Beginnings

7/15/2009

Is it the end of Wednesday already?

We accidentally overslept breakfast (which was sort of flexible seeing as how it was coffee and bread.)  After breakfast we met with Emmanuel Ngala and his wife Comfort to cover the essentials (meals and water).  We girls trekked to twon (Three Corners) with Comfort and two of the older kids, Clovis and Jude.  Comfort mostly did the shopping and we chatted with the boys.  Unfortunately a storm hit and knocked out the internet so we couldn't email out to tell everyone at home we got here. 

We rode back to town on motorcycles-- awesome!!  we played for a few minutes with the kiddos and then got a tour from Emmanuel Ful.  After the tour I think it was lunchtime, and more planning with the team, Emmanuel Ngala (EN) and Emmanuel Ful (EF).  We unloaded our supplies and debuted the chart system which the administrators liked, but the nurse Gilda seemed a little skeptical of.   Hopefully we can convince her to keep using it after we're gone.  Gosh I sunk so much time into that project.  Gilda overall was pretty honset with us and a good resource on what actually works and how people respond to things.

While we were meeting with EF, he brought up the sad story of one of the girls who has been sexually assaulted multiple times by an older man from the town.  He asked us if we could do a "virginity test"-- we basically said we don't have the equipment-- we don't have anything to do a pelvic exam or collect biological samples, not that much we could do would be definitive anyway.  It's so sad, though, and really surprising to see how OK she seems.  Maybe she's just good at hiding it.

Another sad story-- Christina and Kelsey both got notes from one of the older girls, basically saying that she neede love and wanted them to be her mom.  They're still formulating a response. . . but what do you say to that?  We're here for two weeks.  It's heartbreaking.

Later, after dinner, Kelsey heard some singing coming from the older girls' room, so we ventured out to see what was going on.  It was amazing-- tons of kids singing praise songs and getting down with all their sould.  About 5 of the younger kids pretty much attached themselves to me.  Even if the rest of this trip is miserable and we get nothign else done, it was entirely worth it for that half hour or so of praise.   I about lost it, needless to say.  That is what heavien is going to be like, and I cannot wait.

I also came to a realization. . . I guess a realization I've sort of had before, but never quite this tangible, and anyway it's good to be reminded-- I'd like to have someone journey with me into the wild missions onder, but if young, beautiful orphan hands like these are all I ever get to hold, it is more than enough. 

Thank you God for an amazing day.

<3RH

Ps-- Lizette cornrowed (plaited) my hair.