So it begins...

We leave for the airport in about an hour, and all I can think about is how much good karma already envelops this trip.  Since the day we began discussing the possibility of going to Rwanda, so many people have contributed, in ways large and small, to making this a reality.  We can't leave without acknowledging those people who have significant ownership in this experience:

• Thank you to USN, and especially the administrators who, unprompted, decided that this trip was worth expending precious resources.
• Thank you to the Ensworth community, which has given Ellen so much support of all kinds in this endeavor.
• Thank you to all the people who have shared their time, knowledge, and experience of Rwanda with us.  Trust that every little bit of information has been invaluable in creating new opportunities and reducing our anxieties.
• Thank you to our families, who have swallowed (most of) their concerns about this adventure, and put on very brave and encouraging faces.
• Most importantly, thank you to Dr. Patricia Pasick, whose piece in the New York Times I randomly found while looking for news of Rwanda.  Her inspirational program, Stories for Hope, led me to believe that she would be exactly the kind of person who could give me guidance in approaching this trip appropriately, respectfully, and beneficially.  As soon as I contacted her, she immediately began introducing me via email (as "my new wonderful friend Matthew, no less) to her contacts in Rwanda, all of whom have been enthusiastically welcoming (a testament to her character and the relationships she has built, no doubt).  I honestly have no idea how this trip would have come to pass without her generosity, and I can't thank her enough.  Please learn more about Stories for Hope, and pass the word along.

We should arrive in Kigali on Thursday evening (their time, which is 7 hours ahead of Central).  So right around noon on Thursday in the States, throw on Toto's "Africa" and join us in spirit.