The next day, they were scheduled to visit a school. Val packed the soccer balls and air pump she brought for them in her backpack. She was excited to see the children’s faces when she gave them her gift. Based on how kind and curious the children had been so far, she was sure they would be thrilled.

After a two-hour ride, the van pulled up near a concrete block building with small openings for windows. There were a couple of small goats roaming outside but no children. The group got out, and Luc went to meet with the school administrators. The group went from class to class meeting the teachers and students. After visiting all the classes, the students were released for lunch. The ESAG group helped pass out the lunch of rice and beans, which Val realized was a diet staple for the students.

ESAG had been one of the nonprofits involved with building the school. It partnered with another group that helped get each schoolchild sponsored so that donors paid for school fees, clothing, health care, and food each month. Another nonprofit helped outfit the school with supplies and books and pay teacher salaries. ESAG continued to be involved in maintenance and other projects, like the well and latrines near the school.

Val loved handing out the lunches. She got to meet the students face to face and see their excitement about these strange visitors. Apparently, someone had told the students that there would be a soccer game with the visitors after lunch, and they were eager to beat these incoming strangers.

While the students ate, the group used one of the empty classrooms to eat their boxed lunches. Once everyone had eaten, the group used the air pump to inflate the soccer balls and headed to the field. The students were all there already. The field was a large patch of dirt with metal goals missing their nets. The teams were selected, and their opponents looked like stiff competition. Taller than their peers and with determined looks, these students were not going to let the group win out of kindness.

The ESAG group was as ready as they would ever be to face the kids. The children all loved the new soccer balls, and the new ones not in use for the big game were quickly taken by other students to be used later.

The game started innocently enough, but it was clear that the students were much better soccer players. They were fast and didn’t seem to tire or sweat like the ESAG players. The ESAG players were able to score a couple of goals, but it was after hard work and lots of sweating. The school team made scoring goals look effortless. It made Val wonder if they let the ESAG team score just to be polite.

In the end, the ESAG team was soundly beaten, 10-2. After the first game, the ESAG team was too tired to take on a rematch, so the children quickly drew up new teams and started a game amongst themselves. The group rested on the sidelines with the other students and watched the new game begin.

After an afternoon of games, they all were tired and sweaty but happy to have played a game that amused so many children. Those soccer balls would be well used and loved in the weeks to come.

The trip was half over. Val felt like time was flying by. The trip was already half over. For something she was so nervous about, this trip was passing at light speed. Val was glad she was keeping a journal. She never wanted to forget the people here and the things she was experiencing. This trip would provide her with memories of adventures for quite a while.

After coffee and breakfast the next morning, the group was scheduled to visit the brand new trade school in one of the larger communities. As the van drove out of Kigali, it stopped and picked up Adam from the ESAG office. He sat near the front, several rows in front of Val. He saw her when he boarded but didn’t make a move in her direction. Val watched him sit down and then deliberately stare out the window.

Jane was sitting next to her on the bus and must have seen Val turn away with attitude because she asked,

“Is that who you were talking to the other night?”

Val was surprised. “Yes. Did you hear us?”

“Just tiny bits. I saw what looked like a serious conversation from my window. I tried not to eavesdrop, but I did catch a little bit here and there,” said Jane.

“Oh. Yes, well, we won’t be having any more conversations outside your window.”

“It didn’t go well? That’s too bad. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” said Val. “I wish it had gone differently, but in the end, he wasn’t willing to try. He doesn’t think a long-distance relationship would work.”

“It is a long way. Had you been together long?” Jane asked kindly. Val felt a little relieved to talk about it. Val didn’t think she was being nosy, just caring.

“No, just two weeks. But it felt real, like more than a quick fling. I thought we could have been something.”

“But he disagreed,” Jane said. “Maybe it’s for the best. When Charles and I met, we went to different colleges. Neither one of us wanted to keep dating and go back and forth between our schools, and that was only a couple of hours distance. We kept trying not to be drawn together, but it didn’t work. We kept running into each other until, and eventually, we had to admit that we wanted to be together. We’ve been together ever since.”

