Though Bwarenaba Kautu had thoroughly prepared for his recent collaboration with scientists at the University of Cambridge, nothing could have prepared him for the surprise he encountered toward the end of his summer research abroad.
That surprise came in the form of a matted and framed photo, circa 1970s, hanging in the private residence of Michael and Roote Walsh.
When the Walshes had learned through university connections of Kautu’s visit to Cambridge, they were keen to invite him into their home. Michael, an economic advisor, had worked in Kautu’s native country of Kiribati more than 40 years ago. He knew the archipelago as the Gilbert Islands, a British protectorate. Roote, a native of the Gilberts, spoke Gilbertese.
“It was good to be able to speak again in my native language,” said Kautu.
Strange Surroundings, Familiar Face
And, it was particularly good that he paused in the Walshes’ entryway to examine the black and white photo of barefoot islanders, both men and women, in native dress.
Kautu recognized the central figure as his own grandmother—“The same woman who raised me and first introduced me to the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.
His memory held the only image of her he had ever known.
“Before this, I did not own a single picture of my grandmother since there were no cameras on my island,” he said. “This is very special to me.”
The picture was taken before Kautu was born; he can only imagine the circumstances that surrounded it.
The Walshes said that Dr. Alec Marr, a Scotsman who once worked on the islands, gave them the photo as a wedding gift. They believed that the man pictured directly behind Kautu’s grandmother is her father-in-law, Kautu’s great grandfather.
Instruction For Survival
Kautu’s grandmother, Kaarite Titiba, filled a void in young Kautu’s life. His father died in a motorcycle accident, and his mother departed when he was just three months old.
“I was left with my grandmother,” he said.
Kaarite taught him that he must apply himself to learning. She said his very survival depended on it. She also gave him a Bible and explained that the Christian God is the one true God who would take care of him and bless him.
“She told me this because she knew that she was going to die soon,” said Kautu.
Legacy
Last fall, Kautu’s undergraduate alma mater, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, honored him as its 2016 Outstanding Young Alumnus.
If Kaarite were present, the list of her grandson’s accomplishments recalled that day may have astonished her—advanced degrees; fellowships; awards for excellence in teaching and international study; scholarships and presentations to prestigious groups like the Society for Neuroscience, the Australian Neuroscience Society and the American Society for Cell Biology.
The most recent installment of that legacy—collaboration with scientists at the University of Cambridge—advances research that may hold the key to relief for people who suffer certain psychological and neurological disorders.
Kautu hopes the two-month venture funded by the University of Cambridge Corpus Christi College Visiting Fellowship will set the stage for future collaboration between his research team at Greenville University and the scientists at Cambridge.
It is likely that the slight woman in the center of the surprise photo never imagined such a path for her grandson. Her influence runs deep, however, just as the blessings she foretold continue to flow.
A version of this story originally appeared on Greenville.edu.
Morris Sampler 