Out of Africa

It’s been really difficult to fully process my trip to Africa, and specifically Ethiopia.  How do you recount a journey that felt as though it were a dream?  In the span of 24 hours I was on 3 different continents and then swaddled in the cradle of mankind for 9 days.  Ethiopia is like another world – how does one explain the sounds, the smells, the sights and the feelings accurately?  Words fail.  Even the incredible pictures Erin took only tell so much.  Sure, one can see the beautiful faces of the children, but you cannot smell them or hear them or touch them.  And all of that was so central to this trip.

We had a debriefing on Friday night before our flight home.  We were asked to share our thoughts on the trip - things that surprised us, stuck with us or touched us.  For me, the biggest surprise was how incredible the kids were.  It’s not that I thought they wouldn’t be, but not to the magnitude that they actually were.  These children would come up to you without hesitation, with their hand extended (other hand on their elbow in a sign of respect) and greet you.  They looked you in the eye.  We visited at least two orphanages/care points each day – we probably saw/touched over 500 kids.  I know for certain some of these children have HIV/AIDS; some of them had been beaten; some of them raped -  both boys and girls.  Most orphaned.  All destitute.

These kids gave me so much more than I gave them.  Sometimes I feel like, “What did I really do for these kids?’’  I mean really.  Yes, we played with them for a few hours, we hugged and kissed them, we gave out candy/stickers/bubbles/balloons, etc., but in the grand scheme of things, what did I do?  I didn’t change their lives, yet they changed mine forever.  There’s a video out there that Erin sent me, and it’s called, “I need Africa more than Africa needs me.”  It’s the truth.

And then there were those particular children that we made personal connections with – the ones that the minute you walked through the gate, they grabbed your hand.  You were theirs and they were yours.  It was constant hugs and kisses, and they would play with my hair, tell me they loved me, or … call me mother.  Or when one of them would look up at me with their big, beautiful brown eyes and ask, "Tomorrow?" in broken English.  And I had to tell them, "No."  There wouldn't be a tomorrow with them.  It was these connections that hurt my heart.  I miss the children.

Africa is beautiful…it gets under your skin.  It’s hard to describe unless you’ve been there.  I would urge anyone and everyone to go.  I missed my family immensely, but I would go again in a second.  And I hope someday to go back.  The last line in the video I mentioned above sums it up completely:

 “Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands….will never be as valuable as peace in my heart.”

 

Comments

[Erin Moore]

I am crying. This is perfect. This needs to go on our lobsters blog!

Thank you for putting words to my feelings.

[CaroleTurner]

I love this post. Thank you.

[Audra]

This is a wonderful post! You have a such a way with words....thank you for sharing.

[K-Sea]

In case I haven't said it enough....I am proud of you.

[Mark D]

Beautifully written, Wendy. You hit the nail on the head. I fully agree with urging anyone and everyone to go. You have an amazing heart and I know you deeply touched many kids. They will remember you and so will I.

[Auntie Jill]

Very moving post, Wendy. You did an amazing thing and I am very proud of you.