I just received this link to some videos that Angie took while in Uganda. They are pretty powerful to me and thought I would put the link up on my blog. The women who sang to us, as she cried in thanks, is on here. The children who also sang to us when we were leaving are also on a video. It is really dark but you can get the feeling from her of the emotions she was experiencing. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=37F1BD4A6944FDF3. Please check this out!
Also I just got home from the Africa AIDS exhibition and I was moved to tears. I can't believe how powerful it was as they recreated a real bedroom, kitchen, and had many photos and an ipod with narration. It was like I was right back in Africa! I had flashbacks and even the smell was the same! They brought original items, bedding and such. The smell was still in them. When I walked in they had a tape playing of children singing. I knew in that moment that I would go back again, as many times as my health and finances allow me to, I will be there. The love is so strong how can I forget. I learned the church that hosted the event, Good Shepherd Church in Naperville 630-961-9220, has partnered with World Vision. The church sponsors nearly 200 children in a village North of Kamwenge called Buhimba. They are starting a Uganda Orphan Home Project. How can I not want to be involved. Way cool. The pastor there was so excited about what they are doing. To learn more about what their church is doing you can email Pastor Greg at wenhold@welcomegrowserve.org. The World Vision web site is: http://www.worldvisionexperience.org/
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
I'm Home
Well I made it home after two long flights and one night in London. The second flight I was bumped to 1st class as there were no seats left in economy or business class. Wow what a lucky break for me. I spent that flight from London to Chicago flying in style. I couldn't help but think about from where I just came and where I was sitting at present. They were two totally opposite places. I was in a sleeper seat and I reclined with my feet up the whole way home. I layed flat at one point and went to sleep after a 4 course meal. I felt so funny about it that I actually thought about giving my seat up and I would go back to economy. I guess I wasn't strong enough because I stayed in 1st class. I just wanted to know what that felt like I guess.
When I left for this trip I kept thinking about how great it would be to come home to the familiar and that I would feel so good about what I did yadda yadda. But that did not happen. I was sad the whole way home. I kept thinking about all those faces I saw. I kept thinking that they left all the hope they had with me to do something for them. Our group that visited was their last hope in the whole world. How could I go home now? How can go home to my shower, my clean life full of stuff and food and things I don't even need? How can I forget what I saw? I have to do something.
When we landed in London on our way back we had a 13 hour layover through the night so we went to a hotel for some sleep. I was so stunned by the cleanliness of the streets, the plain order of things in the West. The green, the people, everything was in order. I felt so ....... I don't know .... like I could finally breath again. We went and had a couple of beers and a dinner at the hotel. I ordered a water and drank it from a glass from the restaurant. What a funny thing to do after what I had been through. In Africa you obviously can't drink the water but even further you can't even drink out of a soda bottle. You must use a straw because the bottle itself is so dirty. I took a long shower and opened my mouth in the water and let it run down my throat, just because I could. I was able to brush my teeth from the tap and that was soo nice and convenient. I slept in a bed with sheets and a real mattress. In Africa if you have a mattress at all, it is a foam one. It breaks down very easily and my back ached in the mornings. There was Internet and electricity and so many things I take for granted. I'm wondering how it is that only two weeks without all this stuff was enough to make me feel this way? What must a lifetime without it feel like?
My mom and sister picked me up from the airport and kept asking me "are you happy to be home"? What could I say. I wanted to shout to them NO I AM NOT HAPPY. There are people dying as we speak. How can I go on with my life as before now that I know? There are people praying that I would come home to America and do something more to help them. NO I'M NOT HAPPY. Having my house all to myself and my green grass and clean water and the endless supply of food just seemed so........ I don't know, so wrong maybe. How is it that I have so much and they have so little? I have this big bed to sleep in with my dogs and Africans sleep on the ground and are lucky to even have a blanket to cover themselves.
I have had a sick stomach since the flight home. I have been in the bathroom more times than I can count. Whatever I eat is gone pretty soon after I eat it, if you know what I mean. I don't know if it's nerves or not used to this food here. But I wasn't gone that long so I'm not sure why all of a sudden this happened. Oh well I am not feeling too good but I know I need to eat something. So I went to the store today and my 1st trip back to an American grocery store was a shock to me. I went to a Dominick's here and I was surprised at how big it seemed to me. How much food there was seemed crazy. I have no desire for junk food of any kind. My taste for sweets is gone. Maybe it's because I'm not feeling well, I don't know. But I only bought wholesome organic food and fruits. I saw a pineapple and it looked so good. We had pineapple every day in Africa. I bought one and will cut it up for lunch.
I think I took it very seriously when they asked me to tell America about what I saw. I want to share the poem with you that was recited to us at the school near we were staying.
"Poor African Children"
This is the chalk board and the poem they read from.
We are the poor African children
lacking education
moving up and down
searching for a better life.
What can we do?
Poor African children.
Lacking parents, sisters,
brothers & relatives.
All because of disease.
Aids the killer
killing young and old
What can we do?
Poor African children.
With tears flowing like a river.
No medicine
no protection
no cure
What can we do?
Poor African children
Give us medicine
Show us love
Bring us mercy
You never know we will be the
President of Uganda for tomorrow.
