Into Africa

Last time I posted, I wasn't yet a septuagenarian, but now I am. And some of you will think I've gone a bit daft when I tell you what's happening in my life of late.

First of all, I've decided to hang up my crown. For the past 3-1/2 years, I've been known in some limited circles as Queen of the Church Bulletin. But in early November, as the Big 7-0 loomed, I noticed I wasn't leaping out of bed at the crack of dawn, eager to go to work. St. John's Church Bulletin, which had begun as a pre-printed one-sided 8-1/2 x 11 page into which I plugged the lectionary readings and hymns, had evolved into a 12-page double-sided legal size document with imported text and pictures. Getting it perfect each week seemed nigh impossible, and I didn't like my mutterings as I tried to master the ponderous paths of Publisher. All the warning signs were there, and on the week that I made the Freudian typo "Helleluia" I knew it was time to retire. Stress is verboten for those on the threshold of dotage. So just before my birthday I submitted my letter of resignation, effective December 31.

The following Sunday I attended a benefit brunch for a school in Ghana that St. John's has supported for several years. My guests were Mary and Richard and their three children, aka my "grandchildren by affection." The founders of Heritage Academy were present at the brunch and Kwesi presented a slide talk about his village and the way the school is changing the lives of the gifted students who attend -- all on full scholarships of $15 per year.

I noticed that Rosemary was sitting on the edge of her folding chair throughout Kwesi's presentation, so it wasn't a surprise when she expressed a wish to go to Ghana as a volunteer next summer. Mary and Richard said they wouldpay for her plane ticket if, after a week of thinking about it, she still wanted to go.

She did. So I dashed off an e-mail to Melissa and Kwesi, praising the maturity and talent of this 16-year-old young woman who has spent many an hour with me in my quilting room.

And then, something remarkable happened. Rosemary said she wished I would go with her to Africa. I could just see the smile on God's face as this invitation fell like a feather into my hands and heart.

Some of you know I have long been of the view that there are no coincidences in life. I was at that very time participating in an online group discussing the topic of the Spirituality of Grandparenting, and was posting about not only the five great kids my children have given me but also about these three "surrogates."




So -- Rosemary and I are going to Ghana this July. We are going to team-teach creative writing to middle-school-age kids, and I'm hoping we'll meet some of their grandparents. I don't know much more right now, but I do know this will be a life-changing experience for us. And I just can't keep from smiling!