Maybe Redemption has stories to tell

Hey ya. I am quite aware that I SHOULD have written this post about 2 months ago, but supposedly, it’s better late than never, right?

Well, I am back in Somaliland. SURPRISE! Trust me, it was as much of a surprise to me than anyone else, I’m sure. So, I came back 2 months ago, and my short term contract is actually close to being finished (hence why this post is so far behind). You know when I agreed to come back, I must admit that shortly after, I couldn’t figure out why I did that. My first experience was one of those where I was glad it happened and I learned a lot that made me a better person, but why in the world would I come back? And so soon? When I left, I left thinking I would probably never come back, much less only 3 months later? I mean it took me an entire month and a half to recover emotionally and mentally the last time. What was I thinking?

Yet, other things that I believed should have worked out were not. I felt this sense of responsibility to come back and do what I can to fill in. In the quick time I before I left, I felt this strange peace about it all.

There was one overwhelming thought that I couldn’t shake…”Maybe Redemption has stories to tell”.

…The more I thought about it, the more this thought intrigued me….because I love stories. One reason I love my job so much is because I get to hear people’s stories from all over the world. I wrote about this idea when I was in Darfur: the fact that stories change you. There’s a saying that says, “you can’t hate someone whose story you know”. And it’s true. It’s in knowing different stories that changes everything; because the people on TV are no longer statistics, they are friends and colleagues that have names.
And a name with that story …changes everything.

The memories flood my mind of being fortunate enough to hear the stories of those in Los Angeles,Botswana, Liberia, Haiti, Sudan and Somaliland.

Coming back has really been a great experience. Even though I’m back in the same country- I notice more beauty than I did before. ..and that’s always worth it.

So…maybe Redemption DOES have stories to tell.

May we all be fortunate enough to hear them.

Until next time (which won’t be so long),
Patty

Looking out over Las Gaal