When I heard them I think it hit me even harder how desperate they were. We were the only white people to visit this school and they really wanted us to know what their lives were like. They wanted us to go back to the US and tell people. There was a teacher that followed us everywhere begging for understanding and help from America. I made a promise I would do something. The thing is I haven't figured it out yet what I can and am able to do. I am so tired today and I don't feel good so I am going to rest and pray that God will visit me in my dreams and tell me what to do. Tell me where to go to make a difference. I am really moved by this experience and I don't want it to be wasted. I want to think of something more that can be done. Anyway my stomach is acting up again so I must go. I just thought it was important to capture my feelings upon arrival back to America.
I hope I don't end up like a weirdo and not able to function again, always preaching about Africa and we need to do more..... I don't want anyone to tire of me but today I am not sure where I belong and what to do anymore. I am glad I went and maybe after some rest I will know more what to do. Thanks for listening!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Last Day
We went on a safari today and I have to tell you that to see a wild animal in his own environment is truely an awesome moment. I will keep this short and post some pictures for you to see. Just imagine I was there! I saw the Nile River and within the national park I was with giraffe, moneys, birds, elephants, lions, buffalo, harpes, many kind of deer like animals, crockodiles and tons of hippos.
I am very sad tonight as I say my goodbyes to everyone here. Well today is my last day in Africa and as one would expect I am feeling a wide range of emotions. Obviously my thoughts go to all the people in Africa. That is what I will remember most. I keep thinking about how I can make a difference. How can I help more? Now that I know what it is like here I will never be able to close my heart to these people. What has struck me the most and really stands out is that Africans are some of the poorest people on the planet . At the same time they have more love and joy than I ever seen before in my life. My heart aches for them and the way they must live. Anyone who wants to view my videos is welcome to do so but I think until you come here to this country for yourself, you can never fully understand the depth of poverty that is here. There is no “good side” of town. It goes on seemingly forever. Slum after slum after slum. There is no running water, no waste management, very rarely is there electricity, no food, no adequate shelter, no adequate clothing, no healthcare, very very poor school system if one even gets to go and hardly an infrastructure. There is no break from this, no where to go to get away. Yet if you were in need of help they would be the first ones to stop. Their hearts are big and they are very strong as they have been through so much. Thousands and thousands of orphans. The working generation has been decimated by HIV/AIDS and disease. The men are not around. Many single women are raising children when they themselves have the disease as well as all their children. Many mothers and grandparents have buried at least one child. Some have buried all their children. Many children are caring for their brothers and sisters and cousins because there is no one left to care for them.
I understand this is hard to read and easy to forget once you have read it but that doesn’t stop all the pain in Africa. The best I can do for now is sponsor the families I can afford to sponsor and spread the word to everyone I know about Global Family Rescue. I hope that my story will touch a place in your heart. If you feel moved to help you can always go to the web site at http://www.globalfamilyrescue.org/ and sign up to sponsor a family. Or if that is too much of a hardship at this point you can always do a 1 time donation to the general family fund or any specific family I wrote about. GFR's web site is set up so that you can make a donation through paypal. If you choose to sponsor a family it will be $64.00 every month for 3 to 5 years per family depending on their need. The program is designed to help the families become self sufficient by the end of sponsorship. This is done by vocational training and setting up small businesses where they can earn their own money. What is very important to understand about this process is that when you help one family, you help the entire community. There is more money flowing and everyone benefits from the revenue. After one years time you will be amazed at the difference in your family and their village. You will be able to communicate with them via email interpreted by GFR staff and they will write back to you as well. You are also able to buy a pig or a cow or a house for a certain family or anything you and GFR think they will benefit from. Please visit the web site and click on the contact us tab to let them know you are intersted. After that they will tell you how to become a family sponsor. I can’t save everybody but I CAN DO SOMETHING! I did not close my eyes. I came to be a witness so that others will know the desperation in this country. Please know that they love us very much and pray every day for help. If anyone has any questions about GFR or donating you can email me at kathynaper1@yahoo.com . GFR is working with local NGOs and all monies go directly to the families. The money is used to help the people. Their goal is to help the poorest of the poor first. In Africa they are called the “best poor”. Those most desperate for anything. I just keep thanking God for being born American and for having so much. I feel I owe it to God to share with others some of what I have been given. I just don’t want to say that I wish I could help but what can I do? Now I know there is something I can do. There are good organizations that care and get the money to the people who need it most.
I love this land and I will never forget what I saw here. I will never forget the love and the smiles on the faces of the children. I can’t forget all those hands desperate for anything I can give. I cried so much while I was here. I cried because I was scared, because I was overwhelmed with sadness and then I cried because I came to love the people of Africa! Every time I wave and share a smile with someone on the street it feels like we have exchanged a gift of love with each other. The smiles are so genuine and so full of love it is amazing. I am very comfortable now and I will truly miss this place for it is like no place else on earth.
Thanks again to all of your for your emotional and financial support. You know who you are!
