By Emily Ford
Gustavus Trip Participant
So we are all back home, and most of us are getting back into the college life of classes and such. Getting off the last flight felt great especially after 24 hours of basically straight flight. So did seeing my family! It was fantastic to see my mom and my sister at the bag carousel (of course my sister had a hot cocoa waiting for me as well). Tears of joy were shed and home we went! After washing many now red colored socks and trying to stay awake, I surrendered to sleep and dreamed for many hours. The rest is history and now I am back at good ol’ Gustavus Adolphus College.
Jetlag has hopefully worn off for everyone and we’re now hopefully returning to a normal life. Wait, normal? Normal… nope, no such thing anymore, the new normal is abnormal. I must admit, it’s good to be back for me but I know that many things are different. I’m not sure if I can quite express in words the way that things have changed for me but I guess I’ll do my best since one of the most frequently asked question is, “So, how has this trip to Rwanda changed your life?” Well, hmmm I guess the easiest way to say it is that I just can’t look at people the same way anymore. I have spent an entire 22 days loving people in crazy ways, people that I know well and others that I never knew and may never see again. Now that I am back here I can’t just see a person and think nothing – now all I can think is how can I love them? How does God love them? How do/can I show this? It is hard, I must say, because with little kids I can pick them up and flip them over my shoulder and kiss them. Now, if I did that to some random person at school or on the street I think I might be arrested. So God is showing me different ways (thank goodness) to love. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for us while we all begin a new journey in the states. The Lord is good and abundant in so many ways that I cannot even begin to imagine!
Thank you to everyone that has been following us through our blog and for praying for us you have truly blessed us all!
Unfortunately, Emily’s socks are a little worse for the wear and bleach doesn’t help. They’ll have to be great reminders of lots of hard work and a job well done!