Chapter 15 - Page 210 - The Village Has A New Name

   The crowd followed the five as they left the park and went to the hospital to visit with the patients. Afterward, almost everyone in Angel Town gathered around the jeep as Rhasha got in on the driver side and Jim climbed into the passenger seat. Shanha sat between Jackie and Simbatu in the back seat. It turned into a tearful departure. Everyone pushed and shoved, trying to say good-bye.

   Rhasha started the jeep and eased it through the crowd, which parted to let them pass. They all waved to the crowd.

   “I love you-bye!” everyone yelled. The crowd whistled and cheered until the jeep was out of sight. The Angel Town ambulance followed behind the jeep, loaded with all the luggage and band equipment. Rhasha’s parents also rode in the ambulance.

   As Rhasha pulled onto the main road, heading toward Nairobi, Shanha began thinking about America. She’d seen pictures of beautiful American cities in school. She leaned forward in her seat and asked Jim, “Papa, what are people like in the United States?”

   Rhasha, Jackie, and Simbatu were just as anxious to hear Jim’s answer. Jim turned his head toward Shanha and kissed her on the forehead. “Sweetheart,” he said, “I wish I could say Americans are a race of angels, and would never do anyone harm.”

   Jim looked around. Suddenly everyone looked worried about what America was like. “Just like every country,” he continued, “America has good people and it has bad people. I’ll do my best to keep you away from the bad people.”

   The gears began to turn in Shanha’s head. “Papa, does everyone in America believe in God?”