Ben and Melody, co-founders of GFR, are really amazing people who have given everything they have to help the poor here in Africa. They and their children have sacrificed much so that others may live. I am in awe of this beautiful family with such giving and loving hearts. You should see them with the people. God is here and he sent Ben and Melody to let these people know that He has NOT forgotten them. God has heard their prayers and is answering them through GFR! God Bless Global Family Rescue, Ben, Melody, their children and most expecially the people of Africa! I love you all very much and am praying every day, many times a day, that God gives you the strength to go on. God loves you all so much. You can feel it the moment you are in your presence. God Bless, God Bless, God Bless. Africa I will miss you very much! You the motherland to all of the human race. Please not let us forget our African brothers and sisters! Goodbye for now, until I return.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Wednesday
On the right is Cyperin and Bosko, they work for GFR here in Uganda. We have become good friends and they love to laugh at me. They say I don't sleep, I don't eat and I cry alot. Funny guys! They take care of me and are always looking out for me. Above is the school yard
of the boys playing socceer with a tennis ball Kevin gave them.
This is the hallway at school. The floor is full of holes and I almost fell over after I stepped in one.
These are the children who recited the poem for us, "Poor African Children"
of the boys playing socceer with a tennis ball Kevin gave them.
This is the hallway at school. The floor is full of holes and I almost fell over after I stepped in one.
These are the children who recited the poem for us, "Poor African Children"Poor African children. That was the song the children recited to us at the school we visited today. I will keep this short and place some photos instead of my words so you can see for yourself how these children have to go to school. What I will say is I wept openly as the children sang to us about how poor they are and how they were begging for "help and mercy". The end of the poem stated "you never know we may end of president of Uganda one day" I have this touching scene on video and you really have to hear the children to believe it. After they recited the peom they then recited a prayer for their American friends to travel safe and bring more help.
Trip to Kamwenge II
This is only some of the kids that were the orphans here.
Ok I left the group to come home and blog because we still have power, whoa! Let's see where did I leave off? Um ok after I gave the families some blankets we went to our next family and this is the family my mom and dad sponsored! Way to go mom and dad! The father in your family has TB and has not been able to work. The children are starving so GFR bought this family a pig. Your sponsoring them will enable the children to go to school, get healthcare and eat! They will have clothes and shoes now. You saved this family's lives! They were soooo destitute I can't even tell you. Mom this is where I gave the dolls, they have 3 girls and 1 boy. The boy was in school and he heard we were there so he ran all the way home to see me. He was dripping wet with sweat because he ran so hard so he wouldn't miss seeing us! Mom I gave him one of the cars you bought! There is a photo of him in here. I have it all on video so you can see the entire presentation of me telling them they now have a sponsor! They received blankets, clothes and toys from others as well.
Then we continued to visit more families and finally left the huts close to dark. We were on the other side of the Chimpanzee Forest in Uganda. This is a famous forest and you can see the monkeys in the trees. Baboons were all over the place and I got some nice photos of them. I just found out since my last blog we were only a few kilometers from the Congo! Glad I made it home! The road in was not a road at all and the only way to visualize it is to see my videos. At one point the doctor yelled "everybody on the high side and I mean it" The bus was tipping over. Kinda funny now but at the time........ especially since I was on the low side!
So now we are driving out to the main village. This I will try to explain. In Africa there is like 1 main road and it's paved. You drive off that road onto a main dirt road and from there the roads go way back into the bush and they split off in all directions. All along these roads are markets and huts. The stores at the markets are about the size of a 4x4 room and they are tin shacks. Then off from the "market area" is the smaller dirt roads and then they lead into the foot paths! Yes we went all the way with this huge bus into the foot paths! All along the way are areas were several families will be living in huts. These are the people we are helping. Ok so now you kinda know how remote.
So in one of these remote villages is a "hotel" Most hotels are 2 rooms with no running water and no electricity. And cleanliness? Forget about it. We found the nicest of these and they were told to spray for cockroaches and clean everything very well. Well the toilets were dirty and the water was brown. Yes brown! So no shower for us. It was a very hot day, 7 hours on a bus and then hours in the bush and no shower. I used every baby wipe I had. They give you "clean water" in a yellow jug for washing. But my roommate noticed small worms swimming in it. That was enough for me. No shower! The local food was very gritty. My first bite of rice was a sandy mix of rice and grit. So I put that aside and tried the flour thing and it too was sandy. So then I tried the potato and it tasted like earth. So now no food for me. I just couldn't eat. I had a piece of my chicken jerky later and that was that. The room was very small and we slept two to a very small "double". No sleep for me.
But that didn't really matter because when you saw the people and the children it was soooo worth it. After we arrived there was a group of widows that came to sing for us. Oh my God how can I tell you what it was like to have them crying and singing and telling you how thankful they were that GFR was here. They sang how before we came there was no hope, just waiting to die. But now they have hope and they think they can go on! At one point one of the widows fell to her knees while singing and started crying. Her hands were raised to heaven and she just wept. I was crying by then too! It is such a beautiful language to hear when it is sung. They danced and we all got up to join in the dance. Later we were told that when we joined them in dance it was honoring them. We were their family now! One women crawled on the stage as she has polio. She couldn't dance but stayed in front and sang with the others for us. She wears flip flops on her hands to get around. Her name is Evangeline. At the end of the evening Ben was presented with a rod and told that the last dance they did for him was reserved for Kings! He was now considered a King in this land! All was forgotten about the hotel!
