A long walk to a better future.

As we pulled up it looked like a normal house, but rounding the corner we saw that it was larger than it appeared. Through the lit windows we spotted people moving about and we walked up the steps to the front door with anticipation and curiosity. Waiting for them to open I wondered what it was like inside and how we would communicate.

Stepping in we were met with faces and languages unknown to us, combined with the normal activities that would characterize a home with teenagers in it. Our purpose was to visit one of these, a teenage girl who had made the long journey from Africa to Norway, walking into a more secure future.

After a few minutes we found one of the staff who took us to meet this beautiful girl. She and the other girls were bustling around in their living space, and there was much life and laughter. What you would expect from teenage girls. The pink roses were received with joy, and in want of a proper vase, a makeshift one was made out of the base of a coke bottle with a large stone in the bottom to keep it steady. “I like pink”, she said with a shy smile. Most girls like pink.

We sat down in the red sofas. She fetched us tea and clementines, and quickly made us both cups of strong sweet tea. A very welcome warmth coming in from the cold outside. We gave her chocolate and a gift from a friend who couldn’t make it. Opening it her face lit up at the sight of the beautiful figure of an angel carrying a heart. “I will keep it in my room”, she said, holding the precious symbol of friendship with a careful grasp. 

Our conversation was slow in a mixture of Norwegian words and some English bound together with gestures. Other girls would pass by, some listening to music or doing other things, all eager to test the words they’d learnt in Norwegian on us, and causing lots of laughter as we tried to communicate beyond “hello” and “how are you?”

We talked about her life in this temporary home. We talked about her journey to get here walking for days and traveling through numerous countries to finally this one. She proudly showed us photos of her family and many of herself in different places. “Selfies” which is what teenagers are into these days. As the minutes and hour passed, familiarity and trust grew. We went from being strangers sitting around a table, to being three women sitting closely together in the sofa to look at the photos on her phone of what the past months had been in her life. A bond was formed, and even if we had never met before, we were able that evening to share a bit of life.

Even if she and the others are just teenagers, and the same as any other teenagers in behaviour and interests, they have a story unlike that of most teenagers. And with that, a thankfulness which is incredible and brings such perspective. A perspective on what is important in life and a thankfulness that invites me in. Not a “relief” that I have never had to flee my country, because that would mean something different, but a challenge to be thankful for what I am living and what I have. Thankful for what I have been blessed with, and challenged to not hold on to that, but seek opportunities to share of who I am. It doesn’t take much to bring fellowship to someone just for a moment.

Standing outside shivering in the cold waiting for our taxi to come, we joked and laughed with her. Gone was that initial slowness in communication and laughter can communicate what many words can’t. We hugged her tight as we left.

Driving away we were left with such a sense of privilege. Privilege that we got to met her and get to know this beautiful person a little bit. But also privilege that we got to step into her journey, if only for an evening. It reminded me to not underestimate the power of a moment. So many times we do nothing because we think we don’t have time or capacity. But often a moment or an hour or an evening is enough. And I needed to be reminded of that.