Arriving in Africa

Just before midnight on Saturday evening, I arrived at the orphanage greeted by warm rain and hugs. The showers were lite but the hugs were strong. My journey began earlier that afternoon surrounded by heat and humidity. Now, less than 24 hours later, love outweighs the thickness and heaviness of humidity.
The children were asleep the night I arrived, however, an entourage of joyous and gracious staff workers encompassed the love of 70 people in their hugs. I had arrived. Before my feet could even pass the threshold into the building, I was in their arms. The three-day travel experience of on again off again plane rides couldn't compare to meeting the children.
Before the rooster could crow, before the sun could peak over the green, picturesque mountain tops, the children were up and out playing, doing chores and preparing for church. Shy at first, the children stood as I introduced myself.
By the time church started at 8:30 a.m., they were talking. Somehow after two and a half hours of standing, sitting, praying and worshiping, we had become friends. Holding hands, we walked and talked getting to know each other. The true nature of the once shy children was revealed. They were uncontainable excited. Even the rain, which interrupted the sunny. hot day, could not stop the running and playing. Nothing could stop their curiosity and questions. Their energy and very presence is unstoppable because their excitement to see us magnified their never-ending batteries.
Now nearing sundown, the new faces that once hid surround me. My back is their jungle gym, my arms their punching bag, my head and face something to touch, my hand something to hold and my heart simple theirs.
***This was written May 30, 2009***

Staring in to Abyss BLOG 1 Intro

Dan Eldon, an amazing photojournalist and poet, was notorious for saying "It's not the destination, it is the journey." I really thought I understood that. After all is going through college, your twenties and identity crisis after identity crisis isn't a journey, what is? However, traveling to Africa is expanding my understanding of what a journey is. 

Even though I knew I was on a journey, I always would say to myself, 'I can't wait to start my life,' meaning I can't wait until this vision of what my life should look life starts. As it turns out, my life didn't start when I boarded a nine hour flight to Paris, followed by several flights getting my to Cameroon. This was just the new adventure. 

I am starting 'Staring into the abyss' because I don't know what my life, my journey has. For all of us, this journey is like staring into this infinite abyss. We don't know how far will go into it, what will find or if we'll even lose ourselves in it. All we can do is stare at it, and when we are brave enough explore it. 

Today is my first day in Africa, but my 24 year, second month and I suppose 11th day on a journey. Today is my first day walking up in a new country, but it is also the first day I realized I don't have to wait for this play-up vision in my head to come true to start living my life. 

As I board a eight-hour bus ride to Harvest Children Home, I get to celebrate this journey and live it to the fullest. That is a blessing!!!