Arandis, Namibia: What If You Couldn't Visit Someone

Thursday, March 13, 2008

What If You Couldn't Visit Someone

One of the first faces of the children I got to see in Arandis was Chandre's. I remember her smiling face as she peeked out from behind the curtain, through the window,

as she unlocked the door. Now, as I sit hear thinking about it, I wonder if it was by design or by happenstance that she be the first to greet me. Either way it was welcoming and assuring and it was great being able to just pick her up and give her a hug after not having been able to do so for over a year.

Everyone in the family was there to greet Jackie, Mike and me. We did not stay long at that initial visit since it was getting late and we had hoped to make our rounds at the three Hope's Promise homes, side-by-side on Quail Street, and at the Banda's home a couple of streets away. But I do remember the feeling of being able to say, "I'll see you tomorrow..." and knowing that for the next twelve days I would once again be waking up in Arandis.

With each successive home we visited that night, we were met with not just "social hugs" but strong hugs and, in many instances, tears of joy that we did return. Here we were thousands of miles from home, in another part of the world, continuing a relationship that, in all reality, the people here could not continue on their own in this same fashion. Sure, there was always the ability to maintain the relationship via correspondence but when it came to maintaining the physical relationship, no matter how hard they might try or want to, the reality is that they might never be afforded the opportunity.

I wonder how that feels? Is there any comparison for me here?

Does the knowledge of not being able to reciprocate and come to the U.S. to visit us have an impact on how they perceive our relationship? How much more precious does this relationship become to them? Is there an extra sense of loss when we leave knowing that if we do not return, the physical relationship will end? Or, does a glimmer of hope exist that someday they too will be able to come and visit us?

I have been blessed with many things but how much do I take for granted the ability and where-with-all to more or less come and go easily; to be able to leave here and visit other people and places and not be dependant upon someone else to maintain or sustain such a physical relationship? Do we all, who are as fortunate, take it for granted?

posted by Don @ 6:07 AM

1 Comments:

At 1:33 PM, Jackie said…

I am feeling the loss that I just can't go over and visit with them right now...at this moment. Or even tomorrow, or the next day. If this is hard for me, I can't even begin to imagine what that feeling is like for our friends in Namibia. They are indeed at a loss to be able to communicate with us at all and are relying solely on us, that we will be the ones to keep the communication lines and visits open. As I sit here teary-eyed and hurting, I should be thinking more of how they must feel every time we leave them to return home.