After 37 hours of travel, I made it safe and sound to my first-born son’s home in Jasper, GA. I am still exhausted and filled with a mix of emotions. My Namily in-country are checking on me and reminding me how much I will miss them. It’s the simple things I will miss.
My goal for the little ones in my life in Namibia was to instill a love of reading. I read almost every day to boy Blessing (my housemate’s almost 2yr old son) and to girl Blessing and Mira (matrone’s 7yr old and 2yr old daughters). I gave them homemade or store-bought books for special occasions or ‘just because’. I also found websites with free pdf stories. Girl Blessing was failing her English reading and writing class, so I also spent time helping with her homework assignments. One of the best moments in my service was her proudly showing me her ‘C’ grade. FYI, grades are different here and a ‘C’ is very respectable.
My housemate sent a video of boy Blessing looking at a book, saying “The reading culture you left behind.” Before I left, she also told me that when I am not around, he goes to the door of my room with a book in hand, and knocks, knocks on my door, hopeful that I will come out to read to him. These simple things are what made my life so complete in Namibia. (Note: can’t get video to load)
Last week, I forgot to mention a serendipitous moment. In earlier posts, I have talked about Cea, the principal’s wife. She was my first friend among the school staff and took me under her wing from the beginning. Before the staff meeting last Monday (the day I found out I was leaving), she asked me to come to her room for my goodbye present. She said she started making this gift a couple weeks ago to make sure it was complete before I left in September or October. She knew she had plenty of time and there was no rush. For some reason, she found herself working on it in a rush. She would tell herself there was no rush, but she was compelled to work on it every spare moment. She had completed it just the day before! Talk about God working in mysterious ways. It’s a beautiful linen set with crochet trim.
All for now with all my love,
Ellen
Where's GranEllen? 
So Thankful you are home!
🙏🏼😘
Gibbs Garden is open- near you
So peaceful full of new life- announce spring- lots of walking great for meditation- should be quiet
Of course we are all anxious to see you-
Know you are on lock down-
Keep posting we are loving you🤗
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I know you are disappointed, but we are glad to have you safe home – as safe as you can be in our current situation. You were certainly a blessing to your friends in Namibia and I know they will miss you.
Welcome home!
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Thanking God you are home with your son! May God continue to bless you and keep you as you try to adjust to all the sudden changes in your life, dear Ellen!🙏🏻💞🙏🏻💐
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Thank you for letting us know where you are! May God bless you and keep you well, as you adjust to the change and these times. We give thanks for you dear Ellen❣️🙏🏻💞💐🙏🏻
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Welcome home Ellen! We will be happy to see your smiling face and hear more of your stories. What an adventure you’ve had. Like you, we will also miss your Namily because they are also now part of our lives. What charming people and so generous of love and spirit.
Welcome home dear friend.
Peggy
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Welcome back Ellen. I was following everyone’s (over 7,000 volunteers) arrival back to the states via Facebook’s Family and Friends page and your journey was among the longest. The parents were pacing the floors. Rest up and tells us more later.
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So glad to hear that you are safely home with family! I look forward to the time when we can all see each other face to face!
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Elllllllennnnn!!!!!
Welcome back to GA.
Sone really moving pieces you have written from your journey.
I know you left Namibia better than you found it and made a difference in many young lives.
Cant wait to catch up and hear more about it.
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Welcome back Ellen — and many thanks for sharing your adventures so eloquently with us. I may never visit Namibia, but I feel I know so much more about the country and its people after having seen them through your eyes.
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Oh the wonderful folks you had to leave behind….. but so glad you are safely back in the States That’s a hard trip, I remember when we went to visit Ann in East Africa.
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