JOURNEY

• March 1, 2023 – In a recent Leadership Development Workshop, we explored the question, “How can you make sure the pain of your past doesn’t determine your future?” What stood out and meant the most to you in this workshop? Esther said: “To make sure that the pain of my past doesn’t determine my future, I have to know the source and the causes of that particular pain so as to understand and be able to deal with the consequences. I need also to focus on my goals, working hard towards them and not giving time to anything that can take me back to the past.”
• September 8, 2022 – Esther discussed the biggest changes in her life since the end of the COVID restrictions: “Since the end of COVID restrictions, my life has changed through increased patience and flexibility, saving more than before, always being ready for any situation, and thinking big in order to come up with quick and effective decisions.”
• September 13, 2021 – Esther shared her favorite song and what it means to her: “I enjoy listening to a song called “Home” by the Gaither Vocal Band: https://youtu.be/4upmOSsboE0. This song reminds me — and always gives me hope — that no matter what I face, this world is not my home. There is a better home, one promised that I shall go to at the end of times.”
• July 16, 2021 – Esther shared what resilience means to her: “Resilience, to me, means the capacity to recover after difficult times.”
• March 1, 2021 – Esther said her biggest lessons from 2020 were: “I learnt many things from 2020 but the biggest lessons are these two: Firstly, I learned that I always have to fullfil my tasks/ plans while I can because we never know what tomorrow holds. I also learned to live with changes and make something out of them.”
• December 1, 2020 – I am studying Forestry and Nature Conservation at the University of Rwanda. My dream is to take a big part in protecting the existing forests and inventing new ones where they are needed. This goes with sustaining our nature through all possible means. Please give to These Numbers Have Faces’ Holiday Campaign and partner with me to make my dream a reality! Thank you so much. Tons of blessings to you and your family.
• July 1, 2020 – We asked our students what makes them proud of their culture, and Esther said: “My favorite thing about our culture that makes me proud is hospitality. I like the way guests are welcomed with much love, attention and care. I always feel at home and loved anywhere I go around our country and I see it through foreigners who say that hospitality in Rwanda is a natural character. This makes me very proud of my culture.”
• March 30, 2020 – Esther speaks English and Kinyarwanda.
• March 30, 2020 – Esther said her favorite drinks are passion juice and milk.
• September 1, 2019 – Esther’s summer plans were to find a way to earn some income of her own and continue building towards her plans for the future.
• May 18, 2019 – I learned many things last semester, both in my classes and in our monthly leadership trainings. I learned to be punctual in everything I do because keeping time is the key to everything. I learned to be communicative and interactive with my colleagues as it helps to achieve my goals and get more experience. I have to strive for being an important person to everyone surrounding me as an able leader.
• February 9, 2019 – When asked to define servant leadership, how that applies to her life now, and her future career, Esther said: “Servant leadership for me is a way of leading by making those whom you lead the first priority. It’s also being a leader who serves your fellows heartedly and willingly in every situation, even through hardships, still having courage and patience. How I see myself implementing servant leadership in my future career is through listening and understanding what someone is going through. Putting myself in their place will give me strength and passion to serve them.”
• November 19, 2018 – Esther wants to be known for being important, helpful, goal-achieving and hard-working! This semester she looks forward to working hard and growing through the TNHF leadership trainings!