John picked us up and we
drove about 30 mins to Gahanga. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to see how
much Elie had grown. As we neared the town I started to recognize the scenery.
We turned right, down a dirt road and I was practically jittery with excitement.
Pulling up at the school everything was as I remembered. The children started
to gather as the car drove thru. Their smiling faces and waving hands welcomed
us. We walked to the office and into one of the rooms. I saw him and smiled. He
looked up with a beaming face and we hugged.
Since I had already been to this project they skipped all the formalities of showing us around the office. We walked into the adjoining room and sat down. I found it funny that this was the exact room that we had shared our first conversation together. All the introductions were made by the project workers and pastor. Then Elie and I started talking. He knew some words and was able to ask me some questions in English. His voice, I noted, was a lot deeper than before.
We talked for a bit and then left to go meet the family. I was anxious to finally meet his grandma Costasie as she has been a foundational piece to Elie’s life. He was living with his grandparents a while before I started sponsoring him. He had told me that his grandma always went to church with him. Since his grandfather’s passing 3 yrs ago I knew that he would be a great help to her. Seeing her was a joy.
She was so happy and wanted us to sit next to her. The thing that touched my heart the most was when she said that she was so happy to finally see us, her granddaughters. She showed us how the house was deteriorating and that she had been concerned that it might fall on her. Recently she got a new house nearby and they had moved everything over to the new house. They were going to start living there in the next couple of days.
We then walked back to the school, but they weren't done with us yet. Bringing us back into the office, the staff offered us snacks and drinks. The pastor and other workers joined us and we talked for a while. Elie needed to return to school so we said our goodbyes and I watched him walk away.
Since I had already been to this project they skipped all the formalities of showing us around the office. We walked into the adjoining room and sat down. I found it funny that this was the exact room that we had shared our first conversation together. All the introductions were made by the project workers and pastor. Then Elie and I started talking. He knew some words and was able to ask me some questions in English. His voice, I noted, was a lot deeper than before.
We talked for a bit and then left to go meet the family. I was anxious to finally meet his grandma Costasie as she has been a foundational piece to Elie’s life. He was living with his grandparents a while before I started sponsoring him. He had told me that his grandma always went to church with him. Since his grandfather’s passing 3 yrs ago I knew that he would be a great help to her. Seeing her was a joy.
She was so happy and wanted us to sit next to her. The thing that touched my heart the most was when she said that she was so happy to finally see us, her granddaughters. She showed us how the house was deteriorating and that she had been concerned that it might fall on her. Recently she got a new house nearby and they had moved everything over to the new house. They were going to start living there in the next couple of days.
Grandma Costasie telling us about the new house.
Elie and I played ball for a bit outside while family and neighbors
watched. I had brought a bag of rice for the family and presented it to Grandma
Costasie. As the home visit neared the end I prayed for the family.
We then walked back to the school, but they weren't done with us yet. Bringing us back into the office, the staff offered us snacks and drinks. The pastor and other workers joined us and we talked for a while. Elie needed to return to school so we said our goodbyes and I watched him walk away.
1 comment:
Dearest Ellie,
I firstly wanted to thank you again for the beyond awesome time at your house. It was really fun, and nice to chill (or ahem, burn up) instead of being crazy... actually that ironman running up and down was pretty crazy, wasn't it?
Anyway, wish we could have came to church... oh well, next time.
Now, on to your trip. It looks like it was such a blessed time (even though they weren't the smiliest).
Au Revoir,
Ke`alohi
Post a Comment