Exactly 3 weeks until I am on a plane leaving this 90 F degree, 70% humidity weather and coming to winter in Minnesota! I cannot believe how fast this has gone. Here's a short update of the past week:
Monday - I met with a group of women who just started a merry-go-round loan group where they each contribute about $3 each week and then that money is given to one member to use for business purposes. They are a group of about 10 widows who cannot access loans alone, and when their businesses build they plan on taking small loans to continue growth. I interviewed a few of the women, and one woman named Pascaliah has stuck in my mind through the week. She lost her husband 2 months ago, and the entire time she visited with me she wiped small tears from her cheeks as if it was completely normal and did not phase her that she was crying. She described to me that in her village widows are looked down upon and their property and sometimes even children are taken by the husband's family. She was brought to this merry-go-round group by a friend and has found support knowing that she is not alone and a better day will come. She kept saying, "But I will manage" after every challenge she shared with me. Pascaliah sells liquid soap to hotels and neighbors and also bakes cakes. She does not know if she will make any profit in a given day and finding food for her children is a daily struggle. Pascaliah's story is common in Kenya - the poverty is overwhelming for me at times - there is so much that needs to be done in the Kenya at the same time that there are incredible things happening everyday. And this is just Kenya - the world is HUGE!
I saw another aspect of poverty last Friday when I visited the hospital where my host mom works. It is basically a physical therapy center for children who have disabilities, and many of the kids come from extreme poverty. The hospital sends out a van every Monday that visits villages around Mombasa, and the workers educate people such as the village chiefs about not hiding kids who have disabilities but allowing them to have surgery and to share their gifts with the world. Many of the kids are 10-15 years old and have been hidden from society for their entire life because of being bow-legged or having clubbed feet, and their parents were unable to afford surgery that typically costs about $500.
The kids were awesome. They sang and danced and yelled "Mzungu" at me. I asked some of the girls what they want to be when they grow up and they were so excited to tell me they wanted to be a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, or a pilot. Cool.
My host family is still incredible. Today I told me host mom that I sometimes get dizzy when I stand up, and she said "You need more iron. Let's go to the garden and pick some greens." So we did! And she cooked them just for me - delicious and made with love. My host dad has noticed how much I love the mango/papaya juice that he makes fresh every night, and he has started making extra for me to have in the morning too!
I can't wait to get home, but this place is very amazing and I will miss many things - especially that juice! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment