Beautiful Sunset

I wish pictures could capture just how beautiful a place can be. The panoramic view that is our daily background, is really stunning. Amazingly enough, some times you forget the splendor because of the business and daily trifles you put up with. Really though, the view from our little room here is breathtaking. We are doing what we can to take it in.

We have spoken a lot lately about contentment. It seems as though in life we are prone to always be looking ahead, to think of future pleasures or things we will enjoy down the road, in different circumstances…. I suppose it is a form of escapism, thinking that what lies ahead will be better than what we have right now. Obviously that is not the case, as living in the future, is just a sure way of missing out on life, period! The struggle in learning this simple life pearl is that sometimes the present condition is difficult, challenging, and overwhelming. But I should have recorded my excitement before this trip and listen to myself being so jazzed about returning to Africa and the field of work which I love and feel most challenged by. I think that challenge can be overwhelming here. Either way, I am taking in the view with my husband and being so very thankful that we are here in this country at this time, experiencing what few will ever experience, and learning invaluable life lessons.

We spent a quick 36 hours in Bujumbura to get a breather from the clinic. As creatures of habit, our first stop was Khana khazana, where we ate for three hours and were then unable to move or sleep! It was great to debrief over our week, as when we are up at the clinic we literally have no privacy, as even the walls are filled with holes! Actually, our wall crumbles a little bit each day and we have to clean up the debries off our bed to sleep…. : ) We had great conversations, laughed, and just enjoyed being in one another’s company. The rest of the weekend we walked around town doing little errands and trying to not get mugged. For some reason it was a busy accident weekend in Bujumbura and we saw many car/motorcycle collisions as well as a few street fights between angry passer-byers. We got a few copies of the newspaper that has a big picture on the second page of Kenton and I welcoming the Vice President on his visit here… definitely keeping that for the memory box!

We are back at the clinic now for the week and have decided to take a little personal break next weekend for 10 days to clear our minds and take in some of the beautiful sights all around us. I think we will head to Rwanda and trek up along Lake Kivu, and maybe hit southern Uganda if all goes as planned. We received our first packaged from a sweet friend of mine at PIH and we ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED the contents! Amazing how just a little bit of comfort food from home can lift the spirits!