I introduced Mikelo in a couple other posts so I’ll simply say he’s a 5 year old that found me on day one and consistently found me every day.   We didn’t always go to his home village of Chipampha.  Some days we started at another village and then went there. He was always one of the kids running to the busses.  Usually he spotted me before I even got out.  When I got off he would push his way to the bus door and reach out his arms to be picked up. 

The first day was The Grove Malawi dedication. The next day was a big VBS and play day.  The kids didn’t meet us at the bus because they were in VBS.  Afterwards there were lots of kids playing many different games.  This was the only day I didn’t see him.  The next day was church.  He was waiting for me as I excited the bus.  I had one of the interns where he was the day before.  He just said that he hadn’t seen me.   Church was the same as the prior day.  He wanted to sing and dance.  He brought me to the front right next to the band and started dancing.  During service they laid down tarps again.  He wanted me to sit there with him, but my leg kept cramping up.  I stood up and pointed to the chairs.  We’d have to sit in a real chair today otherwise I would not be able to stand back up. 

I went to other villages the next couple days.  We played on the swings, we took pictures.  He walked me around his village when I was back.  Largely he just wanted to be with me.  One day Aaron wanted to watch one of the soccer games.  I bought popcorn and we ate and watched the game together.  He wore different clothes each day, but they were worn and dirty.  He would be able to get sugar cane.  I assume he got it with his smile.  During the big VBS day there was another boy sitting with us.  He had money and bought himself and me a popsicles.  It was quite good with real, and fresh, cane sugar.  Mikelo also wanted one, but couldn’t pay for it.  He didn’t know how to ask me and I didn’t know until later.  Since it was the last day of VBS there was a small craft for all the kids to do.  They made cross necklaces with beads and a small cross.  He ended up walking away and talking to another boy.  He sold his necklace for some money and went and bought a popsicle.  It was heartbreaking to watch.  I would have bought his popsicle if I knew he wanted it that bad.  I talked to one of the interns and explained what happened.  I asked if she could buy his necklace back.  I gave her money and she got it back. 

The day of the concert we helped with VBS in another village.  Then my kids wanted to watch the soccer game again.  I didn’t see Mikelo.  However somewhere in the sea of 1000 people at the concert stage he found me.  I think it helps being a tall azungu– it helps me to stand out for him to find me.  I already told the story about him at the concert in another post.  He wanted to stay out late so he could sing and dance at the concert.  

He never cried, but he was very possessive of me.  There were a lot of kids that wanted attention.  He had a couple friends that he wanted to be around, but he didn’t want anyone else spending time with me.  In this way it was good that we went to different villages so I could spend some time with others.  However, overall I feel like my purpose in Malawi was to spend a lot of time with him.  It was hard to say goodbye because it was hard to communicate with him.  Even with a translator he didn’t say much.  He was just excited that I was there.  The night of the concert I gave him a beanie since he was obviously cold wearing only shorts.  The next day he told his friend to ask for the hat I was wearing that day so I gave it away.  The final day I wore a sweaty old baseball cap and Mikelo wanted that one also.  

He started singing a song all on his own so I asked one of the interns what he was singing.  He said it was a Chichewa welcome song.  I’m so happy you are here.  Thank you for coming.  I didn’t do much.  I just spent some time with a five year old boy.  That was enough to make him feel happy and loved. 

How do I say goodbye? I asked the interns, if course.  You set him down and wave.  It’s too difficult if they start to cry.  I had to clarify again.  I don’t want to just disappear.  Does he know this is our last day?  The intern explained to him in Chichewa. We wore name tags for the whole trip to make it easier to remember names and introduce ourself.  I took off my name tag and gave it to him.  Goodbye.  He didn’t cry.  He looked at me one last time and waved goodbye.