Category Archives: Current

Concert for the Preschool

After the Bishop’s concert , we headed over to the Preschool. This is the school that the children from the St. Camillus Center attend. Being with these precious little ones was a fun way to end the concert series.

To be honest, I am relieved that the concerts are done. The gifts of this experience for Sam and Will are tremendous. I am grateful for all the time and energy that was put in to give them this experience and I am ready to be at the Center without the scheduled pressure of another concert. I am ready to have time to just live the life of and to be of service to the St. Camillus Center. 5 concerts in 4 days has really limited the time we have had to be at the Center. Of course, all the children, except for the babies and for the oldest, Slindle, were at school all day. So there would not have been much for us to do, except perhaps work on projects. I am ready to do something concrete for the St. Camilllus Center.

Airport Excitement

We left our house at 5:30 am overloaded with excitement and 8 checked and 4 carry on suitcases. Will’s mom, Ann, drove our neighbor’s van and his dad, James, drove his car to manage it all. Halfway to the airport we realized that Niko did not have his driver’s license. A moment of quick thinking had us off the freeway, Will and few items of luggage squished into the van with the rest of us, and James on his way to our home to get the license.

As we maneuvered all the baggage through checkin, I prayed that all the bags would meet their expected weight restrictions and that the 2 bags that were each over the size restriction by an inch would go through without notice. As each bag was weighed and thrown onto the conveyor belt without comment, I breathed a little deeper.

The next hurdle was clearing the South African government restrictions for traveling with minors. Just a month ago they instituted new requirements that minors traveling with their parent’s must have both a passport and a stamped birth certificate. Minor’s traveling with anyone but their parent’s must have a signed and notarized affidavit from each parent. The beautiful young woman checked over these items thoroughly. Then she called over her supervisor, who studied each item with scrutiny. They were very clear that if our documents did not meet the requirements, we would not be allowed into S. Africa. Again I found myself holding my breath as the minutes ticked by and still we waited for clearance.

As we waited, I took a deep breath and said a prayer. Immediately, I felt the presence of a very large protective angel standing to my left. I breathed a breath of gratitude and relaxed into the knowing that all would be well. Just as we were cleared and checked in, James arrived with Niko’s license and we were ready!

Preparations

It is almost time for us to leave. These past weeks have been spent packing and repacking the countless donations that have been put Into our care: Soccer balls, clothing, jackets, hats, shoes, socks, school, supplies and books challenge the seams of our suitcases. Meeting the weight and size restrictions challenge our minds. We are each allowed 2-50 lb bags, plus a carry on. Each of our checked bags can measure no more than 59 inches, our carry ons must be under 29 inches. Filling each bag with just enough heavy items with just enough light items so,that the bags fill the space and meet but do not go over the size restrictions has been a giant math puzzle. We finally had our 8 checked bags ready. I looked around the room and still there were so many beautiful items waiting to be packed. I called our airlines and discovered that we could add up to 25 lb per suitcase for an added cost of $50.00 each. Back to the Math problems. Which suitcases have more space to hold additional items? Which suitcases have heavy items that can be exchanged for light items without going over the size restrictions? The shuffling began and many hours later we had 40 additional pounds added for a total of 440lbs of donations ready to be delivered to Lesotho, in the name of our incredible community.

The Seed of a Dream is Planted

Thula Thula Game Reserve, South Africa

Kim, Mary, Sam and Niko 2010

St. Julianna, Founder of the St. Camillus Center

In 2004, I went to South Africa to study the AIDs pandemic with a delegation of 16 women from the United States. We spent 2 of our 16 days in South Africa on a game reserve. Upon returning my then 6 year old, Sam, who is an animal enthusiast, made me promise that I would not go back to Africa without him. I made that promise and set my intention to go back to South Africa with Sam and Niko one day and to spend time on at a game reserve.

In 2009, a young woman, Mary, came to Tacoma from Lesotho Africa to work in L’Arche for a year. We were her host family. Mary walked into our home and took up permanent residence in our hearts. She returned to Lesotho in the summer of 2010. By the summer of 2011, Mary had married her longtime boyfriend, Paul and she had given birth to their son. They named their son after her brother… Sammy. Our family’s dream to visit her and to meet Paul and our grandson, Sammy became more than a dream. It became a clear intention.

