I am writing this from Café Naomi, a stone's throw away from the Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA). Today, I’m guiding a group of Tanzanian students from a Mwanza-based Adventist school, here in Kigali for a study tour. But while they immerse themselves in the Saturday service inside the university hall, I find myself waiting.
Two hours lie ahead of me—not to be “killed,” because time, after all, is too precious for that. Luckily, Café Naomi offers the perfect refuge. The moment I step in, I’m greeted by an artistic interior that seems designed to whisper, “Relax, breathe, and forget deadlines for a while.”
Before diving into client work that’s long overdue, I decide to honor these ten golden minutes for myself. My coffee steams gently in my hands, a comforting companion as I take in the cozy ambiance. The décor, the aroma, the soft clinking of cups—it’s all orchestrated to ease the mind and prepare me for the day ahead.
From my corner table, I watch the world outside the café’s windows: students walking briskly, taxi-motors zipping by, and joggers burning calories, one step at a time. There’s a rhythm to this Saturday morning that feels both alive and calm.
I sip slowly, letting the warmth of the coffee anchor me. Perhaps it’s the caffeine, perhaps it’s the quiet hum of creative energy around me, but inspiration seems to float in the air. Suddenly, those overdue tasks don’t feel so daunting.