Making connections

Judy. I am constantly amazed at how God opens possibility after possibility for us. Probably the most obvious to us is the people connection.

I originally became interested in Botswana—yes, I admit it—because I read Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. Precious Ramotswe’s love for her country just made it sound way too cool. Then my friend Morgan joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Botswana, so we made plans on this trip to go to her village. Unfortunately, Morgan became ill and had to leave. Still, we had already made plans to go to Kasane and Chobe National Park, so the die was cast. The day before we left, I messaged Morgan that we’d be in Kasane (she’d also told me about how much she liked it there). Immediately she asked if I’d like to meet another Peace Corps Volunteer, and virtually introduced me to Linda.

Linda (are you still following?) offered to meet us in Kasane and asked if we’d be interested in a river cruise and game drive, as she had a friend Christine at Iswiza Travel Agency who had the best prices. Why not? And we plunged ahead.

We arrived in Kasane from Victoria Falls (after a close call with three water buffalo on the road, for which our driver stopped and waited) at noon, and the receptionist at our B&B said, “I understand you’ve scheduled a river cruise at three this afternoon and a game drive in the morning?” Moments later Christine called to say her husband, “Uncle George” would pick us up at the B&B. I asked about the price (MUCH less than what we had found online), and told her we’d not had time to get pula, the local currency. “Don’t worry about that; we’ll take care of that tomorrow. I’ll take you to an ATM.” Moments after we hung up, Uncle George arrived to introduce himself and assure us he’d be there to drive us to the jetty.

Ted will tell you all about our experiences on the cruise and drive. That’s another story.

Uncle George was there as promised, and filled us in on local lore. After our game drive the next morning, Christine stopped by to meet us and ask if all went well.  Then she took Ted to a bank and helped him calculate how much money he’d need till we left.

Christine is married to Uncle George, and they have been establishing their tourist business since she was let go from a large tourist company. It’s thriving, which is well deserved, as their customer service and the tours are outstanding. They are applying for micro loans and grants to buy their own vehicles, which will increase their income considerably.

One of our guides had asked, “How do you know Christine?” I answered, “I don’t.  She was introduced to me by Linda, whom I also don’t know, who was introduced to me by Morgan, whom I know.

That afternoon, Linda came to meet us.  

Sometimes you meet someone you immediately know will shake up everything you think and open your eyes to a world you can’t imagine.

We sat down to lunch about one o’clock. At four, she suggested we walk around the “town”. At six, we went back to the B&B and ordered drinks. At eight thirty, Ted and I finally had to go to bed. The afternoon and evening had flown by as we shared stories and ideas and learned about her family, about her choice to join the Peace Corps, about frustrations and joys, about the HIV/AIDS work that is a part of every volunteer’s work, about the kids she works with, and about the day-to-day attitude of many of the Botswanans. She’s working with youth to look toward a future, something their parents don’t do. We learned about the schools, and that many of the teachers are students who failed the exams and had no other university options, about the English exams that even she couldn’t follow.

We walked through the town and saw entrepreneurs who were not Botswanan, but from Zimbabwe, we saw empty shops that citizens couldn’t afford to rent, a favela-type slum that will be torn down to build more tourist attractions and offices. We saw baboons and wart hogs wandering the streets, and government offices and housing. And suddenly we heard her name called. Three beautiful young girls dashed up to hug her—part of her teen club. When she introduced me, they hugged me immediately and posed for a photo.

We went back to the B&B to talk more, and she asked us to help her think about her next step when her two years are up. She said, “I can’t go back to Manhattan and makeup and boots and the world I left eighteen months ago. I’ve seen too much to return to first-world problems.”

I get it.

Uncle George came to pick her up in his taxi, and promised me he’d be there to take us to the airport the following day. Linda and I hugged and said we’d see each other again—somewhere. I need to make that happen.