Thursday, August 16, 2007

Some After-Thoughts

I am now back home in California and beginning to adapt to my surroundings once again. It's always an adjustment to return home after experiencing such life-changing events in Africa. How are they life-changing? Well, some of the things experienced and witnessed there cut through the core of my being, forever piercing my heart. The children touch my heart like nothing I've ever felt before. The people I met in Zambia are the most generous I've ever met, despite possessing not even a fourth of what an average American possesses. Makes you realize what's really important in life. They take time for each other. They stop to listen to your problems. They share your heartache and pain, your losses. They understand what it's like to struggle. Their laughter is contagious. You can't help but to cry when they cry. A hug is worth a thousand words. Their deeds are couragious. I admire them greatly. They've taught me so much. As the next days goes by, then the months and even years, I pray that the impressions that have been left are never forgotten. I pray the burdens I felt for the people never leave me. I pray the compassion I feel for the children only grows stronger. I pray peace, blessings, and more blessings upon the people of Zambia. I pray the children never hunger again. I pray the people be healed of their diseases. I pray people around the world join hands to help in any way they can. I look forward to witnessing prosperity spread across all of Africa. I look forward to orphans growing up to be world leaders. I look forward to seeing a new hope, a new fate, a new Africa.

God bless!

1 comment:

Kabanda said...

Laurie,

Going through your entire blog, I could not help it but cry at the end of it. Of course, I have known you for these two years that you have been in Zambia and I still hold on to my initial impression of you, and that is, Zambia was blessed by your coming here. I have been reading your blogs and not made many comments but I want you to know that regardless of what other people may tell you or how they may look at you, to me you will always remain that young role model who is praiseworthy. You may most instantly ask yourself, “What have I even done to deserve that?”

What I can tell you is that being a Zambia who has grown up in a community of people who care about each other, I can easily tell who is concerned and who is not concerned about others. Having a heart for others is not something that is easy to fake. Those who want to pretend that they have a heart for others many times fail to pull through in the long run. They will most definitely do something that will catch the attention of the media and it may end there, but more adorable are those people who do great acts of kindness to others and they do even get the ‘publicity’ that those acts deserve.

Laurie, your heart for the children and the poor is something that is just so adorable. I remember when you wrote an email to me that you may not make it coming back to Zambia. I could read that you were worried, but, what can derail the plans of God. You came to Zambia which was just unbelievable.

Coming back to why I felt overwhelmed with feelings when I was going through your blog, I must be honest with you that I felt a mixture of feelings that I cannot describe right now. Why is it so my friend? The thing is that, reading about the huddles you faced at the airport, I could not help but feel so horrible and distressed about the whole incident. I was mostly touched about the “Some After-Thought” blog. I must confess that I was moved to hear you speak so fervently about my country like that. Yes, we are a poverty stricken country but loving. You may think that you saw a lot of poverty in Lusaka, there other places where it is even worse. But one amazing thing is that the people are so loving. I have been to the rural areas myself where you find people in so much abject poverty but one astonishing thing for me is that they are very happy people. Even though I am also a Zambian, seeing others who are poorer just moves my heart.

This is what makes me say that you are special Laurie and my prayer too, is that what you feel for these children does not change with time. I have worked in the communities with a number of people who after turning their back to the community, they have not a quarter of a feeling for the people they have left behind. For them it is “just one of those things” they do not care anymore. It is an experience that enriched their African Safari. At least they were able to see these people widely reported about in the media. To be honest with you, I have a very big problem with such kind of people. I am one person who is abhorred by such level of selfishness and self-centeredness. I guess you now know what I have been meaning when I tell you that you are a wonderful person who is worthy of my respect and admiration.

I may need to end here before I write a thesis about you. But remember always that there are times when you may fall into the trap of thinking that probably your work here in Zambia is not something that is appreciated. My suggestion to you is that, those are the times you need to take a look at one or two pictures of the children you worked with. I had at one time failed in that trap when I felt that probably my work was not something the community appreciated. But guess who appreciates it more. Who else apart from the children themselves whom we are serving? I now beam with happiness every time now and then when children manage to walk from Ng’ombe community to see me. I do not take this for granted but see it as a gesture of appreciation of what these children feel for those individual adults who are ready to go out of their way to do something for them or just be their for them. This is something that gives the courage to also go out their in the community to see the children. It is just so gratifying. I have a strong belief that life is more satisfying when you can sit down and say, “Yes, with the gifts, talents and abilities that I have, I managed to make this and that person better.” Of course my point is not that we should at any one point in time do this in a boastful and show-off way, that is likely to pose the danger of loosing the high value attached to altruism.

My prayer for you Laurie is that you continue being the great person that you are. May God continue to give you more and more blessings so that through you others may be blessed too.

Remember that the people of Africa and Zambia in particular will always appreciate every act of generosity and kindness. They may at times not say this explicitly but know that in the deepest part of their hearts lies the spirit of gratitude.

As we always say, “Welcome to Zambia, the Real Africa,” know that anytime you think of coming back to Zambia, we will have our arms open to welcome you back. I look forward to your coming back next year my friend. It was nice spending time with you this year though we did not have enough time to work together on the projects. Hope to have more time next year as I will be through with my degree programme at the University of Zambia hence more time to spend in the communities with the children.

Stay blessed in whatever you are doing my friend. I wish you success to your hard work. You are always an inspiration to me when it comes to the importance of being dedicated to what one starts decides to do.

Friend forever,

Kabanda
Zambia