I will start this blog off with one of my "written words" then end with a recount of Wednesday which helps affirm of one reason why I am here in Namibia and in Peace Corps - to be with those I never would.
Stripped Away
“What happens when you are stripped of happiness
Stripped from your family
Stripped from your friends
Stripped of all that you claim as your identity
The good part anyway”
What if the person that stripped you away was you yourself?
Stripped makes it seem you were torn against your own will
But it was my will to be stripped away
Why?
Why remove yourself from all you love?
Why go so far away when there is so much to do right where I am standing?
A higher calling is what some might say
A profound voice in my heart and soul said, “Go.”
So, I went.
I went into the unknown
No reason or purpose
“Go”
To be so sure
The power of such sound steps could only come from the Almighty
Then my Earth shattered…
Nothing was right
My father taken to watch from above
My steps faltered
Yet my family was there to help me stand
So I took the next step (into Peace Corps Namibia)
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| LGBTI freely (with harassment) walk the streets in Khorixas. |
Wednesday was a glorious day. I don’t share too many details
of the everyday life here. My lovely site-mate, Alex, who I am sure I will unveil
the deep beauty of this woman and her friendship to me on another day – spent the
night before at my place. She came to wash her sheets as I have
a tub to make this process easier. Since she came later in the day, the items were
not dry and I had the joy to have her spend the night. We woke up, cooked eggs
and walked into the day. She had a letter to drop off at KHFM, the local community
radio, to request a partnership with them for a LGBTA (Lesbians, Gays,
Bi-sexuals, Transgenders and Allies) event next year and I needed a few
signatures from community members to partner with the new business volunteer I
am applying to replace me. We walked out of the hospital gates with her
blankets in hand to the radio station just down the street as I awaited her.
Not wanting to depart each other she walked left at the
T-junction with me to the orphanage. At this point we were
accompanied by a young gentleman who asked where we were going and if we were
going to “a country” in which we said we were not and he shared he was going to
Greasy’s house. Greasy happened to live right next door to the orphanage and a
truck pulled up right as we were entering. The gentlemen were dropping off
meat, I believe. Most of the orphans have some family members and are out of
town for the holidays. The manager, an orphan herself, sat with us as we talked
about upcoming plans of them going to town and this weekend swimming in
Fransfontein. After our short chat and signature, we left and walked towards
town where we met our smallest and favorite of friends – Kadisha. We are biased
to her as from the beginning she knew the difference between the /gam /husas
(two white ladies). Her favorite subject is English, she is mannerly and one
day she asked me to play which for her was writing English. Kadisha accompanied
us down the dirt road a bit until Alex headed home. Kadisha accompanied me to
the Lutheran Church office where I have ordered a leather personalized stitched
covering for the hymn book I purchased a month back or so. This hymn book is in
Khoekhoegowab and I am so excited to bring home such a meaningful piece back to
America. I am currently trying to memorize the Lord’s Prayer, but only have the
first lines down so far. The cover was in Khorixas, but not at the office. We
departed to escort barefoot Kadisha to her home where her mother awaited her.
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| Betty and her newest grand-baby, Divine |
It was then that I “footed” (walked) to the location called “Hollywood”
where my dear friend Betty lives. Her daughter just married this past weekend in
the most beautiful of gowns. She has always made me feel so welcome. Two tents
were pitched in the back yard from all the family that was there. The only
individuals left were Betty, her mother, her two daughters, her uncle and 5
grandchildren. They were cooking some of the cow that was killed from the
weekend for lunch. I sat in the back yard as I shared company with a family
that I want to know deeper. I assisted ever so little with the fire cooked meal
and ate meat and bread with them on the front porch. Then on the national Namibian news channel, the Republican Presidential Debate aired and I couldn't believe the amount of attention just one country, my home country, gets worldwide. After some laughs and smiles, I left with a
content heart and a bag of fresh eggs and vegetables from the garden. Betty
walked me down the street, as it is custom to walk visitors back to their home
or at least down the street and hugged good bye.
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| Republican Debate - Where am I? |
I went home and took a nap then left to meet Den, Alex and
another PCV visitor – Davian. We had deep topic discussions over Fanta Orange
then pour over coffee and lastly a meal as we attempted to make gimp that was
ever so popular from our childhood days and found to be incredibly complicated. Davian and Den then escorted me home
around midnight to where I had a peaceful and satisfying sleep from the
heartfelt interactions of the day.
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| Crafting - Gimp Time |
