June 3, 2005

Today was one of our more memorable days, and strangely enough, it was a day when all our plans were cancelled.

When we woke up this morning, it was pouring down rain and our first day of community service at the Etafeni Daycare Center was postponed until Monday.

What was special about this seemingly uneventful day was that at the last hour we were able to spend time with a crucial part of our group: the eight students from Butler University.

Today we stood in the lobby of Breakwater Lodge at the University of Cape Town to say our final goodbyes and take the last of our hundreds of pictures with the students from Butler who became our family on this trip. Within the short two weeks we were together, we had our ups and downs, memorable moments, nights to remember and days to forget. We partied, we worked, we debated funny and serious topics hours into the night. We laughed and in the fading moments that all of us would ever spend together as a team, there were even tears.

It was difficult to watch them go, but we sent them off in grand style. Last night we all dined at one of Cape Town's most exclusive restaurants, Five Flies Restaurant. We had a wonderful meal. After we had been served dessert and coffee, LaTasha Malone, assistant director of Butler's Office of International Programs, presented Morehouse students with a gift.

So, this journal entry is a tribute to everyone from Butler whose friendship and genuine spirit made this trip amazing for all of us to: NaTasha Malone, Dr. Teri Jett, Krystle Ford; Jessica Sims; Courtney Stanback; Melanie Perry; Kristen Tormoehlen; Molly Hunteman; Michael Fryman; and Justin Moed.

Thank you and continue to change lives.

Mark Rainey '05, from Huntsville, Ala., graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor's degree in religion. In the fall, he will enter Princeton University's school of theology where he will obtain a master's in divinity.

For more information on the Morehouse College Leadership Center, click here.(pdf)

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