The next day I was so moved by Evangeline that I asked Ben if Chris could be her sponsor. She was scheduled to be sponsored but not this day. So Ben made an exception and we stopped. I was able to present her with gifts, say a prayer and tell her she is now sponsored! Thank you Chris!!!!!!!!!! I also was able to present her with money that was donated by my wonderful sister Susie! Thank you Sue!!!!!! I was later told that the money Susie gave was more than she made in 1 year. The money goes so far here. Chris you saved her life and you should have seen her face! I have the presentation of sponsorship on video for you! You won't believe what good you are about to do. Susie she cried when I gave her the money. Thank you sooo much!!! I am so proud of my family that my heart is about to burst.
The need is never ending. The love is also never ending here!
We then went to a "village" near the monkey forest and met about 200 orphans and many families. (Very few men) I was told there has NEVER been a white person to this place before today. That's how far GFR goes! This is the place where we almost tipped the bus! There was a group of kids that were sort of like a band and they marched for us as we walked off the bus. In the background all of them were sitting in rows on the ground and in benches, under tarps, waiting for our arrival. It was absolutely incredible! How can you describe it? Under the main tarp was a broken down table and several empty chairs for Ben and us to sit in. A position of honor. We were blessed and a small ceremony was performed for us. You couldn't believe the number of orphans that were there. We were all shocked. Hundreds of them. All the most beautiful faces you could ever imagine. All staring at us in wonder. Their eyes are forever burned in my memory. I made a promise, I will do all I can to make a difference here.
We dug a foundation for a house and spent almost the entire day with these beautiful people. I gave away all the food I had with me and all the candy I bought the day before. I remember the hands. So many hands reaching out and not enough to give them. These little hands begging for a "sweetie". I needed help from our driver to keep the kids in control. Handing out things here is a very difficult process. You must be very careful as it can turn to chaos in a second. Someone can get hurt so you must be careful.
I didn't eat today. I just couldn't. I hardly drank any water either. It seemed wrong. I had no appetite anyway. It was no longer important for me to eat.
So much happened here that it's hard to tell you. I gave the little boy who we built the house for my shoes. He is 14 and I would have guessed he was 9 years old. The children are stunted from lack of nutrition. He is an orphan and is the head of his house. Ben learned about him and is now building him his very own hut. A brick hut! Broady is his name and he never had a pair of shoes before. He was showered with love, food, clothes and is now sponsored! He was a celebrity for the day! I left everything else I had to give with this community. It still wasn't enough but it was all I had so they got it.
Before we left Ben approached me and asked if there were any more sponsors in my family as he had a grandma that was caring for many orphans and she needed help immediately. Her grandchild was so sick and the doctor thought it would only be days before the child would die. I walked away about 5 minutes thought about all I had in America, thanked God for my life and for my new job and my raise, then turned to Ben and said "I'll do it" . I was thinking me and Susie could sponsor this family. The Grandmother was so sad she couldn't even smile at first. But then I told her that I loved her very much and that me and my sister would be helping her now. I told her I don't have a grandma on earth so she can be my grandmother here on earth. I told her Kathleen and Suzanne are her 2 new grandchildren from America. She fell into my arms and cried and laughed at the same time. Susie you gave her money too and we gave the blankets Chris donated and the rest of my food went to this family. I was so moved and so full of joy and love. I have NEVER felt this way before. It was good and you could feel God in this place. I think grandma Eloise popped by for a heavenly visit as well! Overwhelmed, overwhelmed am I!
Before getting on the bus one of the orphans read a poem about Death. He asked why this AIDS has taken their parents and why they have been left alone. I was once again moved to tears. It is a common thing for me to cry now. Sometimes because I am so sad and other times because I have so much love in my heart for all these people.
Oh I forgot to tell you about all the elephantitis here as well. This is a very painful and ugly disease. Many people have contracted it here and there was no way to help them. Thank God the doctor brought much medication. We are also giving money to buy more for them. I will post a photo.
Then we continued to visit more families and finally left the huts close to dark. We were on the other side of the Chimpanzee Forest in Uganda. This is a famous forest and you can see the monkeys in the trees. Baboons were all over the place and I got some nice photos of them. I just found out since my last blog we were only a few kilometers from the Congo! Glad I made it home! The road in was not a road at all and the only way to visualize it is to see my videos. At one point the doctor yelled "everybody on the high side and I mean it" The bus was tipping over. Kinda funny now but at the time........ especially since I was on the low side!
So now we are driving out to the main village. This I will try to explain. In Africa there is like 1 main road and it's paved. You drive off that road onto a main dirt road and from there the roads go way back into the bush and they split off in all directions. All along these roads are markets and huts. The stores at the markets are about the size of a 4x4 room and they are tin shacks. Then off from the "market area" is the smaller dirt roads and then they lead into the foot paths! Yes we went all the way with this huge bus into the foot paths! All along the way are areas were several families will be living in huts. These are the people we are helping. Ok so now you kinda know how remote.
