The Universal Rhythm of Laundry: A Story of Love Across Continents, Cultures, and the Sacred Threads That Bind Us
A father in America connecting with his adopted family in The Gambia—through soap, prayer, and shared breath.
Dear Alieu,
Today I washed my clothes by hand in a bucket. I wasn’t strong enough to go out to the laundromat, so I stayed home and made a small basin with warm water, a little detergent, and some stain remover. The water turned dirty quickly—which told me it was working.
There was something quiet and tender about the process. I let the clothes soak for about an hour, then gently swished them around. Then I discovered something wonderful: an old potato masher I had in the kitchen worked perfectly for pressing and agitating the laundry. Much easier than using my hands—and strangely satisfying.
After the first soak, I poured out the water and did a second soak with a smaller amount of detergent. Then I rinsed everything twice and hung the clothes up to dry. It was such a simple act, but it felt like more than laundry—it felt like care, and maybe even prayer.
It brought back a memory from long ago. When I was a young man, I lived in a Tibetan refugee camp in the mountains of Nepal. There, I had to carry my laundry on my back down to the local river. I would wash it in the cold, running water and lay it out on the rocks to dry in the sun. I remember seeing women gathering around wells, drawing water and washing clothes. And now, so many years later, here I am again—washing by hand, but with the comfort of a bucket in my home.
It’s amazing how such a daily task connects us all across the world.
I imagine Alieu and his brothers have their own way of doing laundry. I would love to see it. If possible, I’ve asked Alieu to share a few photographs of how he and his brothers care for their clothing—how they soak, scrub, rinse, and dry. Whether it’s similar or entirely different, I believe there is beauty in seeing how families care for one another, one small act at a time.
Even something as simple as washing clothes becomes an act of love when done with your own hands.
Thank you for walking with us.
Your support helps Alieu and his siblings build a life rooted in dignity, hope, and love.
Join the Journey:
• Read the Full Story on GlobalWellBeing.blog • Support Alieu’s Family on GoFundMe • Join the Circle on Buy Me A Coffee
This isn’t charity—it’s relationship. It’s walking in love, across oceans.
This campaign is part of the Walk in His Name project, a prayerful offering from Inspirations of Love and Hope.
https://globalwellbeing.blog/2025/04/27/meet-the-family-growing-up-together-in-the-gambia/
https://globalwellbeing.blog/2025/04/24/walk-in-his-name-the-story-of-alieu/
🙏🕊🙏