I always hate this part of the trip.
This is where we say goodbye and make promises to return. We stop at the Hotpec orphanage in Buea or our way to the airport in Douala. The kids run up to the van and we all scramble out trying to gain an extra minute or two with them.
Ed and I have a meeting with the director to inform her of the projects we’ll be starting immediately at the orphanage. We will be focusing on education, nutrition, safety and basic needs of the children. It’s a great meeting and the director is very happy to hear the news. We walk out of her office and I am told it’s time to go.
I haven’t even seen her yet. I beg for ten extra minutes and start walking the grounds of the complex. A few kids run up to me and grab my hand, holding it as they talk about their day. I would love to spend hours here with each one of them. They’re starving for attention and I wish I could give it to them. I stop to play a clapping game with some younger children and they giggle when I don’t know the words.
I hear the horn honking…really?…time to go already? I ask an older child if she has seen Docas, I’m hoping to give her one last squeeze before I go. The child knows where she is and we run to find her. Honking, honking! I start to worry that I won’t see her before I go.
Docas comes running out of her dormitory dressed in a beautiful gray dress, her eyes beaming. This time she remembers. This time she is as happy to see me as I am to see her. I want this time to last so much longer than it possibly can.
I pick Docas up and give her a big hug, making promises to visit again soon. We all walk back to the van together where everyone is waiting for me. I so hate this part. I’m not good at leaving, at saying goodbye. I kneel down and hug a few of the kids. Docas starts to sing: “Love is something that you give away…..give away….give away….”. For whatever reason, this little girl has the key to a very special place in my heart.
I don’t want to leave – I haven’t had enough time. “Treana,” someone says gently, “we have to go.” I give a final hug and kiss to as many kids as I can and walk quickly to the van. I jump in, head to the back and start fumbling around in my bag looking for something, anything to stop from crying. I think I’m fooling everyone with my attempts at distraction, but my great friend Patricia, without even turning around, reaches over the seat and puts her hand on mine.
This is the part of this job that I hate. I really, really do.
Tags: Africa, Cameroon, Charity, Obakki Foundation, orphan, Orphanage, Treana Peake
and you say you’re not a writer – you have made us all love Docas so very much from so very far away. When you go back you must take our love to all the children. I wish I could go with you. Safe journey home xxx
Is that Docas in the last picture? I love that one. I’m glad you got to see her, too; I would have been heart-broken for you. I so feel your pain about saying goodbye, I’m terrible as well but at least you have wonderful friends. That made me smile.
It’s always terrible greet and go away especially in front of many expressions of love!!!
I understand how many emotions you felt!!!
But it’s not a definitive goodbye; you’ll be back again and this comfort.
I’m happy you’ve been able to see Docas again. We know how much love you’ve for her.
A big hug!!
That is great that she remembers you this time but so sad that you have to leave. You go right ahead and cry, I did. Saying goodbye is always so hard when you have to leave people you love. Good thing you have great friends with you to help you through it. XOXOXO
Outstanding documentaries of our trip to Cameroon. I’m very much looking forward to seeing Ed once he’s home – so much to share! Travel safe – somehow I think the memories of your voyage will evapourate the time to travel home. All the best, and thank you again for your posts!
awwww!! I do the fishing through the big purse thing too! Treana you are so special to so many and to bring all of this to us really makes your foundation one of a kind. Docas is adorable and your hard time saying goodbye made me teary eyed. Have a safe journey and hope your foot is getting better
I’m from Brazil,and one more Nickelback fan, that’s why, as you said in another post, that I’m here. I always went through other site, my email, things like that. But for a month now I made this site my #1 thing to do on Internet. I want to do a post before, but never get to it. But this time, i didn’t have “a purse” to look at. So I had to read this in parts…and still made me cry and I am still crying.
I hope you keep strong and health for many years, so you can do this for a very long time!!! And say a lots of goodbye to Docas and share with us. Thank You is not enough for all the thing that you are doing!!!
Treana, that picture of you and Docas is INCREDIBLE! You two are riveted on each other. The connection between the two of you is obvious. Looks like your already big heart grew a few sizes in Africa…
Thank you for posting these! The way you write everything that you feel lets us feel it as well…and I can never make it through the blog without my eyes filling with tears. Thank you for being who you are and for sharing it with us…