I served on the board of The Lesotho Connection for 3 years from 2006-2009. Lesotho is a small mountainous country surrounded by South Africa. One out of four children, in Lesotho, is orphaned by AIDs. A Holy Names, Besotho, nun named Sr. Julianna has devoted her life to caring for the orphaned children in Mohales Hoek, Lesotho. One of the goals of the Lesotho Connection has been to raise the funds needed to build a home for the orphaned and vulnerable children in Sr. Julianna’s Care. This dream was fulfilled and the children moved into their new home, the St. Camillus Center, in December of 2014. I wanted to see this center, which had been just a seedling of a dream when I was on the board and I wanted to spend time with Sr. Julianna and these beautiful children.

This dream of returning to Southern Africa, which started in 2004, continued to grow in me as our love for Mary developed, the St. Camillus Center was built and Sam grew into a young man. The dream expanded to include Sam’s best friend, Will, in this adventure. Sam and Will have been friends since birth. Their friendship has been nurtured by their deep loves of animals, music and community.

In the autumn of 2014, I felt a voice inside me say “The time is now! You must begin to prepare and plan to go to Southern Africa this upcoming summer.” It would be the summer before Sam’s junior year of high school and Will’s senior year. If we waited any longer, the opportunity for all of us to go together could be lost. And so we began to plan.

Lesotho Bound

This summer, I will spend 3 weeks in Lesotho, Africa with my husband, Niko, my 16 year old son, Sam and his best friend, Will. Our focus is 3 fold. First, to see our daughter of the heart and to meet her husband and 4 year old son. We were Mary’s host family for a year as she volunteered at L’Arche Tahoma Hope. She walked into our home and immediately was a part of our family. After Mary returned to Lesotho, she married her beloved, Paul and had a baby whom she named after her Tacoma brother, Sam. We are so excited to see Mary again and to meet our extended family in Lesotho. When I told Mary that we were coming to see her, she replied “I have prayed for this for so long. I never knew when it would happen and now it is happening.” Together we wept with joy. Mary has enlisted Sam and Will to teach in her classroom for 2 days that we are with her.

Secondly, we will spend 8 to 10 days at the St. Camillus Center. I was on the board of The Lesotho Connection(TLC), here in Tacoma for 3 years. TLC has recently completed a long time goal of building a new home for the St. Camillus Center. This home houses 20 children orphaned by AIDS. There are over 200,000 children orphaned by AIDS in Lesotho. This is roughly the population of Tacoma. We will spend our time serving in whatever way we can be most helpful to the center. Also, Sam and Will will use their talents in music to write a song with the children that we will record so that it can be used both by The Lesotho Connection and by the St. Camillus Center in their promotional materials.

Thirdly, we will spend 3 to 4 days at a game reserve in South Africa to take in the amazing animals of South Africa and to learn about conservation projects in place. Sam and Will have been animal enthusiasts from the start. Their love of animals has been one of the things that has nourished their deep friendship for the past 16 years.

Sam and Will have committed to paying for their airfare, spending money and time at the game reserves and to help raise funds for playground equipment and a sign for The St. Camillus Center. To fulfill this commitment they have created and are selling cards with their original artwork as well as selling my Umbutu tea. If you would like to support their efforts, you can purchase their items at Sam and Will’s Etsy Shop or you can check out their project updates on their fundraising page at Sam and Will’s You Caring Site

This is a trip of a lifetime, but it is more than that. As parent’s it is an opportunity to offer these young men an opportunity to have their image of themselves and their world expanded. It is an opportunity to allow and encourage them to steadily and faithfully work towards a goal and to bring it to fruition. It is an opportunity for them to share their gifts in a profound way and to have their gifts shaped in new and profound ways by the Lesotho people. This is a trip that will crack all of our hearts open, that will change us in ways we do not yet know, and that will imprint on our souls our place in the family of humanity.

Click the link below to watch this beautiful video about the St. Camillus Center:

About the Lesotho Connection

Umbutu: I Am Because We Are

Umbutu is a South African word. There is no direct translation in the English language, but it has been translated as meaning – kindness, humanity, compassion, goodness. It is regarded as a fundamental way Africans approach life. My favorite translation of this word is: I am Because We are.

