All,
Thank you so much for your support over the past week. Your kind words and pledges have meant a lot to me.
In about two hours, I head to the city to prepare for the triathlon tomorrow. I have to park my bike, check into the race hotel, listen to an orientation, and get my race packet. Most of the participants from Liquidnet are getting together for dinner in the early evening before we head to bed early.
Wake up is 3:30-4am tomorrow morning, where I’ll make final preparations and head down to the race area. I jump in the Hudson river a little after 6am. I expect to be a bit slow during the race, so I’ll finish somewhere between 9:30 and 10am. At 12:30, my company is hosting a celebration after-party at the Boat Basin Cafe – 79th Street @ The Hudson River, NYC, from 12:30 to 3:30pm. All participants, their families and, most importantly, all donors are welcome to celebrate with us!
I hope to see you there!
Please consider a donation, I have a little bit more to go toward my goal: http://www.active.com/donate/race4rwanda/nickcodignotto
This is an entry I wrote about the village as I prepared to leave the village:
“To have built the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in a little over 3 years is an epic accomplishment. The achievement goes beyond the physical construction of this gorgeous retreat on a hilltop overlooking a picturesque valley. In my mind, crafting the philosophy of the village, the school, the learning programs, and the homes for the kids is an even greater feat. The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village is brimming with love. I see in the eyes of these kids, a wisdom I am not accustomed to seeing in people their age. A wisdom, perhaps, that can only come from their tragic circumstances. I saw a skit yesterday at the dedication ceremony that depicted their pain and their fear. It was heart-wrenching to watch. Then, I witnessed the turning point, where the students, through a wonderfully emotional performance, showed us that their fear was fading. That the village is real to them, that thay are indeed safe… and that they are loved. They showed us that they are not afraid to start taking small steps forward and in many cases they are leaping forward with bold strides. They showed us that they are no longer willing to live in the past. This is the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village.”
You can learn more about the ASYV project by visiting http://asyv.org
Best wishes and health,
Nick