I love kids. I love small they are and how happy they are and how they can laugh at anything. I love how they think and their curiosity and their capacity to learn. They are unique individual masterpieces its fascinating! The kids here are awesome.
Its funny, when I’m with the babies at In His Image it doesn’t make me sad because they are so cute and amazing! Though if you think about it and look at say Daniel (in the pic), the most delicious little toddler and think that his mum got to the state where she just dumped him it is incredibly sad. Most they get when they are babies but Daniel they got a few months ago when he was aout 1. Nicole was wondering the other day how much these babies mum’s think about them. To dump your baby can’t be easy, to be so desperate that you do that must be horrible. I also wonder how it must affect the babies having not one constant mum but about 6 or 7 different ladies. It must affect them somehow?
And the other day we were at Limuru Childrens Centre and the director was telling us some of the kids stories. One boys was found trying to pull his drunk naked mother off the streets, another watched his father kill his mum, 2 other girls live their because their mum is a drunkard. And it’s weird to think, looking at these smiling kids, what must be underneath. What do they think? How can they comprehend it? The smallest girl there is having a court case at the moment and Patrick, the director said last time they came home from court she was so upset because her mum hadn’t been there and all she wanted was to see her mum.
Yesterday I taught my first lesson at LCC-K, the pre-school branch of Limuru Childrens Centre. I think it is primarily to feed to kids but obviously they need to be educated too. They took about half an hour to draw 4 lines on a piece of paper with a ruler to split it into 9 parts. They just have so little resources they just sit and copy teacher, its so different to england where kids are painting and cutting and sticking and have so many toys. They are
so much fun though, it’s amazing how much you can play with a kid without needing to say anything. You just chuck one up in the air and they all come running wanting the same! They all drink ‘Uje’ (some kind of porridge) mid morning and then all clammer for seconds. I looked at it and thought im not sure I would want seconds of that, it looks pretty disgusting. But then it came to me that this is their breakfast and these are growing kids and I felt rather... something to have thought that. What a western thought!It gives you a lot to think about though, being here and seeing things first hand. In the slums especially it seems such a contrast, the beautiful children and the pitiful surroundings. I wander what they see, what they think about it. Or are some of them too young and they’re just kids playing like kids, making the best out of what they have.
i read your words about the kids. I apologise for taking the space off your blog. I do feel a strong urge to share some of my thoughts on Africa. I used to often feel extremely sad whenever i hear,read or see people like them and they always had effects on me even months after. Thinking how in the world could these be and what could i do to help and change things! Then i felt so hopeless and depressing due to my inadequacy except perhaps giving a few quits to some organisations. Billions of pounds (dollars) are being pumped into africa every year! Guess what? 70% or likely more of the money has gone back to Europe and securely stored in someone's personal bank account in a Swiss bank. The 'good works' christian and other have done over the years on this vast continent has not been working as a matter of an personal opinion. I am NOT saying we should stop doing these good works. It s just that i think education and financial aids are not gonna do the trick. They need God. In which case, personal sacrifices and life-time dedication("Take up the cross and follow me.."? remember?) are essential again as an opinion. These tribal people are not gonna start listening to you or open their hearts to anyone who just been there for a few month or a couple of years!
ReplyDeleteI know there are a lot missionaries in africa. It s a brilliant holiday destination and nice experience to put it on your cv that you've worked for some organisation in africa. However, perhaps there is anyone who is reading this and thinking doing something the world thinks that is foolishness. I urge you to count the cost first.("For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? ") – the question is: Are you ready? ------ For now, I m NOT.
I think Jotham that like you said "these tribal people are not gonna start listening to you or open their hearts to anyone who has just been there for a few months or a couple of years" - I think the sort of aid, like feeding them and educating them are the perfect opportunities for them to get chatting about God. You can't get them to just walk into the house with a whole new set of ideas and expect them to even receive you, you need these ice breakers and activities that earn trust.
ReplyDeleteAlso how do you know its 70% , is it a wild guess?
And going on things like this in your gap year can sow a seed of a lifelong campaign or doesn't have to be (God's choice)- so do you really need to think am i willing to commit to it all and see if I had enough for the cost when doing a little will still help and is better than nought :D
But.... I don't really know much about Africa and maybe it's as aweful as you say Jotham, but from what i hear from BEthany is that the place she is at is a massive beacon of hope in a place where the children would have had none before.
Yeah... i would have to spend longer than i have to answer what i think properly.. but just a couple things. First actually there is a lot of God out here but they do need education and advice as well... and also im not here to change Africa im more here to change myself and see that there is so much more to the world than what i previously know and give what little i can. I've learnt more off these people i think than i can have given them and is that not worth it? And will anyone ever be ready? And what about all the help people are giving people in other places in the world? And should we just stand by and watch them stuck in their poverty? And i think you are wrong, i think people have done some good, yes some bad but also some good. Pouring money into Africa wont work no. But teaching them ways to help themselves will. And also all the projects bar 1 i am involved in are set up and run by kenyans but we can come and help along and also bring new ideas of better ways to do things. And just with kids love them because they can never have too much love.. Thats not a very satisfying or thorough answer sorry, im not so good at discussions like this but yeah..
ReplyDelete70% is an estimation from the FT. Firstly, i do apologise for my previous comment that it was very passive and cynical. Also i was certainly not pointing at Bethany in particular nor attempting to provoke an argument. It s always absolutely inspiring to go out, see and feel. Secondly, my point was i don't think it s right to run africa the way we think it should. Food and medical are essential i agree. Education could help them. But where do you see them in 10 years time? I wish i could say there will be a bright further lying ahead. The political corruption and foreign campaigns ...... endless fighting...... i just wish they are building their beacon of hope on people. And finally, I m not looking for a satisfactory answer here. Just wanted to explore a bit more what's on your guys' minds. I m already regretting for what i ve said. Like Bethany was saying... they can never have too much love... Looks like you are having a terrific time! all the best.
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