It's A Small World, After All
BY MARGARET BEHNKE, CHIPPEWA FALLS, USA - I must confess I have been allowing the geographical distance between Arizona and lil’ ol' Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, (population approximately 13,000) to be a barrier for me. All of the whirlwind activity described on the blogs sounds invigorating but I have been feeling somewhat left out, given I am unable to be a more active part of things in Arizona.
While ferreting out the contacts for equipment donations did allow me to contribute, I have been longing for a more significant connection, a more meaningful way to contribute. Well, late last night I had a phone conversation with Cyndi. She told me that two things that changed everything.
First, she said that she wanted to bring Jabbes here to Chippewa Falls for the documentary. She said they were going to the village where he grew up in Zambia to meet his family, to see his roots. She also wanted him to meet her family and friends and see where she came from. She thought this would be good for the documentary. Then, she said that Jabbes hoped to bring his family back with him for a visit. She hoped that Jabbes daughters, Judith (15) and Thoko (5) could visit Chippewa Falls.
As we discussed the many cross-cultural implications of the film projects, I realized I have an opportunity to make a contribution: my husband and I will open our home, our hearts, our family and small town to Jabbes and his daughters when they visit Cyndi's hometown. Once I had this thought, I felt an instant connection, one that goes to the very heart: family-to-family.
This morning, as I drove my 6-year-old granddaughter, Mykayla (pictured above with Carter, Adrian, Reilly and Jordan) to school, I told her Cyndi, (also called “Grandma” by my grandkids here!) was bringing Jabbes and his daughters to Chippewa Falls, and she immediately said, "Oh good, they can stay at my house! I want to show her my school." What an awesome response: her first reaction was to share her home, and her school, to open her life to the life of another little girl from another continent, just pure and simple caring and sharing. A good lesson for all of us. Aside from all of the details, she went directly to what truly mattered. Human-to-human connection, no barriers of miles, language, custom, color, religion or politics.
So, while I may be across the country from where the action is taking place, I am certainly connected, a part of keeping the initial, personal motivation for these films continuing. Family-to-family, heart-to-heart. This is what matters to me, not the fact that I doggedly remained on the phone this morning bounced from rude person to gatekeeper with a large company. (Although I must admit I am proud that I was not intimidated!) Sometimes ya' gotta really look for that heart connection - but it is always there.