Wednesday was spent preparing for the big day--leaving for the United States. Theresa had been getting over a cold (bad timing!) so Jen went to her house to make sure she had everything she needed for the trip.
Got to see the puppies again!
So cute.
Out in Kantolomba we said our goodbyes to the team. It was moving that they were not only saying goodbye to their American friends but also to their trusted leader, Theresa.
It was very evident the fondness they have for her. The photos from all of this were taken with Theresa's camera, and for reasons you will read about further on we do not currently have access to the photos from this day.
We also took a tour of the 5 houses that are lined up for the next roof loans. These are houses that WILL NOT make it through the next rainy season. We have committed to the loans, knowing that donors will step forward to assist. (To learn more about providing a roof loan click here). 4 out of 5 of these houses are newly constructed, made from unfired brick. They are well-made structures (Friday was with us and commented on the quality of construction) but will melt into the earth without proper roofs.
The most fun part of the day, perhaps the trip, was setting up a surprise for Theresa.
We arranged to have a minibus come to Kantolomba to pick up the whole Living Compassion team to come to the airport see off Theresa. For many it will be their first time ever going to the airport!
Jen then raced around to various offices in town to finish things off: new bank account set, 5-gallon water bottles returned for the deposit we give at the start of each trip, new carry-on suitcase for Theresa, picking up chitenge products our guests had on order, getting kwacha from the bank to pay our bills (everything is done in cash!), vegetarian snack items for the long journey, setting up Theresa's airport transportation.
The last errand was to drop off some of the donated forceps to our friends at Dr. Obi's office. It was great to see her again! As with the other doctor, she was very excited to receive them. Very likely a life-saving gift.
This next part of the blog becomes difficult to recount as things took a turn we did not expect.
Thursday began with great excitement! Theresa and Jen talked on the phone many times that morning swopping information, being sure we were on track for being at the airport on time, etc. The buzz was palpable.
Jen arrived at the airport to find Theresa and Simon waiting. Big smiles. We checked in, got all set then took Theresa out to see her surprise.
Jen and Theresa checking in.
Gertrude and Veronica waiting with us at the airport.
Right on cue the whole Living Compassion team came out from their hiding place singing a goodbye song. After the initial shock Theresa turned to Jen, "That was a very good surprise," she beamed.
A group hug for Theresa
Everyone wanted to talk with her!
Group photo
Although Theresa and Jen needed to go into the departure lounge, the team insisted on staying outside and waiting until the plane took off. "People do it for the President of Zambia," one of them said, "why should we not do it for Theresa?"
We gave each person a bag of chips to tide them over in their waiting, then said our final goodbyes.
The flight to Johannesburg went off without a hitch. Theresa was like a flying veteran (though she had never stepped foot on an airplane) and seemed unphased by anything.
Theresa boarding.
On the airplane.
The tragedy hit when we were on the ground in the airport, walking through international transfers. When we stopped to take out our passports, Theresa discovered that she did not have hers. She had left it on the first flight. Of course, we immediately dumped out everything in her bag to be sure. Indeed, no passport. Jen promptly switched into all-business mode, and we spent the next 2 hours doing everything in our power to retrieve that passport. To no avail. We now realize that almost certainly it was found quickly and by someone who recognized the value of a U.S. visa on the black market.
Soon it became clear that there was no other option but for Theresa to fly back to Zambia. If there were ever a time to be present and not get lost in the stories of misery and suffering conditioning wants to drag us into, this was it. "No one is dead. We all have plenty to eat," Jen and Theresa told each other as they parted in the airport--Theresa to return to Zambia, Jen to continue to the United States. "This was not the way we planned it, but we will not give up."
The heartbreak of sitting on that 18-hour flight into Washington D.C., without Theresa--there are really no words to describe it.
Theresa is safely back in Zambia, Jen in Boston. We are in HIGH gear, pulling every string we have to get a new passport and visa quickly. We will post short, Facebook-style updates daily to tell you where things stand.
Please keep us in your thoughts/meditations/prayers.