Newsletters
With our regular newsletters, we aim to keep you posted on all the interesting and important news and updates of our programs and various activities. Enjoy reading!
July 21, 2005
Dear friends and partners, Like most parents, I worry that Miriam learns to appreciate and be grateful for what she has and that she learns to be compassionate with those who are not so fortunate. Sometimes I get a glimmer if my desire is taking fruit. Let me share one such glimmer.
We get volunteer house builders all year round. Most times, I only do orientation with the teams but several times a year we have very special groups come in and I join the house building as well. Last month, one of those groups arrived. They are families who had adopted Cambodian children.
This go round, there were 16 children with their siblings and parents in tow. For the first time, Miriam, my 6 year old daughter found a soul mate, 7 year old Chanta. Their histories are very similar - both girls were born testing positive for the HIV virus, both girls had lost their parents to AIDS, both girls were adopted by single moms. The other adopted children were all in their early teens. It was an honor and delight to see how well they were doing.
Our first days together followed the normal pattern, getting acquainted and re-acquainted and then I did orientation. This time the difference was marked. The young people understood what was being said about what happened - an understanding of those years began to awaken. It was such a privilege to be a part of that.
The next day we were off to Kompong Som and the beach - a 4 hour trip that left us all ready to splash in the waves. We ran into a minor problem as the rains had come early to Kompong Som, the ocean swells threatened to carry of the swimmers.
The next morning we left for our village - the trip took an hour and a half but nobody minded as there were lots of people to talk to. We arrived at our destination ready to work - everyone began to hammer with the early morning burst of energy. With that burst of energy, the skies burst forth in rain and wind. At first, we all tried to keep dry but it soon became clear, that no house would be built if we did that too long. So, one by one the workers came out and renewed their efforts.
For the first time, the young people were building their own house, with no assistance from the adults. As the wind and rain lashed their bodies, they hammered the walls and the floors. Our 2 young ladies rapidly became cold and were shivering. With the cold came the need to go potty. The latrine was a very simple affair off in the field. Both girls were very nervous but managed to walk gingerly through the mud and the rice paddies to do their thing. Once they knew they could do it - it became an hourly trek - 2 little girls, walking hand in hand - one stood in watch that no cows would come near, while the other did their business. Both girls spent much time watching the children of the village and their families.
At the end of the day, the young people had completed their first home. Everyone was soaked to the skin and filthy from the mud in the rice paddies. We came back to the beach to once again swim in the rain.
The next morning, Miriam woke to very wet and muddy shoes. She began to cry, "I am not poor mom! Poor people have only 1 pair of shoes and they are always wet - they never have dry feet. They only have one set of clothes and those are all wet and dirty and now they can't get their clothes dry. I hate living like a poor person, she cried - I hate it that they are poor." I was speechless. Miriam with all her exposure to those less fortunate than her, had never expressed how bothered she is with this. I said nothing, just helped her on with her shoes - she needed to cry. And then a big hug and a tickle and she went forth to another day of building in the wet and cold.
In the bus trip down to the village, Chanta began to cry. She was crying because the people were so poor, they had so little clothes and food to eat. It wasn't fair. It could have been her. Chanta's mom couldn't say much either, she held her close and let her cry. And then together, we talked of other things so that Chanta could regain her composure. Then Chanta went forth to another day of building in the wet and the cold.
Miriam and Chanta did well that day - no complaining, hammering nails like big people. The latrine was still their fascination, the village children an education. The young people built their second house. They did it with humor and compassion for each other. They beat the adults. They were a proud group. I could say with great pride, well done, well done.
When we returned to Phnom Penh, we took the girls to the orphanage where they came from. We came laden with toys made by a volunteer and clothes the girls had outgrown. Sister Maripol was delighted to see them. She took them by the hand and showed them off to the other Sisters - how good that was to see. And then she prayed with them. It was very good.
All of you, our friends and partners, have enabled Chanta's mom and me to see our girls grow in wisdom and strength - to develop the values we hold so dear. My thanks to each of you for allowing that to happen, my thanks to my God for letting it be, my thanks to the parents of these young people, how good it is to see how well they are growing. It can't get any better than this - well, yes it can get better - when every child in Cambodia no longer has wet feet and wet clothes. Let's make that happen.
Janne
