Hysterical laughter, a chorus of squeals and giggles, shouts of ‘nyaah!’ followed by echos of ‘awkward elephant’ while holding your arm up to your nose like a trunk. Games of ‘would you rather’, and ‘two lies and a truth’, Dr G. Unit convincing me to fool them into believing they had eaten worms as part of their lunch in the village while his eyes twinkled mischievously at the thought, appearances on national TV, nicknames received which you can’t shake yet somehow form an attachment towards, Cath and I; the unforgettable, invincible, hysterical duo (a bit like Tweedledee and Tweedledum!)--a partnership never to be seen again by any other group.
This is what Belmont University students brought to Africa, but this is not what they expected to be bringing. Preconceived ideas of what they would achieve here in Africa were banished the moment they arrived and realized that it’s not what they can do for Africa but what Africa can do for them. Opening up eyes to a new world, a new way of life, a life that’s content with what they have and not longing for what they don’t have. And the heart of all they can offer to Africa is simple--love.
And what does this group mean to me? I could only describe it using an analogy of a tidal wave; the tides come and the tides go, a rhythmic repetition indicating a passing of time. And so goes the territory of my job; groups come, and groups go--nothing unusual, nothing extraordinary, just a regular recurrence, no after effect. But every now and again you get a burst of energy that reveals itself in the form of a something similar to what we know as a tidal wave. A tidal wave rises above the tides and connects with the land, land previously unreached by the regular tides. It comes with a force that breaks through barriers and when it retreats it leaves behind traces of its existence and evidence of the energy it carries, remains of its encounter will be left for many years still to come.
In the same way I equate the group from Belmont University to a tidal wave, except instead of leaving behind a course of mass destruction they leave imprints of love and joy, and the energy that they carry, this energy is love, God’s love.
Thank You for our times together, may God be with all of you in your coming lives. Make the most of every moment.
Dominate!
Onwards and Upwards!
Mandy