Moving

I hate to say it, but I was so grateful that my little friend bawled his head off today.  You see, I really wanted to cry.  It isn’t the Nigerian way to show a lot of sorrow.  Phyllis said if they cried too much about anything, they would be crying all the time.  But, I am SAD.  My day started out great, praying on the back porch, walking down to the little river and sitting on a rock with my feet in the water, sipping coffee while my friend washed her clothes on the rocks.  Then we walked a very bushy footpath through the beautiful early morning light to the place they had spent the night.  I helped carry things out to the road to wait for transport so our friends could move to a camp a little over an hour away.  One teenage girl is the person who has been here on our doorstep more than any other person – including the staff.  I have come to think of her as a friend, kind of the big pesky sister Jack never had.  Her parents are having difficulty, so the best option for them was to leave.  It was so sad for the one boy, Jack’s age, to have to leave behind his fowl.  His lip even quivered – but he didn’t show emotion beyond trying to find a way to carry them along.  Every time I have been to their camp he has walked me around making sure I know which fowl are his; he’s so proud.  Fulani are nomadic, so this had been their way for many years, but as some of them have become our students, they have enjoyed this semi-permanent home.  I think the biggest sorrow for me is that they are some of the people God put a special light around when we first arrived.  You know how that is?  It’s like, whether they bug me or attract me, either way, God just shines a light on certain people for me to give extra love in His name.  Three of those people were driven away today.  Thankfully I carried my little bawling buddy for ten minutes, secretly sharing his sorrow at their departure without causing discomfort for the other adults around.  May God bless them and put other Christians near them!  And may the children return as boarding students!