They came in masses.
Hundreds and hundreds of children. Children in need ... in need of love, attention, affection, laughter, physical care, shoes, homes, in need of HOPE.
They lined up for hours for a sparkly star on their face, a crown made out of construction paper, to draw pictures with new paper and crayons, for balloons, for specs and bracelets and doo-dads made out of pipe cleaners ... stuff that cost mere pennies, yet brought such joy to these children. You would have thought everything they lined up for was made of gold.
What can I give them? I felt so helpless and useless. Other teams were off doing the "real work" -- planting food gardens, holding medical clinics, building homes. What did I have to offer?
Then I realized that love really is more valuable than gold. Jeff said it best ... he didn't know before going over how time with these children, these precious and beautiful children, would change the world. But he learned that these children will remember the time that the Americans came over and showered love on them. They will remember that they are not forgotten or forsaken. They will remember that they are loved by the Americans who came to bring meager gifts and all of our hearts.
Love can change things. I know their love changed my life. I trust and believe that our love will change their lives. It has to.
Please, it has to.
(You can see Jeff all the way in the back of this picture with his Reds cap on ... surrounded by hundreds of precious, valuable, beautiful, and worthy children.Click the picture to enlarge.)
4 comments:
thats great joyce...i'm sure they will remeber how strangers touched their lives. and remeber it always.
you didnt say...are these kids orphaned, are they part of a school? who supports them? whats their story?
Ah, good question. We don't have any idea of many of the kids' stories. We do know that some are orphaned and/or head of households as we were told stories by them of their parents being 'sick' and no longer alive. Sick means HIV over there. They don't use the terminology of HIV or AIDS ... just 'sick'.
Many others are in homes where their parent/s care for them. School is often scholarshipped although some of the children's families are able to pay.
So their stories are all over the map -- from the saddest to the best as can be among the conditions of this township.
Jeff really wants to start a way for us and others to scholarship kids. He's looking into how to do that now. If the kids have an education, they will at least have a chance to work and succeed as adults and maybe be able to break free of some of the poverty that they are accustomed to. It's something that has become close to hearts and where we really want to help.
The church there also helps to educate many of the children. We were able to see some of the classrooms and it was a pretty cool thing to see.
Joyce, Your story is such a true representation of what we witnessed. I have a lot of means to financial help, and would love to pair up with you to make this become a success. There has not been a day that has gone by that I haven't thought about Mamelodi since I've gotten home. I miss it, I miss the sense of closeness and love I felt so abundantly over there. As a college student, I know how important education is to "make something" of yourself, even anything now a days. And I want the same for those children and young adults whom I saw myself and friends in. Count me in on any help you guys need. Love and miss you!!! Sean Johnson
Sean, that's awesome. Thank you. Jeff has emailed Tim and is waiting on a reply. I'm thinking that they all are so swamped with Christmas right now that it will probably be after the New Year that we can actually begin to put our hopes into action. We'll keep you posted and are grateful for your desire to help.
I can't put into words how much your love, for the children and for us, has impacted our lives. We are better and happier people for knowing you and calling you 'friend'.
We love you so much and really miss you! We will get together after the holidays -- count on it!
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