I eat rice and beans every day. Sometimes we have rice and meat and Sam [cook] forgets about me [usually he will make me a little side of beans] and I just eat rice with ketchup!
We are starting a school in the village surrounding the new COTN site [to be finished in a while]. The kids in this area do not go to school for various reasons so we are bringing school to them [for the next three weeks]. Today we went to assess their level of learning. We thought about 30-40 would show up but we greatly underestimated [100 at least]. We expect the number to double tomorrow. We really have no idea how this is going to work but it will. I went shopping today in the market with Richelle and Andrew for school supplies. We already have many pens, pencils, markers, crayons, paper, everything imaginable, but we were in great need of teaching guides. We got a few books [3] and are now preparing to teach the masses. Tomorrow I am going to stand in front of 100 children and sing the ABC's at the top of my lungs.
I have been doing interviews with the staff and children of COTN. I am being filled with so many life stories-I want to tell the world! These people are so strong, so trusting, so amazing. My children have come such a long way. I hope you are touched by this: I talked to a 13 year old girl with the most beautiful smile [names will go unmentioned]. She grew up in Barlonyo with her mother, father, and sister. During the rebel attack of 2004 the rebels invaded her house and killed her father. Her mother was trying to get all of their prized possessions out of the house so my lovely young girl tied her baby sister on her back and began to run into the bush. A woman running next to her was shot at 6 times and killed. The bullet that killed this woman skimmed her hand, five scars on near her nuckles serve as a visual. She lived on her own for about a year and eventually returned to Barlonyo with her sister [home is home]. She "grew thin, grew very angry, cried, and wanted to die". Eventually she was taken to the COTN home and has changed in so many amazing ways. It is an honor to know a small girl with such big strengths.
I am sorry if these blogs leave you feeling sad. Please know that I feel joy in this country every single day. There is a joy unknown to America. We cannot compare our issues , nor can we minimalize our problems. We all feel pain, we all experience sorrow, we all cry, we all suffer [oh humanity]. I just want us all to open our eyes and share love [we all desprately need it].
Good night [good morning to you].
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Jen, while you teach them the ABC's include handwashing. Have them scrub their hands as they sing the song. The transmission of disease will be greatly decreased and they will learn their ABC's.
ReplyDeleteJenny-
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine that any of my words will bring you strength or love or joy (you have all those things already), but maybe comfort in knowing that I am thinking about you every day. You are growing and learning and changing in a way that is defining who you are. I hope that we can sit for hours and hours when you return to talk about your adventures and so that I can absorb a little bit of your growth! I hope that one day you and I and the rest of our family can work together to reach out to people in need. Together, sharing a moving, deep experience will tighten our already strong bond. Let's go build houses together! I love you very deeply and am so grateful that you are in my life and that I can call you family.
karen