So in one of these remote villages is a "hotel" Most hotels are 2 rooms with no running water and no electricity. And cleanliness? Forget about it. We found the nicest of these and they were told to spray for cockroaches and clean everything very well. Well the toilets were dirty and the water was brown. Yes brown! So no shower for us. It was a very hot day, 7 hours on a bus and then hours in the bush and no shower. I used every baby wipe I had. They give you "clean water" in a yellow jug for washing. But my roommate noticed small worms swimming in it. That was enough for me. No shower! The local food was very gritty. My first bite of rice was a sandy mix of rice and grit. So I put that aside and tried the flour thing and it too was sandy. So then I tried the potato and it tasted like earth. So now no food for me. I just couldn't eat. I had a piece of my chicken jerky later and that was that. The room was very small and we slept two to a very small "double". No sleep for me.
But that didn't really matter because when you saw the people and the children it was soooo worth it. After we arrived there was a group of widows that came to sing for us. Oh my God how can I tell you what it was like to have them crying and singing and telling you how thankful they were that GFR was here. They sang how before we came there was no hope, just waiting to die. But now they have hope and they think they can go on! At one point one of the widows fell to her knees while singing and started crying. Her hands were raised to heaven and she just wept. I was crying by then too! It is such a beautiful language to hear when it is sung. They danced and we all got up to join in the dance. Later we were told that when we joined them in dance it was honoring them. We were their family now! One women crawled on the stage as she has polio. She couldn't dance but stayed in front and sang with the others for us. She wears flip flops on her hands to get around. Her name is Evangeline. At the end of the evening Ben was presented with a rod and told that the last dance they did for him was reserved for Kings! He was now considered a King in this land! All was forgotten about the hotel!
The next day I was so moved by Evangeline that I asked Ben if Chris could be her sponsor. She was scheduled to be sponsored but not this day. So Ben made an exception and we stopped. I was able to present her with gifts, say a prayer and tell her she is now sponsored! Thank you Chris!!!!!!!!!! I also was able to present her with money that was donated by my wonderful sister Susie! Thank you Sue!!!!!! I was later told that the money Susie gave was more than she made in 1 year. The money goes so far here. Chris you saved her life and you should have seen her face! I have the presentation of sponsorship on video for you! You won't believe what good you are about to do. Susie she cried when I gave her the money. Thank you sooo much!!! I am so proud of my family that my heart is about to burst.
The need is never ending. The love is also never ending here!
We then went to a "village" near the monkey forest and met about 200 orphans and many families. (Very few men) I was told there has NEVER been a white person to this place before today. That's how far GFR goes! This is the place where we almost tipped the bus! There was a group of kids that were sort of like a band and they marched for us as we walked off the bus. In the background all of them were sitting in rows on the ground and in benches, under tarps, waiting for our arrival. It was absolutely incredible! How can you describe it? Under the main tarp was a broken down table and several empty chairs for Ben and us to sit in. A position of honor. We were blessed and a small ceremony was performed for us. You couldn't believe the number of orphans that were there. We were all shocked. Hundreds of them. All the most beautiful faces you could ever imagine. All staring at us in wonder. Their eyes are forever burned in my memory. I made a promise, I will do all I can to make a difference here.
We dug a foundation for a house and spent almost the entire day with these beautiful people. I gave away all the food I had with me and all the candy I bought the day before. I remember the hands. So many hands reaching out and not enough to give them. These little hands begging for a "sweetie". I needed help from our driver to keep the kids in control. Handing out things here is a very difficult process. You must be very careful as it can turn to chaos in a second. Someone can get hurt so you must be careful.
I didn't eat today. I just couldn't. I hardly drank any water either. It seemed wrong. I had no appetite anyway. It was no longer important for me to eat.
So much happened here that it's hard to tell you. I gave the little boy who we built the house for my shoes. He is 14 and I would have guessed he was 9 years old. The children are stunted from lack of nutrition. He is an orphan and is the head of his house. Ben learned about him and is now building him his very own hut. A brick hut! Broady is his name and he never had a pair of shoes before. He was showered with love, food, clothes and is now sponsored! He was a celebrity for the day! I left everything else I had to give with this community. It still wasn't enough but it was all I had so they got it.
Before we left Ben approached me and asked if there were any more sponsors in my family as he had a grandma that was caring for many orphans and she needed help immediately. Her grandchild was so sick and the doctor thought it would only be days before the child would die. I walked away about 5 minutes thought about all I had in America, thanked God for my life and for my new job and my raise, then turned to Ben and said "I'll do it" . I was thinking me and Susie could sponsor this family. The Grandmother was so sad she couldn't even smile at first. But then I told her that I loved her very much and that me and my sister would be helping her now. I told her I don't have a grandma on earth so she can be my grandmother here on earth. I told her Kathleen and Suzanne are her 2 new grandchildren from America. She fell into my arms and cried and laughed at the same time. Susie you gave her money too and we gave the blankets Chris donated and the rest of my food went to this family. I was so moved and so full of joy and love. I have NEVER felt this way before. It was good and you could feel God in this place. I think grandma Eloise popped by for a heavenly visit as well! Overwhelmed, overwhelmed am I!
Before getting on the bus one of the orphans read a poem about Death. He asked why this AIDS has taken their parents and why they have been left alone. I was once again moved to tears. It is a common thing for me to cry now. Sometimes because I am so sad and other times because I have so much love in my heart for all these people.
