Just call me Tracey from now on. This is the name that was given to me by a group of Swazi boys- Manza, Sieboseso, and Mussa (spelling most likely way off on all those names). These three boys were brothers that our group adopted for the two weeks we were there. When we first arrived in Swaziland an AIM volunteer named Tracey was getting ready to leave. Because we both have brown hair and glasses these brothers began calling me Tracey after she left. Sometimes I wondered if they actually thought I was Tracey. People would try and correct them, “This is Hannah. Her name is Hannah.” They would say “No! It’s Tracey!” And anytime I saw them it was “Tracey! Hey Tracey, come here!” It made me laugh so I just stopped trying to correct them. The best part was church the first Sunday we were there. I helped out with the kids Sunday school, and our boys came. As soon as they arrived they began calling me Tracey and by the end of church ALL the kids were calling me Tracey too. To Swaziland I am Tracey.
One night one of our guys decided to set up a tent and camp outside with the boys. Erin and myself went to say goodnight to them and it is one of my favorite memories from the race. All the boys were jumping on us and gave us each 100 hugs and kisses and kept saying over and over again “Good night! I love you.” They were so excited to have a sleepover in the tent! Watching them that night warmed my heart.
Most nights we were in Nsoko a couple of us would walk the boys back to their house at night. They would grab our head lamps and charge off, often with us racers trailing behind, stumbling in the dark. One night it had been pouring rain and the path to their house was literally all mud. Mussa fell asleep on me and I was trying to carry him back without falling in the mud! I ended up taking off my flip flops and walking barefoot. The oldest brother, Manza, guided me the whole way and carried my flip flops for me. He wanted to make sure I didn’t slip and hurt myself. It was so sweet.
Our last night in Nsoko we took Pastor Gift, his wife, Abigail, and the five boys we fed, out to dinner. The brothers were so excited! They had never been to a restaurant before! When we got there and told them they could order whatever they wanted they said “chicken and rice,” because that is all they know. We ended up getting them chicken nuggets, french fries, coke, and ice cream. I have never seen happier kids. It was precious to watch them savor their cokes, and see their faces lite up when we told they could have ice cream. I truly wish I could adopt those boys and provide for them everyday.
Their smiles and excitement for whatever we had to offer them, calling me Tracey, sitting on my lap playing with rocks on the ground, wearing my headlamp at night whenever we walked them home, how they would always hold my hand or jump up and give me hugs- I loved all these things. It’s hard to fully explain why I loved these boys so much, they were simply amazing. There was just something in them that made my heart break. Any love that we had to offer they just scooped up and would pour back on us. Their capacity for love truly was awesome- to know their lives and see how openly they loved us- it just touched me in a way I haven’t yet felt on the race. Here are some pictures of me and the boys!
