We are in Africa! We spent our debrief in Cape Maclear as a squad. I left Cape Maclear with a lot more than when I arrived. I met so many sweet people. The boy in the picture included. This is my friend Stephen. Stephen is 11. One day while on the shore of Lake Malawi all these kids came up and started talking to us. One of those children was Stephen. He was quiet and gentle. The first time he told me his name I told him my best friends middle name is Stephen. As time went on in Cape Maclear I kept seeing Stephen more and more. One day walking down the street I ran into Stephen. He was in front of his house with members of his family. They welcomed me with a big smile. I was sad to be leaving Stephen.
One night I asked the hotel for hand soap. They gave me a bar. I ended up giving Stephen the soap bar. He had a huge smile like a kid on Christmas. It moved me because it was a bar of soap. He was so thankful. Later in the afternoon he returned to our hostel with something rolled in his hands. He greeted me with a big hug. He usually never had anything with him I asked him out of curiousity what it was “For you” he replied softly. “What?” I replied confused as he gave it to me. I held the rugged paper in my hands slowly unwrapping the paper. I gasped and wanted to cry. It was a beautiful painting of elephants in the sunset. The top of the white wrote “By Zake” spelling “bye zach” I felt so loved. As the last day approached I woke up and opened my door only to find Stephen standing at the gate waiting for me. He didn’t want to to be late in saying goodbye to me. I was in denial that it was happening. I was sad. Very sad.
Our session ended and the vans were arriving. It was all hitting me so hard that we were leaving. It hurt me. I started my long tour of goodbyes. Knowing the last one was the hardest I had my big pack in my hands. I sat it down to be put in the car and it all hit me. I was choking and holding back tears the whole time. Stephen looked at me with sadness and fear in his eyes. I took him by the hand and guided him to the other side of the van. I knelt on one knee and looked him in the eyes. I told him I was proud to know him. One day I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He told me he wanted to be a doctor and find the cure for malaria. I was speechless in the moment he told me. I told him as it started to rain that one day he would be the best doctor and he would find the cure for malaria. After I said that he smiled as tears rolled down his face. As we both were in the rain watching each other cry I was thankful I held nothing back.
Goodbyes are hard. We’ve been in the capital of Malawi for awhile now. Every day I still reflect on all that Stephen taught me. Children are a gift. The pain is hard but theres something beautiful about giving your whole heart to someone and asking for nothing in return. Stephen did exactly that. The name Stephen means crown. I think it’s appropriate.Although Stephen had next to nothing he treated me like royalty. He gave his heart. The boy in the green shorts changed my life. I’ll never forget him. Thank you Lord for your children.
