Day 17, Part 1: Goodbyes and Gifts

Our last day of teaching at the Learning Center was less about teaching and more about celebrating. There was some dancing, there was some speech-giving, and then there were lots of pictures.


And suddenly, our time in Rwanda was coming to a close. But one more thing to do - give out the rest of the dolls. So we went to the Women for Women compound, to give dolls to the babies of the women in the program. Back at home, the dolls looked like this:

But in the hands of women and babies, the dolls looked more like this:

They were much more alive. I do not doubt that they will be loved and treasured and cherished for years to come.

Lovely L. had also given us a group of hand-knitted baby hats, which we distributed with pride and which were received with gratefulness.
Then, hands and hearts empty, we returned to the orphanage and spent our remaining hours reflecting on our time and zipping up our suitcases, full now of gifts and souvenirs.