“That’s what Adam said. If we were near each other, we could give it a shot, but it’s too far to try.”

“Maybe, maybe not. If it’s really meant to be, I think it will work out. If it’s not meant to be, then it won’t. Either way, you’ll feel it. You’ll know.”

Val agreed. Although she was initially stung by Adam’s rejection of her and their relationship, she was starting to think that this was for the best. While she was loving this trip and the things she was experiencing, she did want to go home. She couldn’t see herself living in Rwanda. She missed her family and friends, and even her job. Also, in the back of her mind, she missed Jared. Jared, her solid, stable, comfortable Jared who was willing to wait for her. She had a stirring of feelings for him that she couldn’t deny.

“Jane, how did you know Charles was the one for you? Did he light your fires and make you forget yourself when you were around him?”

Jane laughed. “Oh no. Definitely not that. I wanted someone dashing. Someone with presence. I fancied this one man on the rugby team. He was so handsome and brave to play such a rough sport. Charles was not my type by a mile. He was smart and clever. He knew what he wanted, and eventually, he decided he wanted me. As he tells it, once he decided that I was the one, he set out to prove it.”

She continued telling Val their story, and Val was spellbound. “I agreed to our first date to be polite. It went fine, though it was nothing special. When he asked me out again, I said I was busy. He asked a couple more times, but I turned him down. I thought I had fended him off when he stopped asking, but then he started showing up in places I didn’t expect. He took a friend of mine to a dance, and I saw him there. He came to see a football game at my school with a buddy of his and ran into me. There were a couple of other times that seemed innocent, but I was beginning to suspect otherwise.” Jane raised her eyebrows.

“Did you think he was stalking you?” Val asked.

“No, nothing sinister like that, but it seemed like he was everyone’s best friend all of a sudden. Everyone had something nice to say about him. It all sunk in enough that when he asked me out months later, I said yes. He had planned a whole evening: from a candlelit dinner to an evening stroll, even dancing. He had it all planned perfectly. I was impressed, and he knew it. He proceeded to sweep me off my feet with wonderful dates and thoughtful gifts. He went out of his way for me, and eventually, I only had eyes for him,” Jane said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

Jane’s story made Val think of Jared. This sounded exactly like him. He would be the one to go through so much trouble just to catch her eye.

“It worked. Once I graduated, he proposed to me. We were married that fall. It’s been 40 years together now, and I haven’t regretted a bit,” she said with a grin. “Charles has shown me the world. Treated me like a princess. Supported all my goals. I couldn’t have picked a better man.”

“Did you ever worry that you missed out by picking Charles over the exciting rugby player?” asked Val.

“One time, I did. I looked up the rugby player to see what happened to him. He married and had children, ended up divorced. He was a salesman for a while but bounced around to a few companies. Would he have been more exciting? Maybe, but he wasn’t the one for me. Charles puts me first. If I want excitement, Charles creates adventure. If I want peace, Charles calms the waters. He’s spoiled me more than I deserve.”

“Wow,” said Val. “That sounds amazing. I wish I could find that in my life.”

“You will. I think everyone can find it. It’s just about seeing what is right instead of what is exciting. It took me a while to learn that the best thing long term is not always the most appealing in the short term.” Jane patted Val’s arm gently.

“That’s so true,” said Val. “I struggle with that idea. What is the best overall, not just right now?”

“I just hope I have made Charles as happy as he’s made me. Not that it’s always been perfect. We’ve had our share of fights and hard times, but he is the one for me. That won’t ever change.” Val looked past Jane to Charles sitting across the aisle from her. He looked over at Val and winked. Val guessed he had heard most of Jane’s story and reading his expression she knew he had, indeed, been just as happy as Jane.

Val contemplated Charles and Jane’s love story as she stared out the window for the rest of the trip to the trade school. The story contained so much wisdom, and Val knew there were life lessons she could learn from it.