boomsday

What a great weekend! We had 3 friends, Lambert, Enock and Joselyn to our house and took them around the area some. Enock and Lambert are brothers and have only been in America for 2 weeks. They lived in Lukola A refugee camp for the past 14 years in Tanzania, Africa. Joselyn has been in America for 3 months but lived in the same camp prior to that.

Because of Enock and Lambert, I met James, who lives in their same apartment complex. He is from Sudan (beautiful people - I think of Alek Wek). He's been in America for 3 weeks now. When James was 5, he and an older brother had to run away very quickly from the fighting and killing in Sudan. He never saw the rest of his family again. Fortunately a woman sponsored him to go to school in Nairobi, Kenya after they escaped Sudan . That's where he learned English and learned to live in a city. He has been such a great help not only because he can speak English fluently (he is fluent in 3 languages: Dinka, Swahili, English and knows some Arabic) and can help with translation but because he can help teach the others a few survival things that they will need to know to live in a city. Amazing lives - amazing stories these young people have lived.

The last time they were swimming was in the rivers of Africa. They loved it and are great swimmers.

Anna who was so full of energy all day fell asleep right before the Boomsday fireworks started. She slept through the entire thing and did not flinch once - even during the finale (when the others covered their ears). Nor did she flinch as we passed her from one person to the next on the long hike back to the car. Consolata said the last time they'd been in a crowd that large was when the violence and killing erupted in Burundi and they had to immediately flee for refuge. . . .

We celebrated a few family birthdays today, mine included. One of us, Twyla, is absent as she's been living in Kabul, Afghanistan. However, she is currently on a cruise in Alaska with her parents - great way to celebrate her birthday.




So I have a new name, refugee.
Strange that a name should take away from me
My past, my personality, and hope.
Strange refugee this.
So many seem to share this name, refugee,
Yet we share so many differences.
I find no hope in my new name,
I long to share my past, restore my pride,
To show I too in time will offer more
Than I have borrowed.
For now the comfort that I seek
Resides in the old yet new name
I would choose friend.
~ Ruvimbo Bungwe 14yrs