My Wallet

You often realize the value of a simple possession like a wallet, when you lose. Yes, as you may have guessed, I lost my wallet! Losing a wallet in the U.S.A. means you put your credit cards on hold and re-apply for your license. Yes, it is annoying and frustrating… but now image trying to do that living in Africa!

Friday, January 7th I lost my wallet on my walk home from work. It must have slipped out of my pocket at some point. I did not realize I had even lost my wallet till that evening after my roommate Laura had taken a walk. When she returned, she mentioned she had been stopped by some white guys in a truck, asking her if she had lost or knew of a person who lost a wallet. Immediately, I got up to double check I had my own wallet. After tearing up the house and with no wallet to be found, Laura and I started to put our heads together about her interaction with the guys that stopped her. They said, “It was a girl (white) had blonde hair. A black wallet and there was 50 Namibian.” Yes, I am a white girl but I do not have blonde hair, it’s brown. My wallet it brown, not black; but I knew I only and exactly 50 Namibian in my wallet. I was pretty sure that was my wallet! The boys also mentioned that they worked at a butchery shop next to a hardware store. The next morning Laura and I set off on foot to visit every butchery shop in town! In the first week that I lived here a friend from the hospital, Modias, made me a map of the city. It was a great map so I called him up for help. He made sure that we hit all the butchery shops in Rundu. Now take a moment to picture two white girls walking in, trying to explain why you were at their butchery shop looking for a lost wallet (which you did not lose in their store or even near by!!) It was rather comical!

After a couple of hours of searching with no luck I started to accept the fact that I may never see my wallet again. It was sobering. Three times over the next week, I went to the police station, praying and hoping someone would have turned in my wallet. At this point I did not care about the credit cards - I had them on hold and could easily reapply for a new credit card - the only thing I really cared about was my license.

Two weeks before moving to Africa I unofficially moved addresses to back to my parents address, but I did not reapply for a Michigan driver license. Reapplying for an Indiana license was also not going to be possible for I was not living in the same address on my license and technically not even in Indiana. After reading for about an hour to attempt to reapply for a license, I succumbed to the fact I may not have a license till I returned to America this fall. This would mean I technically should not drive nor could I ever provide for someone two sources of identification, someone often important when traveling. Another very sobering thought.

On Thursday, January 20th, I was taking the same walk I take to everyday to work every day. Almost half way to town, I was stopped by a woman in a truck. She said, “Hey did you lose a wallet; is this your wallet?” As held up my wallet!!! I leapt and yelled… “YES, YES, YES!!!” Running to her truck I could barely believe I was holding my wallet again. Everything was still in it! My credit cards, my 50 Namibian, and most importantly my license. It was a miracle!

Whoever picked up my wallet has family who works the butchery shop next to the hardware store in town. We had been to this butcher shop, but I do not believe all the family nor the employees aware that I had lost my wallet. They were waiting to see me again to give it to me.

As I reflect on this phenomenal story I am truly amazed! Who would think you could lose your wallet in Africa and have it laid back into your hand almost two weeks later with nothing stolen. It is a miracle of the Lord! Phenomenal!