Today has been an emotional roller coaster. The water cut out today – so that was our first adversity to overcome. Yet, we came prepared with gallons of bottled water!
Today we stepped outside to see life on the other side of the walls. We walked to their sister site about 2 miles away. As we walked through red dirt roads, children, families, and elders stepped outside their homes to say hello. They loved to have their picture taken. They loved to touch our skin. They loved to shake our hands.
One gentleman walked along our side thanking us for taking their pictures. He wanted us to share their story to the world in hope that “westerners” will come to help. He said what they need is education, more so, values. He mentioned, that you can give a child an array of items, shoes, toys, books, etc. But without the right values, they will not be cherished, used, or blessed.
As we continued our walk the poverty level was astonishing. Families lived in shacks the size of a walk in closet, yet they still smile. They don’t beg, they don’t ask to have our personal belongings, but they just introduce themselves. Some brag about their grades in school, how far they can run, or tricks they can do with a soccerball. Again, they are happy!
We walked up to the sister orphanage called Huruma. The orphanage can hold up to 100 children, but they only have enough funding for 40-50. Of these 40-50 children 3 are bed ridden and 5 are severly mentally retarded. One blind and one mute. There are 3 women that run the orphanage. Cook the food, care for the sick, and help run the education. The manager greated us with tea and a prayer. She answered an array of questions and gave us a tour of the grounds. She showed us their playground – swings consisted of the metal frame with rope or a chain as the swing. No seat. When the children would swing they would bring their cloths and fold them to place on the chain for padding.
The manager showed us their chicken coup they were building. It was only halfway done. When finished it will house over 700 chickens, that will produce 2 eggs per day. However, they lack the funds to finish the project. She said they are short 84,000 schillings – that is $1,100. The chicken eggs sell for 2 schillings a piece, x 1 per day. That would yield a profit of: $602 per month. Better yet, look at like this. The manager works full time, living on site and only makes $200 a month. How much more help could they hire, or children they could care for with something as simple as a chicken coup?. . . wow.
As we walked out we saw the children playing soccer. However, we were astonished for with what they were using as a ball. They had taken plastic bags and wrapped them in a ball with string. Again, they were smiling. (and we can’t wait to make those smiles bigger with our box of soccerballs).
As we left, they wanted to sing us a song. We had 60 children surround us, jumping up and down singing praise, clapping, drumming, and again – smiling. We taught them, “If you are happy and you know it” – and “Twinkle Twinkle” -
Children are the purest form of raw emotion. We all once were children. Yet, as we grow and become formed by society we loose track of what is important in life. We become jaded. Our hopes and dreams become scatter and disappated with what “life” dicatates. However, it is not about what you buy, your car, job status – but more so about your friends, family, and health. Their religion is Love. And with that, they preach it to everyone. Not with their words, but actions. These children are not jaded by society. They can’t afford newspapers, magazines, or a TV to watch commercials. They don’t see “what’s cool”. They just live. They live their religion. . . LOVE. I think this is the reason behind their smiles.
Now I am on my way to decompress and take in all of “slap in the face” with reality I had just experienced. We have taken hundreds of pictures and recorded all interviews, tours, and children singing. We have an amazing DVD in the works. Tonight we are teaching our first class of martial arts. It will be the first time they have ever seen someone wearing a black belt!
With Love,
Brian
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