In 2004, I went to S. Africa with a delegation of 16 women to study the AIDs pandemic. I came home inspired by the intensity of joy and strength that I encountered in the South African women.

In 2010, my family had the honor of being the host family for a young woman from Lesotho Lesotho is a small country surrounded by South Africa. She walked into our home and was instantly a member of our family and filled our home with her intense joy, love, and deep commitment to family.

Umbutu tea is created in celebration of the spirit of African women and as a prayer of blessing for you who drink it. May you may be strengthened. May you be infused with joy. And may you become increasingly aware of and moved by your connection to all of life.

I bow in gratitude as I say to you, “Umbutu, I am Because We are.”

Umbutu Tea: I am Because We are.
A tea to bless and amplify our connection to all of life.
Herbal Tea Blend: Rooibos, Orange Peel, Hibiscus, Apple Pieces,
Rosehips, Safflowers, Rose Petals, Vanilla, Lemon, Cinnamon, Ginger
Infused with Joy, Strength, and Deep Connection.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/213219131/umbutu-tea?

Spaciousness.
I sit on Elk Ridge,
Watching the sunset over the mountains.
I feel myself expand in the glow of this Big Sky.
Space.

My mind stops.
Taking in this moment,
I breathe deep.
Savoring my lungs full expansion.

My heart opens.
Embracing this blessed space
I feel my self come home.

– Kim Colella

Joel

Joel
April 15, 1950 – Feb. 4,2014

In November, after learning that my brother, Joel, had advanced lung cancer, I wrote this reflection. In early February, I read it at his memorial service. In honor of his birthday, I share here today.

JOEL
As I stop and Breathe,
I feel my grief arise.
Tears surface as I
Hold you in my heart.
The sadness takes my breath away.

I remember my childhood,
You, ten years older,
my protector brother.
I am moved by the memory
Of your tenderness, loyalty and love.

Fifty years of smoking
Has taken root in your lungs,
Blocking your airway,
Stealing your breath.
Death stands waiting to receive
Your tender, loving spirit.

Am I ready to let you go?
I choke on the sob of grief
Arising in my chest,
And allow the winds of sadness to shake me.
Slowly, I relax my breath
Releasing, Blessing, Receiving,
All that is to come.

The New Becoming

The old paradigm is dying
And the new paradigm emerges.
Those committed to the old
Hold on in fear of what is to become.

We are the doulas of the new becoming.
We must radiate the path with our brilliance.
We can no longer muzzle our truth,
Or curl in, protected by our fear.

We must remove our cloak of protection,
And put on our cape of courage,
And stand as priestess, shaman, guide
And assist in the birth
Of the New Becoming.

Kim Ebert-Colella
Feb., 2013

My Garden: A Spiritual Playground

I used to be afraid of gardening. I was afraid that I would pull out something valuable and irreplaceable. I was afraid that I would make a mistake.

Recently, something new is taking root in me. I am beginning to see my garden as a sacred playground. As I explore and experiment, deep truths from within emerge. As I tend my garden, these truths grow strong and take root in my conscious mind.

Today I created boundaries. The sweet baby tears were flowing onto the sidewalk, circling around every plant, filling every nook and cranny they could find. I allowed myself to remove the overflowing baby tears, to compost them or put them in pots to be given away. As I removed them, I became aware that abundance can choke off life if not shared. Beneath these baby tears were treasures, I had long forgotten. Stones, shells, garden art, as well as other plants were all hidden beneath the excess. Removing the overabundant baby tears allowed me to unearth these treasures and to create spaces of emptiness, that allowed my spirit to soften and quiet and listen. As new space was created, and boundaries became more clear, I began to breath deeper, to feel less scattered , to feel more at peace with life, to feel more at home in my body.

As I step into my day, I take this truth with me. There are so many good options in life. If I try to hold on to them all, then some will get choked off, some will get hidden, and others will become so overbearing that they will loose their vibrancy and beauty. As I create boundaries, even with those things I love, I consciously choose balance. I choose which gifts of this life I will nurture, which I will appreciate in small doses and which I will need to cut back so as to fully appreciate all the life offered me.

I am no longer afraid of gardening. It has become a meditation. My fear of doing it wrong, has been replaced with a playful curiosity of what new truths I will discover.

Body Sacred

Celebrating the Sacred In Ourselves, In Our Relationships and In Our World.