Good-bye



Joanna



The inevitable has finally happened; it is the end of my time here in Zambia. I wish I could adequately write down all of my feelings and the multitude of blessings these past 6 months have showered upon me, but I know I will just come up short. Firstly, I would like to thank all of you at home for the prayers and support. I know I have said it before, but it is so true that without you this time would not have been possible. I feel so selfish having been given this opportunity. If anyone out there has the smallest inkling to serve God, take it. Don’t question it, just go. He will bless whatever you do. In spite of how flawed and insignificant you are He will bless it, cause trust me, I am very flawed and never feel worthy enough to be here surrounded by these amazing people. It has been six months and I am STILL blown away that I am here. It has not been all laughter and smiles, but it still feels like an amazing dream that in no way can actually be reality.

Okay, now I will try to describe how richly I have been blessed in my last week here. It will probably be short because the longer I write the higher the chances I will bawl all over the laptop and just ruin it so how about I keep it short? The good-byes really started on Sunday (though the tears started days before) with church saying their final good-byes and collecting kwacha for me and mine! Let me tell you, it is an EXTREMELY humbling experience to have some of the poorest of the poor give from their purse to you. I was brought up to dance with the congregation which helped ebb the flow of tears that were falling freely down my face. The next day it was good-bye to both school and Hope House. That was a rough day. It all began with seeing Jane from Hope House, hugging her, feeling her cry underneath my hug, starting to cry myself, and knowing I was done for the entire day. The gifts kept coming, the tears kept coming, and more dancing was forced upon me to try and make me smile instead of cry. At Hope House there was a feast fit for a king laid out, and after I sobbed like a baby while they sang good-bye to me, and was forced to dance some more, they pulled me to the center of the room and all of the kids from the orphanage sang and prayed over me. These children, well actually more like young adults, are too amazing to put into words, and the power of their prayers is incredible. How I wish I could still possess child-like faith. The good-byes with my family ended just as it began, with dancing, singing, laughter, and many pictures. To my other abusungu’s, I have not forgotten about you. Clara Marie and Peter, Jay and Josh, Marci, Bill, and Aiden, and most importantly Stacey, Kristin, and Kristi, ya’ll have made my time here so much richer than I could have imagined. Your support and understanding, laughter and blunt truth, and basically just being you, has made my time more wonderful than I thought possible. I have been too much blessed. I know you at home may not want to hear this, but it has been hard to leave. I feel as if a huge chunk of my heart has been left with Zambia and am not quite sure what to do without it. It is just another home for me, and I have to tell myself that someday I will be back and see my African family again.



Hope House

Shalinepo (spelling Stac?) Zambia. I love you and will miss you dearly,

Sara Anne Blumenshine

“Although mementos can be preserved or displayed behind glass, memories live on in the heart, where they deepen and resonate over the years, providing strength and comfort in times of need.”                     –Unknown Author





Family (minus Humphrey who is never around for pictures. Sorry brother)