Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya
The sun painted the clouds pink and orange as it lowered somewhere beyond the waters of Lake Michigan. I dug my feet further into the cool, damp sand and thought, “How am I so blessed to be here right now?”
That was a year ago. I remember sitting there in the beauty of the moment and pondering how many more times I was going to have that same thought in the year to come. In Africa the thought comes frequently. I may not remember all the names. I may not remember all the places, but there are moments that settle in my heart. In wonder and gratitude, scenes are etched in my memory.
Boys ran by giggling loudly as they pushed old tires along with frayed sticks. Even with missing front teeth, their smiles were contagious.
I sat on the balcony as the quiet of the morning was displaced by the singing of birds and the swishing of branches as monkeys jumped from tree to tree.
Rain pounded down as I ran to the nearest shelter. I couldn’t help but laugh as I realized that running had been pointless. My red mud painted toes had slipped right out of my flip flops and I wondered if they would ever be clean again as I listened to the rain making an uproar on the tin roof.
“Muzungo, can you tell me about Jesus,” she asked. Her eyes were bright and eager. “What do you want to know about him?” A smile spread across her face, “I want to know all of it. I am going to be a preacheress someday.”
The camera stood on a tripod ready to film as he explained to us that we were going to be in a music video. We could hardly learn the moves as our attempts were frequently interrupted by laughter.
Ears twitching and eyes peeking just above the water line, the hippo watched us as intently as we watched her. The morning sun was glinting off the water when she finally decided that we weren’t that interesting and returned to grazing.
She rounded the corner at a full run only to stop short when she caught sight of muzungus. Eyes as big saucers, she stretched out her hand and greeted us the best she knew how, “Hellofinethankyouandyou?”
He climbed up into my lap and caught my fingers between his small brown ones. He touched my fingernails gently as he compared each one to his own.
He sighed to let us know he was ready to pray as he pulled his Bible down from the dusty window sill. The creases above his brow deepened as he prayed in earnest for the protection of America.
Her voice rose clear above the rest as she stepped forward to take my hand and lead me to the front. She watched my feet and nodded her head encouragingly, never once missing a beat as she taught me how to dance.
He approached shyly, no sign of shoes or even buttons for his stained school uniform. “These are for you, teacher.” A bag of avocados was shoved into my hands before he turned and ran off.
Surrounded by hardened mud walls and poor lighting, I could just make out the outline of the large pile of fruit stacked on the table-a thank you for coming into their home.
Her face lit up and she sat up straighter in her chair as she heard the words, “We have just come to pray a blessing over you, Mama.”
“You are beautiful,” I told her. She looked at me skeptically, then one eyebrow raised up as she asked, “Sure?” I couldn’t be more sure.
These are all moments I am so thankful for and won’t be forgetting for a long time to come. I am always blessed to be right where I am.
