Why do you cry my sister?
“Why do you cry my sister?” asked one of the guys here at the orphanage as I sat on a rock having my first breakdown. The past two weeks have been really hard and at times I feel homesick for the states. I miss the things I always took for granted; running water, Internet, electricity all the time, a real shower, and a bed. I of course told the guy “I am fine, I am fine”. to which his response was “do not worry”. He had a bold, strong spirit about him as he started to speak. Here is what he told me.
“Do not worry my sister. You have no need to worry. I come from a family with nothing. My mother is far away and very sick. My wife and kids are hungry but I have no money to feed them. I have so many problems. Once an American girl stayed here at this orphanage too, but she had no white sisters with her. She would sit out on a branch every day quietly on her free time and had no one. At least you have white sisters with you. Do not worry my sister. “
His words pierced my heart and humbled me in that moment. Why the heck was I crying? Why was I feeling the harshness of the living conditions? These conditions are temporary for us, but these kids have to live like this for weeks, months, and even years. I have been on mission’s trips before but never this long, and never like this. We are really emerged in the culture. It is funny how your paradigms can change in an instant. I still however, see these children as fortunate because they know the joy of the Lord, have a true appreciation for education, and are so giving of the little things they have. These things build true character and let me tell you these boys and girls have such great characters. The children teach us so much, how to laugh at simple things like how to cook whole meals over a fire, how to garden, how to play music on a Marumba (a drum like made instrument), and how to smile in the midst of any condition. They truly have touched my heart, and it is the simple things in life I am learning to love and become more grateful for.
Let me give you a little insight into the living situations for this orphanage, and what our daily ministry looks like………
First of all, all the girls and boys that live here were taken off the streets. Some of their parents were abusive, neglecting, or have even died. The children show up at this organization in town where they go through a process of behavior change. They are given a place to stay and some food. Once behavior is addressed kids get chosen based on their level to go to the orphanage to live. There they have a place to sleep, eat and they even get to go to public school.
Every morning the girls at the orphanage get up at 5:45am and have morning devotions, eat breakfast, and then head to school. Some of my team gets up to do that with them. Then we teach a lesson to the boys who stay home, and help out with gardening. They have a garden full of greens, carrots, and onions. We also have free time throughout the day to play volleyball, games, cards, and music with the children.
The children live day in and out with limited water, food, and electricity. They are currently going through a water shortage in Bulawayo so every few days they shut the water off for a couple of days in certain parts of town. They take turns in each section to preserve the water. They are not able to bathe, or really wash hands except with the water they stored up from the days the water was running. Every day the electricity goes out for a good couple of hours. If that happens, we have to cook our food outside on the fire. There is no Internet here either. I find myself having a hard time living like this, but can you imagine living like this every day? It breaks my heart because this is how these kids live everyday for months, years, and some their whole lives. Despite my feelings of sadness for their living conditions, there is still a spirit of joy, love, and respect here at the orphanage.
During our stay here in Bulawayo we were able to attend a small group with a bunch of men, women and children. To get in and out of town to events like this or even the store, we have to pay for conveys (vans they pack with people). The small group was in a small room with no electricity or instruments, yet the experience was more powerful then any other church service, or small group I have ever been a part of in the states. One woman, who had the most amazing voice, led us in worship. The people sang along with her with such loud boldness. The spirit of God was definitely there that night. The feeling of love and hope permeated the air.
We also had the opportunity to help teach in a village. A woman who lived in the village had a vision of gathering children who were not being educated and teach them all she could. These children have been neglected by their families, abused, or were not able to attend school due to a lack of a birth certificate. The public schools were also very far away, making it hard for a lot of the children to get there. The school was outside of this woman’s house.
She has very few supplies; one little caulk board and a map of the world. Their classroom was sitting outside in the dirt. There is no electricity so smoke fills the air from the wood people use to cook their meals around the village. The number of kids showing up to her school is growing, but she was only able to afford 10 books, making it hard to teach. She teaches the basics; reading, writing, English, and math.
The thirst these kids have for learning was such an inspiration. They pay attention, listen, and soak up anything you teach them. This was so humbling. Most kids I have been around are impatient and would take any opportunity to go play instead of learn.
To conclude, I just want to say that my time here in Africa has been one of the most humbling experiences I have had so far. This is only month one. I am not only teaching people here, but they are teaching me. I cannot change things in the world, unless I am changed, and let me tell you, I am in the process of change. I may not be able to fix some of the worlds problems, but you can make a difference in a community and as I said in a previous blog, start a domino affect. Planting seeds of love and hope goes further then you think. You might think being here for a month might not be able to make much of a difference, but believe me, it has and will.
SORRY I do not have pics. This internet cafe is so slow it will not upload my pics into this blog. The files are too large. I will post pics next month on facebook!
I am still in the process of raising support. If you feel led to give, please make a donation online under my profile pic on the support me link. I need to have 11,000 total by Novemeber. I currently have 6989. Thank you to all who have prayed, encouraged, and supported me so far.
