KINGS IN THE CORNER

All of the sudden one of the young teens sitting in my house playing Kings in the Corner, looks outside and realizes it is dark. They are supposed to be home by dark, but our card playing was so much fun we all forgot about the time.

 
I learned this card game 10 years ago from the Benedictine nuns at Our Lady of Peace Monastery in Columbia, Mo. One of my many serendipitous encounters that I stumbled into. Broken and depressed from a devastating divorce, that I never thought I would be in, I arrived on their doorstep asking for help.
They asked me to come back the following Thursday afternoon for what I assumed would be counseling. But instead I was taken to the kitchen table and was taught how to play Kings in the Corner. Then asked to sit and play this game with an elderly nun who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. This was my spiritual counseling for two years, playing King in the Corner with Sister Jane every Thursday. It was very effective! But that is another story.

 
My story today is about teaching my English club the same game. With not much else to do in my village on any given night, especially a weekend night, they arrive at my house early and beg me to take out the cards and play.  I am always grateful for the company and laughter in the house. We also throw in a few games of “Go Fish” they love practicing their English numbers “Do you have a five?” “No, Go Fish!”

 
Tonight, they leave in a hurry yelling “Veloma” (good-by) as they race down the steps to run home. As I am cleaning up the table, putting away the cards, locking my door, I suddenly realize that I will say good bye forever one day. The very thought hits me like a brick and I walk over and sit on the edge of the bed as the sadness washes over me. Then I think about the porcelain flush toilets I will sit on back home and the sadness dissipates fairly quickly!

 
But seriously I have grown very fond of some of the young teens in my English club. Melanie just turned 13. She is a diligent student and loves learning English. Not yet into boys! She is a sweet girl, so kind and thoughtful. One day when I offered her a piece of banana cake, she asked if she could take it home to her grandmother instead. Her family raises pigs, sells food on market days and grows rice. I have great hopes for her and tell her frequently how smart she is, how good her English is and that she can be anything she wants. But deep down I also know the reality and because of the connection I feel to them it leaves a bit of sadness behind.

 
Human connection, a concept easy enough to say, but more difficult to accomplish. Everyone longs for that “soul mate” someone to connect with. In many ways I have little in common to connect with the people in my village of Manandona. I also have a lot in common. I see, feel and live some of their daily struggles. I also feel and see their joy and happiness. I have been invited to celebrate baptisms, weddings and even danced with their dead ancestors at the traditional famadinana.

 
Joan Chittester, a Benedictine nun, wrote that humanity is identifying and connecting with someone’s pain and joy. Three words we all long to hear are not “I love you” but “I hear you”. When more people can identifying with the pain and joy of others, it will help eliminate much of the injustice in the world. Not so many months ago, all I could think of was going home. Today, it is hard to think about leaving. In some strange way I have a connection to the people here and I know my life will never be the same because of it.

 
If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.
Paulo Coelho
There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.
Mahatma Gandhi

Baptism of neighbors baby, there was a big lunch afterwards.

Amazing flowers

This is a coffee vendor selling coffee out of a Jovena can -Jovena is the gas company and the can is an empty gas can converted into a coffee maker. Makes for strong coffee with a little “gas” kick to it!

That is me, in the middle of huge bamboo trees