A Real Celebration

Our trip is beginning to wind down, and as it does, our days are slowing a bit and it's no longer necessary for us to try to squeeze so much into every moment. The result is many moments to enjoy throughout the day, and we're able to be fully "in" each moment as it happens... Sounds like it may be a better way to live all of life!

The big project for today was a washing and fueling of Steve's airplane for his trip to Bongolo tomorrow to pick up the dental team. Of course, that needed to include a 30 minute "maintenance" flight, just be sure everything was working correctly! After scrubbing every inch of the plane and helping Steve hand pump lots of fuel into the tanks, the six of us piled into the plane with excitement. A few very official sounding conversations and approvals over the headset to the Libreville tower, and we were off!

We fly up the coast, spanning basically the entire length of Libreville, and for the first time we were able to get an appreciation for the size of this city. We've seen the story of the city told in faces and in homes and in stores and in families—now we were able to see that each of those stories could be multiplied by literally hundreds of thousands all across the city.

The flight was about 30 minutes of great fun as we got to see Steve totally in his element, as well as see the city from above. After a perfect landing, we shut everything down and grabbed a quick lunch.

I had been thinking about how to make Tia’s birthday a special one for her. Of course, it’s incredible to be on this trip, but her birthday itself was a 16 hour car ride during which she only got to pee once, and that’s no one’s idea of a good time, no matter what country you’re in! We decided what would be a ton of fun would be to share Tia’s birthday celebration with the kids from the Hope House.

Adoptions are very rare and somewhat complicated in Gabon, so “orphans” rarely find homes within traditional families. Even the term “orphan” itself is complex here—sometimes these are children without parents, but often, they are simply kids whose parents didn’t want them or else felt they couldn’t afford them. The most heartbreaking stories (among many heartbreaking stories) are when moms and/or dads decide that they’ll keep 2 or 3 children, but choose to send 1 or 2 others away.

The “Hope House” is a home that was started by a Libreville pastor and his wife (Pastor Israel and Mama Natalie) in order to care for these children. They began by simply taking a few children into their home and caring for them. “A few” soon became a relative term—they now have 46 children ranging from age 3 to 18 living with them. They live simply, they work together in order to survive, but unlike many orphans, they are able to actually have a childhood. Each one of them is a child that in some way has felt the loss of a family—but through the Hope House, they now have a family. A big one.

So we loaded up with 14 liters of ice cream, plastic containers and spoons, and headed out to the Hope House. Normally when we arrive, they are running around the property and it’s a bit chaotic. This time as we pulled in, it was quiet—almost like no one was there. However, as we looked in the large front door, we saw them all sitting at desks, waiting… We came in, and no one moved except for Tia’s 3 year old friend Glorie, who couldn’t help but run over to Tia and jump into her arms. Clearly these were children that had been prepped and were on their best behavior so as not to forfeit a rare treat!

Basic food can sometimes be difficult to come by at the Hope House. While a few local churches work with Pastor Israel and Mama Natalie to help staff the kitchen and provide basic foods, 50 mouths are a lot to feed. Fruits and vegetables are extremely expensive in Gabon, so those are almost nonexistent at the Hope House. They get rice, a bit of meat, yogurt, and few other inexpensive foods. While they rarely go hungry, it’s not an exciting or balanced diet. All that said, sweets and party foods are extremely rare at the Hope House, and none of them were about to forfeit their ice cream because of bad behavior!

I could tell you so much more about all that happened there—every time we are with them, there are incredible blessings for us. Pastor Mario and I scooped ice cream into dishes, being sure that everyone got some. Older kids handed it out, beginning with the youngest kids all the way through the adults before taking their own. We all ate together, and Pastor Steve reminded them that Dr. Paul had given them each a toothbrush and toothpaste, and they were supposed to brush their teeth when they were finished!

After we had cleaned up quickly, they wanted to sing for Tia’s birthday. And sing they did, four different songs, including Happy Birthday in English! After the singing, a joyous dance party broke out, and we were treated to some incredible choreography! It was truly a birthday party to remember.

As they sang and danced, I watched the faces of the Hope House children. In many ways, according to every both tangible and intangible standard given by the world around them, they have nothing. But when I look closely at their eyes, I see something remarkable.

It seems that in every way that really matters, they actually have everything.