The Ending...
The next morning I got up and went to the office where I worked waiting to connect with my dear friend Susan. When she came in the office, it was like the heavens opened up. I could hear here down the stairs, and was ready for a huge hug when she came into Sammy’s office to find me. Susan and I headed out in the company car (oh my gosh the drive was scary!) and turned toward the Resurrection Gardens. I was so excited. I had seen this place driving by last year, and wished we could have gone. Susan so graciously offered to take me when I visited and it was one thing I was really, really looking forward to. We pulled into the gardens, which were beautiful. The place must have been about a hundred acres of grass, flowers, and trees. There were some buildings, a couple chapels, but many large walls that depict the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Susan and I walked through together, reading, praying, and reading some more. After she had shown me the entire garden, we split up and went our separate ways for an hour. I found an area with a bench that was peaceful and laid down on it. Looking towards the sky I spent some time in prayer and reading the Word. It was great. At one point I was in prayer and I felt the clouds break. Warm sun poured onto me like God was pouring warm butter from the sky. It felt so good. I must have laid there for a good 40 minutes enjoying the warmth until a high school age boy spoke to me, asking me about one of the parables listed on the wall in front of me. Surprised, I sat up and we talked about it. No sooner did we finish talking he was asking me for money. Sigh, African culture is just like that. It didn’t spoil my day; I was actually blessed by the young man and our conversation. After our hour was up, Susan and I went back to the car and decided it was time to eat.
She chose a touristy spot, called Java. I was able to order a nice turkey sandwich and enjoyed her eyes getting large when they set her huge fish and chips in front of her. We had a great conversation, talking about my time in Kenya, why I shortened my trip, and so on. She was convinced that next time, I will stay with her and Sammy can have one afternoon! LOL! It is so funny how Africans are so much more committed to relationships than Americans. We host people out of obligation. To Africans, it is an honor and a blessing. I try to have that outlook when I host… I can sure learn a lot from them! After lunch I wanted to find a gift for Ben and Faith and Sammy and family, so we went to the Holiday Inn and bought a gift card for them. It was fast, you know, African time, so in about 40 minutes we had our gift and left the restaurant. Of course, we were offered ice cream and a drink but turned the offer down. Back at the office, Sammy and I headed out and home.
The following day I knew I had to go home, and even though it was a great trip, I was so ready. The next morning was a late one, I slept in and Sammy came to get me to do some shopping. I didn’t have a lot to get, but we visited the bead factory, and then we met Ben, Faith, and Betty at her workplace for lunch. This time, I got the fish and chips! It was way overpriced, but we had lunch, exchanged the certificates and took some photos. On our way home, Sammy stopped at a roadside gas station where there were some selling souvenirs. Upon Sammy’s insistence, he bought a couple things for “my friends” which in turn were for me (hehe). I think the couple things he got me mean more to me than all the gifts I was given the entire trip, and maybe even perhaps the one before. It is all in the memories! When we arrived home I took a shower and then got all my stuff packed up. We laughed all the way to the airport talking about the random things we always do. It was a great last car ride, and I knew I would remember these drives perhaps the most out of everything.
So when I left Africa, saying goodbye to the family and such it was sad, however, there was comfort knowing I would be back and a challenge knowing I had a lot to do for the kitchen. Each day we are faced with things. How will I spend my money? Will I choose to live with integrity today? How will I treat others? Will I judge them based on color, look, or lifestyle? And if nothing else, I feel like my travels have opened my eyes to see how God wants me to be, how He wants me to act. He has shown me in plain daylight how His people should be treated and loved. When I think about my time in Africa it can be as simple as learning to love someone who is different or as complex as solving poverty. That is the joy in free will! The people of Africa will forever be close to my heart, and I can say with confidence that I am close to theirs. What a wonderful feeling!
She chose a touristy spot, called Java. I was able to order a nice turkey sandwich and enjoyed her eyes getting large when they set her huge fish and chips in front of her. We had a great conversation, talking about my time in Kenya, why I shortened my trip, and so on. She was convinced that next time, I will stay with her and Sammy can have one afternoon! LOL! It is so funny how Africans are so much more committed to relationships than Americans. We host people out of obligation. To Africans, it is an honor and a blessing. I try to have that outlook when I host… I can sure learn a lot from them! After lunch I wanted to find a gift for Ben and Faith and Sammy and family, so we went to the Holiday Inn and bought a gift card for them. It was fast, you know, African time, so in about 40 minutes we had our gift and left the restaurant. Of course, we were offered ice cream and a drink but turned the offer down. Back at the office, Sammy and I headed out and home.
The following day I knew I had to go home, and even though it was a great trip, I was so ready. The next morning was a late one, I slept in and Sammy came to get me to do some shopping. I didn’t have a lot to get, but we visited the bead factory, and then we met Ben, Faith, and Betty at her workplace for lunch. This time, I got the fish and chips! It was way overpriced, but we had lunch, exchanged the certificates and took some photos. On our way home, Sammy stopped at a roadside gas station where there were some selling souvenirs. Upon Sammy’s insistence, he bought a couple things for “my friends” which in turn were for me (hehe). I think the couple things he got me mean more to me than all the gifts I was given the entire trip, and maybe even perhaps the one before. It is all in the memories! When we arrived home I took a shower and then got all my stuff packed up. We laughed all the way to the airport talking about the random things we always do. It was a great last car ride, and I knew I would remember these drives perhaps the most out of everything.
So when I left Africa, saying goodbye to the family and such it was sad, however, there was comfort knowing I would be back and a challenge knowing I had a lot to do for the kitchen. Each day we are faced with things. How will I spend my money? Will I choose to live with integrity today? How will I treat others? Will I judge them based on color, look, or lifestyle? And if nothing else, I feel like my travels have opened my eyes to see how God wants me to be, how He wants me to act. He has shown me in plain daylight how His people should be treated and loved. When I think about my time in Africa it can be as simple as learning to love someone who is different or as complex as solving poverty. That is the joy in free will! The people of Africa will forever be close to my heart, and I can say with confidence that I am close to theirs. What a wonderful feeling!
posted by Nic at 3:35 PM
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