On this 22nd day of the 30 Districts Expedition, I am traveling from Kirehe to Kayonza through Lake Nasho. Before I share my experiences in Kirehe, I need to express my gratitude to Eagle View Lodge and Gorilla Home Stay for their involvement in Exposure’s Give Back initiative.
Earlier this week, the two partners donated books to the Association des Guides du Rwanda (AGR) for the benefit of the youth residing in Gikondo and beyond. Donated titles include Memories, The Akagera Expedition and Six Hours in Accra.
I wrote Memories while stuck at home during the 2020 lockdown, instituted after the outbreak of Covid- 19. It is a recollection of my Temberu Rwanda experiences between 2017 and 2020. The Akagera Expedition highlights my epic adventure inside the home of the Big Five. Six Hours in Accra, on the other hand, is a detailed description of my half-day tour in the capital of Ghana.
These donations came when I was in Ngoma District. I rushed to Kigali to deliver them and returned to the Eastern Province shortly thereafter. While at AGR, I spared some time to interact with the beneficiaries and give them words of encouragement. In addition, I answered a myriad of questions about my adventures and what Africa has in store.
I also played basketball with the youngsters. After the game, I participated in a shooting contest dubbed "Shooting is the name of the game." The objective of the drill is to show participants the need to keep shooting regardless of the outcome.
In real life, we miss some shots and make some. Sometimes we miss several shots in a row. Other times, we go through what we call a "shooting slump." A slump is a prolonged period of subpar performance. Whatever happens, we keep working on our shots and don’t stop firing. We don’t shoot 100 percent. We don’t shoot 0 percent either. One thing is certain: We miss all the shots we don’t take.
This was a basketball drill, but its lesson goes beyond the game. The shots we took symbolize job applications, pitch decks, proposals, tender bids, and other forms of presentations. Make or miss, we don’t stop trying. We keep shooting.
In her concluding remarks, Miss Sarah Uwase, Managing Director of Eagle View Lodge, encouraged the beneficiaries to read more. While urging them to take full advantage of free access to AGR’s sports facilities, she also emphasized the importance of using the community center’s library. As the saying goes, reading is to the mind what exercising is to the body.
As mentioned above, I am on my way to Kayonza through an intriguing off-the-beaten-path. While in Kirehe, I revisited the past and put history into perspective at the Kakira Cultural Center. In addition, I visited Rusumo Falls and learned more about the Kagera River. My memorable experiences in this enchanting district will be shared right here. Stay tuned.