Oh I forgot to tell you about all the elephantitis here as well. This is a very painful and ugly disease. Many people have contracted it here and there was no way to help them. Thank God the doctor brought much medication. We are also giving money to buy more for them. I will post a photo.
Trip to Kamwenge
Ok I have been hurrying to get these in so this may be short but check back later I will have lots more and many more photos. This trip was a very big deal so it will take awhile to tell. My mom and dad, and Chris sponsored families on this trip. I also sponosred another family with Susie. (you didn't know that Sue but trust me this one is huge!) So it was very very moving and I want you all to know about it. So I will post pics later tonight. But the power and internet are so unreliable that I am getting in what i can when I can. I am not even spell checking at this point. So in advance sorry about the typos and any other errors. We have to leave in 30 minutes so I'm going to get in now what I can. It may not be up when we get home tonight.
So we left 2 days ago for this place all the way across the country where you can see the Congo from the mountains we were in. Yeah I was scared too about that. You do not want to go to the Congo! But the Africans assured me we were safe. But you have to realize their idea of safe and our idea of safe may not be exactly the same! Anyway it was a 7 hour journey by bus. The first five hours were on paved roads (but still full of holes) and the last two hours were on dirt, huge pot holed and some foot path roads. Long journey!
So we arrived in villages where no muzngos have been before. Pretty cool! We were stars. People couldn't wait to see us. Then we drove from the village into the bush to see familes we were to sponsor. The first family was a man with elepantitis. (spelling?) Anyway he had not been touched in over 20 years. Chris had also given me money for this trip and I used his money to buy blankets and mosquito netting. I was able to sit with him and hand him a blanket and a net but more importantly I gave him a huge hug! You should have seen his face! Ben said I was probably the first female to touch him in all that time. When you are sick here you can be shunned by everyone because people don't want to catch what you have. His wife and children left him and he was living alone for all that time. He is now sponsored and the doctor saw him and provided medication to him. he will never be normal but it will not get worse and we can hopefully cure the infections. This is curable if caught early enough. It comes from a worm in the water and is becoming common in this area. They have no money to see a doctor and they have to live with it. It is so painful and terrible. I will post pics later for you to see what I mean. Please anyone who reads this today, please pray for power and internet because I want you to share this with me! So we sponsored two families at our first stop, gave food, candy, blankets, medicine and some money. The children are so poor that when you hand them a piece of candy you have to open it for them. They do not know what to do with a wrapper. They sometimes try to eat the candy with the wrapper still in place. There is this one baby, I have a pic to share, she loved her grape lollypop so much it was all over her face, her shirt her hands and in her hair! She was never happier! ok gotta go and I'll write more later,
So we left 2 days ago for this place all the way across the country where you can see the Congo from the mountains we were in. Yeah I was scared too about that. You do not want to go to the Congo! But the Africans assured me we were safe. But you have to realize their idea of safe and our idea of safe may not be exactly the same! Anyway it was a 7 hour journey by bus. The first five hours were on paved roads (but still full of holes) and the last two hours were on dirt, huge pot holed and some foot path roads. Long journey!
So we arrived in villages where no muzngos have been before. Pretty cool! We were stars. People couldn't wait to see us. Then we drove from the village into the bush to see familes we were to sponsor. The first family was a man with elepantitis. (spelling?) Anyway he had not been touched in over 20 years. Chris had also given me money for this trip and I used his money to buy blankets and mosquito netting. I was able to sit with him and hand him a blanket and a net but more importantly I gave him a huge hug! You should have seen his face! Ben said I was probably the first female to touch him in all that time. When you are sick here you can be shunned by everyone because people don't want to catch what you have. His wife and children left him and he was living alone for all that time. He is now sponsored and the doctor saw him and provided medication to him. he will never be normal but it will not get worse and we can hopefully cure the infections. This is curable if caught early enough. It comes from a worm in the water and is becoming common in this area. They have no money to see a doctor and they have to live with it. It is so painful and terrible. I will post pics later for you to see what I mean. Please anyone who reads this today, please pray for power and internet because I want you to share this with me! So we sponsored two families at our first stop, gave food, candy, blankets, medicine and some money. The children are so poor that when you hand them a piece of candy you have to open it for them. They do not know what to do with a wrapper. They sometimes try to eat the candy with the wrapper still in place. There is this one baby, I have a pic to share, she loved her grape lollypop so much it was all over her face, her shirt her hands and in her hair! She was never happier! ok gotta go and I'll write more later,
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Last Three Days
This is the guard that stays at our compound with his AK47! He let me take the photo but would not smile. I don't think he liked my hand on him either but oh well!This little boy was happy just to get a bag.
This is elephantitis
I wanted to post every day but as they say here "this is Africa", which means you can make plans but you can NEVER count on anything. We have been without power and internet for three days. So I am going to try my best to tell you what I have been through since the last time I blogged. It will be very difficult to put into words but I think it is very important to try. I was even too tired to journal the last couple of days so I am going on my best recollections.
First of all I would like to start with thank yous to everyone who supported me on this trip financially and emotionally. Without all of you I would not be here to help. It's like you all are a part of me while I am here. Mom, Dad, Susie, Chris have been a huge help. Thank you guys!! Thank you to Stephen and Caryn Haas. You were right Stephen!
