It has been two years since I departed my home in Afghanistan and returned to the United States. The woman I dated and mentioned in these stories has begun a career with the Department of State and lives overseas. I took a position as a charter jet captain and live in a lakeside cottage in rural Connecticut. As I write this final story, am looking over quiet waters with steady rain beyond oak and maple trees with just a few brown leaves remaining. Autumn in New England is giving me time to catch up on some matters that involve springtime in the life of one of America’s newest citizens.
Madam Teetee Kanku Muanda pestered me to no end in 2005 to adopt her daughter, Olga, and bring her to America…something I could not do. Upon return to the States I eventually found someone who could: A man named Scott Louis Purcell who lived in Georgia
That was in the Summer of 2007 and there were considerable obstacles to overcome. Last December, I met a filmmaker named Kenneth Lundquist Jr. at my local Starbucks and referenced him to this website made famous by Jim Durham, a college teammate and former 7’ High Jumper. Kenneth talked into making these stories into a documentary film focusing on Olga’s journey from Congo to America as well as my misadventures in Afghanistan. After several months of people telling us the unlikelihood of bringing Olga to America, bribes, bureaucracy and artificial barriers we received word
from the American Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo that Olga’s Visa approval was imminent.
Kenneth and I just returned from Kabul, Afghanistan and Kinshasa. In Kabul, I was reunited with the young men I helped coach on the National Track & Field Team, one of whom I watched compete in the Beijing Olympic Games. We stayed with
Omar Fizi and his carpet making family. Omar provided us a driver and security during our Afghan stay. Along with filming, we had opportunity to get in some golf on Afghanistan’s premier (Only) course along with a stroll through a heroin den, complete with zombie-like junkies.
Arriving in what should have been a safer environment in Kinshasa, our passports were confiscated and we were led to a room with Arabs and Asians & expecting a “Chat” from a man in dark sunglasses. The games began there and went on until we departed…and yet we live.
Teetee cried tears of joy when she saw me. Kenneth and I filmed hours of film that would have landed us in jail had we been seen by police but somehow stayed out of harm’s way. We even organized a few of the now famous relay races for the kids. Olga was granted her Visa. She is now 14, and lives in Bedford, Georgia. There are other kids in Congo needing adoption.
There is MUCH more to this story:
http://startattheheart.org/
Afghan Snooker Club
Film Help in Kabul
Fizi Family Carpets
Future Sprinters
TeeTee and Olga
