rwendo

It's been three days since our team returned to the states from our time in Zimbabwe. After some rest and processing, I'm finally ready to sit down and share with you my two cents on our journey, or in Shona, our rwendo.

I hope to gradually share with you the more intimate details of our trip, however at this point, I'd love to start with my initial feelings coming home.

When we arrived in Zimbabwe, I had no idea what to expect. I was anxious to go into a new place, make some changes to their lifestyles, and then leave after only a few days. As we talked at the end of the week though, once we'd experienced everything in it's full glory, we came to understand that what we were doing was infinitely greater than just painting a few buildings and moving some new furniture in.

We met a new family. The first night we spent in Zimbabwe was with the church of a pastor connected through Lover's Lane and through his church in Zimbabwe, Pastor Chris. As we sat down to eat our first meal together, Pastor Chris introduced everyone and explains to us his hope for our team to discover "the part of Zimbabwe that is warm". And as we looked around us, sitting at the table together was not two groups of people that had just met, but a family that had been reunited.

I struggled to journal about my experience when I got home. For a long time my journal sat open to a blank page on my desk. I discovered how difficult it was to process such an overwhelming rush of emotions and thoughts. We came home weary and relieved to be back, but also heartbroken to leave the place we now called home, and I didn't know which emotion to feel the most.

This week I will be sharing my (many) stories in a series of blog posts, and I hope that you get a chance to experience those memories with me. Maitabasa --- thank you for all of the many prayers our team felt as we journeyed and for all of the warm welcomes we've received since coming home.

And as always, thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Blessings,

Jenna