Saturday my feelings were so intense and I was a little anxious all night (at times more than a little). During the day I was able to cope with what I saw but at night I was so exhausted and could just not take seeing anymore families in need. The day was like nothing I could have expected. We had a 3 hour journey into the villages on remote, isolated and very eroded roads that were more like foot paths with gigantic holes in them. Can you imagine a small bus full of white people going where not even many motorcycles can go? Many of the people in these villages have never traveled beyond these few acres of land and as a result you can imagine what a spectacle we were. Many children have never seen a white person. We scared some but most thought we were pretty cool.
If you ever want to know what it feels like to be a rock star, come to Africa! You can’t believe it until you see it.
I am really struggling to find the right words in the right combination that will come somewhat close to what I saw today. I think I said this before but I am going to do my best and I hope you can get a feel for it. First of all the second you leave our compound you will start to smell the fires and all the odors. It has not really bothered me before today but where we went the only energy they had was fire. Fire to cook, fire to see by, fire to burn the garbage. There are no garbage cans. All the garbage is burned on site, all day, every day. It was especially strong where we were. It is not a good smell, it burns your nose. My sinuses felt singed for most of the day and my lungs were slightly scorched . There was no where to go to get away from Everywhere you go there are fires and tons of smoke. I took some pictures of the huts that were smoking so you can sort of see what I mean.
Here in Africa the people live in mud huts. Usually one hut for sleeping and another for cooking. The “kitchen” is an open room with a pot of boiling water and a grate over it. That is the stove. The floors are mud as well and roofs are made of dried palms. You may have seen these on TV but until you step in one you can’t imagine living that way. The animals roam all over place, goats, chickens and dogs. It’s like this; you drive up the dirt path and there may be five to ten families that will live within 1 mile of each other. Then you drive some more and come to another place with some families live. They are little communities and most are related in some way. They all look after each others children and they don’t seem to worry about where they are.
This day we stuck to visiting families, one after another and having the team choose their family to sponsor. There were so many families to visit that we were allowed allowed only 5 to 10 minutes per family. They were given gifts, told they would be sponsored and then we took many pictures said a prayer and moved on to the next. It was very emotional as there were soooooo many families and there seeemed to be no end in sight. I kept thinking for each family we sponsored it was like winning the lottery, a really great thing but only one in a million gets to have it. EVERYONE IS NEEDY HERE. It's not like you can see the good areas and then drive far out to get to the "bad" section of town. IT'S ALL THE BAD SECTION. I think that's what got to me today. How can I make a difference. The only thing that helps is thinking of what Mother Theresa said once "You can do no great things, only small things with great love" So if that's the case I've got it down. I LOVE THESE PEOPLE. You can see the love, you can feel the love the instant you stop the bus and get out. I can't even describe the look on their faces when they receive a gift or learn they have been sponsored. You have not seen gratitude until you give to the very, very poor. Many people fall to their knees and cry and hold on to you like a small float in a huge ocean. You literray have saved that family's life. Think about that. Because I was here this family will live. Not that they will get help and live better (they will) but that they will actually live now. They are starving to death and dying from illness and disease. It's so bad here. This does not exist in the United States. I feel so many things right now I can't put them into words.
I do feel God here though. I feel His love and sadness and his calling to help. I no longer see black skin or white skin. I don't think about the color of my skin vs the color of their skin. We are not black or white we are all the same. You loose that when you come here. I only see love. I see an amazing people with such great love it fills my heart until I swear it will burst.,
I cried on this day when I got home becasue I couln't see any end in sight. It was family after family after family. I also cried beacause I took pictures. I felt terrrible about going into someones deepest despair and then "click" take a picture.................... The look on their faces. the group had a meeting and we had a chance to process our feelings and that really helped. If I do not take a photo how will others know? The families were told we would be there and they already gave permission to take the pictures, but you know it was still so very hard for me today.
I will tell you about a very funny story to end this blog. Then I will blog again about my trip to the very Western part of the country. So we took a break along a "main road" to get some drinks and food. (although I wouldn't eat it). Anyway as we were sitting there a group gathered at our bus and the kids came to watch the white people. (Muzugos) Ben warns us about giving out food and candy like this because it can cause problems as the kids may fight over it. So just before we left I asked Ben if I could go across the road to hand out some candy to this growing group of children. He said yes but hurry up and run. So I grabbed a handful of candy and ran. Oh my god the kids screamed and ran for their lives. Can you see about 15-20 kids yelling for their lives and crying that the crazy muzungo is coming over to steal them and eat them? I felt soo bad but the two Africans who work for us, and I have come to love very much, burst out laughing. They explained that the only reason people run here is if there is danger. They were probably thinking I was coming to steal them or eat them. They are taught from a very young age to run from strangers at all costs. So now I have been dubed the "the crazy muzungo" I scare children. Cypreon and Bosko are from Africa and work for GFR. They live with us in the house and are amazing people. They love me but they also love to make fun of me!!! We all laughed so hard our sides hurt. I left the candy at the side of road and as soon as I left they all came to get it. So it worked out in the end.
