We then decided that the summer after our Senior year we needed another adventure. She was getting married in December to a missionary minded man who wanted to join his uncle on the field in Zambia. Since I had always wanted to go to Africa we thought that would be the perfect place. Let me tell you after 2 weeks of absolutely hating it there I fell madly in love. The lifestyle was so simplistic. I found that not having running water, television, or cell phones was actually liberating. Most of all I fell in love with the young girls in the area. They were in huge need of someone to look up to, someone to tell them they were special. Someone to listen to them talk. I met to girls, Santi and Mutinta who had absolutely captured my heart. Santi was an orphan, both her parents died of AIDS. Mutinta had loving parents who worked in the field so she stayed and cared for a paralyzed woman in the village.
Leaving them absolutely broke my heart wide open. I vowed to come back as soon as I could to be with them and take care of them.
Upon arriving home my family was ecstatic to have me back. As I laid out my plans to return to Africa my Grandy said he needed me here. I took it as a small protestation that any parent would have to a child venturing into a third world country for a year or two.
Afer being home for sometime my bestie and her husband formed a team to return to Zambia for two years, I immediately jumped on board but soon discovered I was feeling a little unsettled in my decision, I thought it was my fear of commitment to train for a year and a half and then move to Zambia for two years. I am definitely a family oriented girl and was having a difficult time thinking of leaving my grandparents, mom, brother, cousins, and aunt for two years. However I continued on the path of training to leave, thinking I would have to one day face separation anyway.
It wasn't until my Mom and Aunt both said to me on separate occasions that my Grandy had mentioned to them through tears that if I went to Africa he would never see me again that I fully realized the impact of my decision. Upon hearing this I wept and wept and knew that I couldnt leave. I knew the feeling of uneasiness in my stomach was that of not being able to say goodbye to my Grandy. So I told my bestie that this was not the right time for me to leave the country.
I never once regretted my decision. I cherished every moment I spent with Grandy and Nana. I feel like he was some what more at ease knowing I was not leaving. I was able to spend many many days just hanging out the three of us watching old movies, Fox News, or sports.
Of all ironies my bestie happened to be in Abilene saying goodbyes to people the weekend Grandy died. I know God had his hand in making that happen. It was extremely important to both her and I that she was there for me that weekend.
I say all this to say that this past week she left for Zambia for 2 years. She is one of the strongest most grounded people I know. She stays true to her convictions and is always there when you need her. We became best friends the summer before our freshman year of high school and have been inseperable ever since. I was lucky to be her maid of honor in her wedding. As I look forward on the next two years and see all the changes and life events that I anticipate along with the unexpected it is going to be hard to fathom her being a million miles away. But I take comfort in knowing that she is doing God's work and is there with my dear sweet little girls and she has a wonderful husband to stand beside her.
Love to the both of them and the rest of their team! My prayers are continually flowing for them all.
Never Forget!
A photo I took of the Bestie and her sweet Husband.
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