This week we traveled long distances and were feeling quite road weary. Then we landed on the island of Java, a densely populated island of 141 million people, and things began to look up. We made our way to the small city of Garut, with the goal of returning to the village where Andrew worked for 6 months in the mid 90’s. So yesterday we packed up a bag loaded with photos and good intentions, and headed back to the picturesque village of Cipela.
We got off of the bus and were lead through a small gate by a friendly man on the road, into the old, otherworldly community. It reminded me of a medieval village; small walkways connecting homes, a community built around a newly renovated mosque, many curious, friendly faces, all set amidst rice paddies at the base of a volcano. As we approached Andrew’s family home, people began coming out of their homes, checking us out. As we got close to the house his host sister, Naing, spotted us and began excitedly calling out “Andy! Andy! Andy!” More people gathered.
We learned that his host father, Pa Amil, had died 6 years prior. His host mother, whom he had never met, was still working in Saudi Arabia to support her extended family, as she had been all those years ago. Slowly, more familiar faces gathered, children of children that Andrew knew back then, familiar faces and smiles in a sea of beautiful people. There was food, giggles, curious onlookers, elders gathering to examine the photos of friends long passed. After a short time, Andrews 2 host brothers, Acaing and Ujang, arrived, claiming that when they were beckoned to come, told that Andy had returned, they both said they did not believe their messengers.
It was interesting for Calum, Eric and me to be given a glimpse into such a formative time and place in Andrew’s life. It was beautiful to bear witness to these reconnections, the love people extended and the connections still felt. It was like truly like being amongst family.
Late in the afternoon we were lead on a trail about 45 minutes, through the rice paddies to Ujang’s home. There we were welcomed by his wife and her extended family. We were also met by many, many lovely, kind women and children of the village, smiling and extending pleasantries. Although we were not at all hungry we were told that we must eat, “When you travel with someone you eat with them”. So we sat and we ate. And ate. We chatted too, answering questions about Canada, asking our own questions about how Indonesia is changing and how those changes are impacting villages like Cipela. The boys played outside with their host cousins and community kids, entertained by a cat who had found a mouse. They were a lot of screams and giggles!
Late in the afternoon we were lead on a trail about 45 minutes, through the rice paddies to Ujang’s home. There we were welcomed by his wife and her extended family. We were also met by many, many lovely, kind women and children of the village, smiling and extending pleasantries. Although we were not at all hungry we were told that we must eat, “When you travel with someone you eat with them”. So we sat and we ate. And ate. We chatted too, answering questions about Canada, asking our own questions about how Indonesia is changing and how those changes are impacting villages like Cipela. The boys played outside with their host cousins and community kids, entertained by a cat who had found a mouse. They were a lot of screams and giggles!
Leaving was emotional and powerful. I was reminded, once again, about how this world is just filled with kind and generous people. We share that message with our kids all of the time when we are at home, but often it is a lesson without context. Here, this important teaching is taking shape, coming to life in the smiles and touches of curious strangers, in the generosity extended by a rural, village family who drop everything they are doing to stop and reconnect with someone who came into and went out of their lives 20 years ago. What a humbling experience. Good reminders too about the importance of connections (even seemingly long lost ones) and extending generous hands to those we meet or are reacquainted with along this path. How lovely…