First of all I would like to start with thank yous to everyone who supported me on this trip financially and emotionally. Without all of you I would not be here to help. It's like you all are a part of me while I am here. Mom, Dad, Susie, Chris have been a huge help. Thank you guys!! Thank you to Stephen and Caryn Haas. You were right Stephen!
Saturday my feelings were so intense and I was a little anxious all night (at times more than a little). During the day I was able to cope with what I saw but at night I was so exhausted and could just not take seeing anymore families in need. The day was like nothing I could have expected. We had a 3 hour journey into the villages on remote, isolated and very eroded roads that were more like foot paths with gigantic holes in them. Can you imagine a small bus full of white people going where not even many motorcycles can go? Many of the people in these villages have never traveled beyond these few acres of land and as a result you can imagine what a spectacle we were. Many children have never seen a white person. We scared some but most thought we were pretty cool.
If you ever want to know what it feels like to be a rock star, come to Africa! You can’t believe it until you see it.
I am really struggling to find the right words in the right combination that will come somewhat close to what I saw today. I think I said this before but I am going to do my best and I hope you can get a feel for it. First of all the second you leave our compound you will start to smell the fires and all the odors. It has not really bothered me before today but where we went the only energy they had was fire. Fire to cook, fire to see by, fire to burn the garbage. There are no garbage cans. All the garbage is burned on site, all day, every day. It was especially strong where we were. It is not a good smell, it burns your nose. My sinuses felt singed for most of the day and my lungs were slightly scorched . There was no where to go to get away from Everywhere you go there are fires and tons of smoke. I took some pictures of the huts that were smoking so you can sort of see what I mean.
Here in Africa the people live in mud huts. Usually one hut for sleeping and another for cooking. The “kitchen” is an open room with a pot of boiling water and a grate over it. That is the stove. The floors are mud as well and roofs are made of dried palms. You may have seen these on TV but until you step in one you can’t imagine living that way. The animals roam all over place, goats, chickens and dogs. It’s like this; you drive up the dirt path and there may be five to ten families that will live within 1 mile of each other. Then you drive some more and come to another place with some families live. They are little communities and most are related in some way. They all look after each others children and they don’t seem to worry about where they are.
This day we stuck to visiting families, one after another and having the team choose their family to sponsor. There were so many families to visit that we were allowed allowed only 5 to 10 minutes per family. They were given gifts, told they would be sponsored and then we took many pictures said a prayer and moved on to the next. It was very emotional as there were soooooo many families and there seeemed to be no end in sight. I kept thinking for each family we sponsored it was like winning the lottery, a really great thing but only one in a million gets to have it. EVERYONE IS NEEDY HERE. It's not like you can see the good areas and then drive far out to get to the "bad" section of town. IT'S ALL THE BAD SECTION. I think that's what got to me today. How can I make a difference. The only thing that helps is thinking of what Mother Theresa said once "You can do no great things, only small things with great love" So if that's the case I've got it down. I LOVE THESE PEOPLE. You can see the love, you can feel the love the instant you stop the bus and get out. I can't even describe the look on their faces when they receive a gift or learn they have been sponsored. You have not seen gratitude until you give to the very, very poor. Many people fall to their knees and cry and hold on to you like a small float in a huge ocean. You literray have saved that family's life. Think about that. Because I was here this family will live. Not that they will get help and live better (they will) but that they will actually live now. They are starving to death and dying from illness and disease. It's so bad here. This does not exist in the United States. I feel so many things right now I can't put them into words.
I do feel God here though. I feel His love and sadness and his calling to help. I no longer see black skin or white skin. I don't think about the color of my skin vs the color of their skin. We are not black or white we are all the same. You loose that when you come here. I only see love. I see an amazing people with such great love it fills my heart until I swear it will burst.,
I cried on this day when I got home becasue I couln't see any end in sight. It was family after family after family. I also cried beacause I took pictures. I felt terrrible about going into someones deepest despair and then "click" take a picture.................... The look on their faces. the group had a meeting and we had a chance to process our feelings and that really helped. If I do not take a photo how will others know? The families were told we would be there and they already gave permission to take the pictures, but you know it was still so very hard for me today.
I will tell you about a very funny story to end this blog. Then I will blog again about my trip to the very Western part of the country. So we took a break along a "main road" to get some drinks and food. (although I wouldn't eat it). Anyway as we were sitting there a group gathered at our bus and the kids came to watch the white people. (Muzugos) Ben warns us about giving out food and candy like this because it can cause problems as the kids may fight over it. So just before we left I asked Ben if I could go across the road to hand out some candy to this growing group of children. He said yes but hurry up and run. So I grabbed a handful of candy and ran. Oh my god the kids screamed and ran for their lives. Can you see about 15-20 kids yelling for their lives and crying that the crazy muzungo is coming over to steal them and eat them? I felt soo bad but the two Africans who work for us, and I have come to love very much, burst out laughing. They explained that the only reason people run here is if there is danger. They were probably thinking I was coming to steal them or eat them. They are taught from a very young age to run from strangers at all costs. So now I have been dubed the "the crazy muzungo" I scare children. Cypreon and Bosko are from Africa and work for GFR. They live with us in the house and are amazing people. They love me but they also love to make fun of me!!! We all laughed so hard our sides hurt. I left the candy at the side of road and as soon as I left they all came to get it. So it worked out in the end.
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