Abby's vote of appreciation for Rachel!

Thank you to all past and present USP Staff for your lovely gift, lovely sentiments expressed, and lovely events surrounding our farewell.

Here we are with our photo journal--photos and thoughtful letters written by past and present staff

This  year's matching outfit collaboration for the USP farewell

However before the waves of time and tasks and transitions totally roll over us, I wanted to take time to specifically thank Rachel Robinson as she has put a lot of thought and energy into our leaving.  I’m also considering this as a bit of a drum-roll and vote of confidence for her as she takes on the very daunting role of being the interim director in this coming year.

While Rachel has self-identified as an enneagram 8, I have a feeling that she has a strong wing of a 7—the enthusiast!  So in the following top ten, I wanted to thank and appreciate Rachel for the enthusiasm/energies/loves that she has brought to us at USP—in no particular order; the whole is more than the sum of its parts!

Thank you Rachel:

1. For your love of travel and safari in the truest sense of the word—journey outward and inward!  Staff and students have benefitted from the priority and energy you have used to make travel happen.

Rachel, Lisa, Eddie, Mark, Daniel and his friend David in Kidepo over the Christmas break

    2. For your appreciation of culture manifested in and out of our comfort zones

        3.  For embracing nature—in our enjoyment of it and also in our stewardship of God’s good green earth 

Ugandan landscape taken by Allie Shufflin

Mt. Elgon hike with Mark and Ruth Berta

Climbing Mt. Elgon with the Community and Discipline class

    4.   For love of aesthetics—in music, in fine arts, dance, and all energy humans put into expressing themselves for their own self-discovery and for the broader connection to beauty, spirituality and community

Community Art field trip to Break Dance Project Uganda (check out their documentary--Bouncing Cats)

    5. For a love of justice that seeks, values and honors people who seek to bring justice and integrity to their work and their communities

In Rwanda with CARSA

Christoph talking to students in Rwanda

Recreation Project field trip with Cross-Cultural Practicum

6. For the creative, thoughtful work on the blog and social media for USP-- and for the delegation to our lovely program associates who assist with this! 

       7.  For the hours of work collecting and compiling photos for our 10 year video, our personal photo/letter journals, and other gifts for USP staff over the years

      8. For all the thoughtful ways that you exhibit hospitality to USP staff, students, USP connections in Mukono and beyond 

Student meal at Rachel's house

Staff Karoake party at Rachel's house

9.  For the encouragement to process our experiences through verbal and nonverbal means

  

   10. For the high priority on creating community in all areas of your life

Thank you Rachel for all that you've added to our last four years here and for all that you will bring in leading USP through this upcoming transition!