Not only is another world possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.

David

>> 7.04.2008

While internet connection hasn't been too much of a problem, it has been hard to find the time and energy to write, much less the words to express what has been happening.

Our first week of work has gone pretty well. It's a lot of work, but I really enjoy it. I've been trying to learn some krio (the local language) which has been going surprisingly well. The people at City of Rest (the drug addiction/mental health facility) have been great so far in helping to teach me. It is also a great conversation started to hear some of their stories. It is amazing to hear what some people have been through, surprising to hear how normal everyone is, and made me resolute in finding some way to work on these problems long term. Our work with Society for Women and AIDS in Africa, Sierra Leone Chapter (SWAASL) has been kind of slow, but I had one very moving moment...

A little boy named David, who was just under 5 years old, was sitting on my lap, drawing pictures in my notebook. David is HIV+, he was born negative but received the virus from a blood transfusion when he was 3 years old. He is healthy and doing well now, but Laura, a volunteer from the UK who has been here for 8 months who works at SWAASL, told us that 1 in 4 children here don't reach the age of 6. So I had this precious, beautiful little child on my lap, a wonderful little boy just coloring, talking to me in krio (which I didn't understand at all), smiling, and it just hit me. This child probably won't ever grow up to be my age even. This child may die. It is one thing to see the WorldVision commercials and hear that children die of AIDS, it is entirely different to hold that child, to have him in your arms and know that he has this virus, from a blood transfusion nonetheless, and may die. It was.... it made me question. Question a lot. We really need to do so much more to fight this, to help people here. There are real children dying, children just as real as the ones in our church, in our neighborhood... It is hard- it is a lot to deal with. But I need to deal with this pain if I ever want to help change it.

So right now I am brainstorming and scheming, trying to think of what it is that we, as a community, can do.

I'd love to put up some pictures, as I'm sure you'd like to see, but it just takes too long here. I may try again later, but I doubt it is possible at the moment. God bless- I hope all is well with you guys!

2 comments:

Anonymous July 4, 2008 at 11:23 PM  

Thank you for sharing that. It was beautiful, and it's exactly what we need to hear and know. Statistics say it all... and I bet he is a wonderful child. I bet they all are.
I'm still praying for you and am glad to see you are still doing well. I'll be praying for little David tonight, too. Continue to grow and learn on this amazing journey! It's still crazy to imagine. I love you
-Vanessa

Righty Grove July 5, 2008 at 12:08 PM  

Happy 4th kiddo. You'll find a way to help, if anyone will. Keep up the good work, and the doggies and mom and I will be ready for you when you're done.

A Little Background

This blog is centered around my experiences as a global justice volunteer in Sierra Leone during the summer of 2008. For two months I worked with Society for Women and Aids Africa Sierra Leone Chapter (SWAASL) and City of Rest (a drug rehabilitation and mental health facility) in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Thank You

I want to extend a sincere thank you to everybody who has supported me on this journey. I can't tell you how blessed I feel to have so much support.
And a special thanks to...
The members of Discovery UMC
The Chaska Herald, especially Mollee Francisco
Missio Dei
Youth Enrichment League
Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics
And all of the individuals who supported me financially, through prayers, and with their stories

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, which lies on the West coast of Africa, is ranked lowest on the Human Development Index (177/177 countries) and seventh lowest on the Human Poverty Index. The country suffers from a 1.5% HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, as well as tremendous inequality in income distribution with 70.2% of the population below $2 per day.


  © Blogger template Sunset by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP