many amazing moments to be had
blessings and love. that pic is BREATHTAKING, the purity and wisdom in those two beautiful faces is ..wow.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Welcome home Jen! I am elated that you are back and that all went well. You have been so in my thoughts the last week.
Veronique
May 29th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
So glad you are home safe… and so moved
by what you’ve already shared. I’m so excited
to hear stories…
love,
a
May 29th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Where did the time go?? I have thought about you while you were gone. I’m so glad that Rwanda felt like home to you. You’re words are beautiful .. already. Looking forward to more magic to come. Take your time. We’ll be waiting.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
It sounds like your calling found you….
May 29th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Welcome back home! I’m very much looking forward to seeing your pictures and videos and reading your thoughts.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
It’s good to have you back safely. Can’t wait to hear the stories.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
My heart and soul are already moved by your story here. Oh my, Jen. Oh my.
Welcome “home.”
May 29th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
welcome home seems the wrong thing to say, because it’s obvious you *were* home. welcome back. I hope re-entry is no bumpier than it need be. I can’t wait to hear it all.
xoxoxoxo
May 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
DEAR JEN!
How good to hear this first bit of your heart.
I understand and am so thankful.
Don’t rush yourself…let it soak in.
with love
Kelly
May 29th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Jen,
Our travels always change us in some way, but there are some experiences that leave an idelible mark on our heart and we realize that the breadth of our soul is vaster and deeper than we ever thought possible. I too had a journey like this while travelling in Laos, ten years ago.
Odette must feel like absorbing every cell of you…just knowing that you held her dear daughters (and they’re so gorgeous!).
Bask in the glow of this beautiful experience!
May 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
My god, those girls are so unbelievably gorgeous.
Welcome home. Looking forward to reading about what you have to share.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I thought of you and prayed for you often every day of your journey. I have checked your site frequently over the last couple of days to see when you’d let us know you are back. I am soooo looking forward to hearing and seeing more. Bask in the glow of a new adventure embarked upon - as you well know, it’s not nearly over. Live it. Love it. Feel it. And continue to grow as a result of it. May your spirit soon catch up with your body.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
you are peace, jen lemen. true, glorious peace.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
welcome home. so thrilled for you and to hear more stories as they unfold..
xo
May 29th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Crikey! I’ve got tears in my eyes already.
So very very thankful for you.
xo
May 29th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
they are so very beautiful…so much oozes from that one photograph. i wish i could reach through and touch their faces.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Oh my goodness, I had a feeling this would be a profound experience for you. I’m glad for that and can’t wait to hear more of your journey.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Welcome home and Mazel Tov!!!! My mama self breathes a happy sigh that you are home to your beloveds safe and sound.
I support you in taking the time you need to be with it all until what you’ve gathered is ready to rise to the surface. No rush. No worries.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
welcome home jen and we can’t wait to hear all about it and see through your eyes!
xo
May 29th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Sometimes we have to go a very far way to find ourselves.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am
A wonderfully inspiring story … I hope you keep living it and re-telling it.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:25 am
amazing Jen,
I too am returning from 2 weeks of travel and my heart is full and hope filled reading your words of experience being with Odette’s daughters.
So much love and light being sent your way and across the miles to surround these precious angels.
Love * Peace
Mb
May 30th, 2008 at 1:29 am
I lit my “jen lemen’s in Rwanda” candles the whole time you were gone! I can’t wait to hear the stories and see the incredible pictures. you are amazing!
May 30th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Waiting. So glad you’re home safely and fully blessed.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:25 am
welcome home jen.
i knew this trip would leave a carving on your life’s slate. like you said you will never be the same. saying you would die an incredibly happy woman if you spent the rest of your living days caring for that family says it all.
i am so happy you have been blessed beyond measure and we know that you being with them has blessed them too.
looking forward to hearing more about this incredible time shared with odette’s family.
xo
May 30th, 2008 at 4:29 am
wow! so good to hear from you. the world is a much smaller place than anyone realises. the more we travel the more we arrive where we always were. you are a very special person, jen.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:42 am
They are beautiful, you are beautiful and the whole beautiful excursion and generosity of spirit time and finances by you and others make me teary and happy. Beautiful. Beautiful.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Welcome home. Welcome home. My heart filled up reading that. You knew you should go. We knew you should go. It was a good, good thing.
May 30th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Welcome back, Jen. I’m glad you had a wonderfully nurturing time and can’t wait to read more
and yes, they are GORGEOUS!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 6:42 am
I wanted to add, they have their mom’s beautiful smile
May 30th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Glad you are back safe and shining with it all…My beloved middle child is in Tanzania for 3 months, building a school there and, even amid all the “cool” of 18 he is being touched and changed and challenged.
Longing to hear more when you are ready. Blessings xx
May 30th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Welcome home, my love. So relieved to hear of your safety. Give yourself a little savasanna time–rest well.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I am so happy to know you are home safe. And that your trip was a blessing beyond measure. My heart has been with you these past several days.
Thank you for taking such a risk. And for sharing your experience with us through words and pictures. It is possible that you may never know the tremendous, far-reaching impact your actions will have.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:29 am
How happy you are, indeed.
How amazing you life turned to be after meeting one special person at a playground… Enjoy.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Welcome home girl. If we could all muster the courage to do even the tiny things wouldn’t the world be a better place? You are amazing. Blessing on what you have done and what direction that this experience will give you the rest of your life.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:58 am
What beautiful and heartfelt words.
Carmen
May 30th, 2008 at 10:17 am
It’s so interesting to see the difference in the photos of this post and the previous — beyond the obvious of cool tones to warm, the difference in their faces. The tentative smiles replaced by full beams, shining eyes.
Can’t wait to hear all the stories!
May 30th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Welcome home.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:39 am
So glad you’re home safe and sound with wonderful stories and memories in your head and heart. Can’t wait to hear about them, but I completely understand your need to marinate first.
Take your time.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
jen, you felt at home because your heart can be at home where love lives and love lives in that little village in rwanda, in that family and in the lives of those little girls. i am so full of love for you at this moment…for the love you carried to them and the love you carried back from them.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Welcome home dear friend. You are an inspiration beyond words.
Many hugs.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Africa,
the smell,
the ground,
the people,
get’s into your bones
and become
part of your soul xx
May 30th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
welcome back, and thank you for letting us share in the joy. so glad you were blessed as you were a blessing; i’m sure it’s only the beginning of a new amazing-ness!
May 30th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Welcome home. In more ways than one.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
welcome home !
May 30th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
You know how you feel right now? That’s how you make other people feel. It is a gift to know you and a blessing. Thank you for what you have shared and will continue to share with us about this adventure (and all your other ones.) You are a jewel in our lives.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Welcome! Will devour your stories when you are ready to put them out there!
May 30th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Cannot wait to hear/see more.
Blessings.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:37 am
Welcome home…
May 31st, 2008 at 5:07 am
Thanks for the hug Jen.
May 31st, 2008 at 5:41 am
Wow Jen, I got all teary-eyed… clearly you are doing what you are meant to be doing… bravo! Thrilled the trip was so fufilling and safe (and safe feeling, too) - can’t wait to hear all about Odette’s amazing family and village. Such beautiful girls - you can see their soulfulness just shining from within - what a delight!
Take good care, Cate
May 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am
mmmm… I can’t wait to read and see more! We loved the zine here. My 5 year old son wants to take it for show and tell to school. He thought it was a great story, and a little bit sad. I’m glad to have my copy and some to share.
May 31st, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Jen…I am so glad to see your photos and hear your stories from your trip. I cannot wait to here more. How is Odette doing?
June 1st, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I’m still reading… moved by your story of late.