When we arrived in the village, there was a sound like the buzzing of bees in the distance, but it was much louder and growing. Children had heard that Nell “Sister Ama” was coming to town. As we crossed into the school yard, on the edge of town, crowds of children came rushing toward the car, and cheers rose up in the most heart lifting tone, with the children’s voices coming almost in chorus, as though the were singing. Now I know what throng means and I was amazed at the sound and the pure energy and joy as they greeted Sister Ama. I have never heard such an outpouring of adoration since I attended a rock concert. And the children ran along with the SUV all the way into the village Chief’s house, cheering and whooping and waving all the way.
The chief wasn’t there, so we sat at his palace, a two story semi modern SoCal / Spanish style house with a large first story room lined with couches where the village elders meet and spend time.