Top 10 List: Things I Learned on My 30th Trip to Darfuri Camps

1. Joy and sorrow can live right next to each other.

2. Refugees don’t just deserve a seat at the table. They should be building the table, creating the menu, and inviting the guests.

3. The arc of the moral universe is beginning to feel too long.

4. I hate mosquitoes.

5. I said it on my first trip, and it has been reinforced in the 29 trips after: the women are the power that runs the camps.

6. The people of Darfur, like millions of others displaced by violence around the world, still want peace, protection, and justice—and the opportunities that come with that.

7. When I sit with Darfuri mothers and hear their stories, I am in awe of their strength, and I am reminded of how immensely grateful I am for my own mother and all she did for us six children.

8. I’m proud of my kids—Mimi, Gabo, and Leila. I’ve been gone for long periods during these 30 trips (plus more to other areas). They are supportive and know that, despite some tough times, we are privileged.

9. A football pitch of any size is the most infinite and free space you’ll ever find.

10. We can care about ourselves AND others. In today’s interconnected small world, we are actually caring for ourselves by caring for others.