What is an example of motif in the novel, Thirty Girls?

Throughout Thirty Girls, the motif of the past, present and the future fuels much of the action as the characters compare and contrast their experiences and feelings during different time periods. Jane travels to Kenya in hopes of improving the futures of the abducted children, and shortly after her arrival, she feels ready for new things. Her ex-husband has recently died of an overdose, but her developing romantic relationship with Harry allows her to look to the future, even as she fears that it will not last.