The Journey Thus Far

While in our last year (spring of 2007) of university at the University of Lethbridge, we became involved with an Alberta based organization called Ubuntu Edmonton, an amazing organization that seeks to help victims of the 1994 genocide re-capture their livelihood and economical sustainability ( http://www.ubuntuedmonton.org/ ). While acting as co-presidents of a university club called Apprenticeship For Humanity the club, on the insistence of a club member, JoAnna’s sister, Christina, asked Ubuntu Edmonton to be the charitable cause behind our annual black-tie gala. Through the gala we met two of the organizations founding members, husband and wife, co-presidents, Jean and Igor. While chatting with Jean and Igor we described our wish of travelling the following year (after getting married in September) and someday seeing Africa. “Why not come to Rwanda and work with Ubuntu?” Igor exclaimed. “Yeah, that would be great, we’ll consider that for sure!” Alex said (meanwhile thinking “Ha! Funny stuff, yeah right”) trying to end the conversation and appease the guests. Soon, after wrapping up the gala we began talking and very quickly a “small-talk” type comment made in passing in an attempt to create conversation had become a hard-set plan… we were going to Africa in the summer of 2008.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Fast-forward a full year and half and we’re about to board a plane, destination: half-way around the world! On June 26th at 8:55pm we’ll be boarding a plane from Calgary to Paris, landing in Paris at 2:00pm local time the next day. After landing we’ll then board a train destined for Brussels, Belgium, spend the night in Brussels and then again board another plane to Kigali, Rwanda. We’ll then spend 6 weeks in Kimironko (a suburb of the capital) volunteering with the organization in one of their many worthwhile projects aimed at helping the town’s most vulnerable, the widowed and the orphaned. Following our six weeks in Africa we will have a small respite in Europe and then head home. We hope to keep updating this blog throughout our time in Africa and Europe so check back for updates on what we’re up to and how things are coming along.

Before taking off we also have to thank all of our friends and family. Thank you for all your support (emotional, financial and otherwise), your prayers and well wishes. There’s no way we would endeavor to take on such a big journey without so much support and love from our family and friends. We love you and will see you soon.

P.S. For more information on Rwanda read up at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda

Love,

Alex and JoAnna