iam1ru

Today was one of the most difficult days this trip. It was one of those days that makes you appreciate everything that you have, and at the same time makes you wonder what you ever did to possibly deserve what you have... And we were not the only ones that had some emotional breakdowns, even our friends shed a few tears today. .
Now when we uploaded the photo's they came up in the wrong order so we will start at the end of the day and work backward... and As I have learned today... it really is not a big deal...

Our day ended with a visit to the village... as usual when we come to town, a party always breaks out.

David and Genette graced the crowd with a little singing ... they were excited to have someone in their village that spoke french,

I think the kids were just excited to eat candy....

But me , I was excited to spend time with young Arafat and his family... he is the young boy that we have been helping with his cleft pallet surgeries....

It was nice to go to the party, it was upbeat after visiting the invalid home. When we pulled in there, we saw some of the new mattresses out being aired out.. something they do when it is a nice day.... it's nice to see the new mattresses in the mix.

Inside we were brought to the latest room that we have been renovating... it is a dinning room on the floor of the ICU... until now, it had no chairs, rotted floors, the cement was crumbling on the walls, and there was no electricity, and no water and no heat....

Now the room is almost finished...

stove, sinks, hot water, heaters, electricity and lights.... and by next week, tables and chairs, dish racks with dishes and spoons, everything that will be needed for a cafeteria.

Even hand painted patterns are on the wall.... it is going to be an incredible room when it is finished.... the care givers are so excited as well... they say it will make there job so much easier, and more pleasant.... especially the hot water for cleaning.

before going there, we visited with some of the families that Laurisa supports with the help of iam1ru.... like this babushka that has lost her 5 children and her husband, and now supports 3 grand children... She shared how one of the kids needs to go to a special school because he is behind, but it will cost $25 a year, and he will have to stay with relatives in the city... the babushka did not know where she could find the $25, but she did manage to save some money that she could give the boy for spending money while he was living away for the next 8 months... she was happy to give him 5o som....$1.25....that's just over 15 cents a month....As I seek out more simple dreams, it is difficult for us to not just meet the needs right away.... rest assured, this is one of those dreams that was met immediately by the team.

This is the only heat source for Clava.. the old babushka in another apartment... and it is broken... it needs a new chimney... about $10 then she will not freeze this winter when they turn the heat off... I would love to add another $50 to that and buy her enough coal for the winter...

Here she is here greeting us when we arrived... she was so glad to see me again, and it was a blessing for us to spend time with her.

she lives just around the corner from a school where we visited more children that we support through Laurisa... We were also introduce to 3 more kids... the lost there mother last month because they could not afford the medication for her... it would have cost $5. It was so difficult to look at these kids and know that for the sake of $5 they have no mother... How much would be to much to take away that pain ?......That is the imposable question.... The one that only has one answer... it is a price that I can not pay!

At that school, they have 700 children and teachers, and the only washroom is this building ...

I have made a commitment to them to be back at the end of next week with a couple workers and put a new roof on, and bring them paint and paint brushes to spruce it up... This is going to cost about $250, and I am just about out of mad money... as you might have guessed by seeing the projects we have been working on... But what we really need to do is to raise about $1200 to build them a second washroom so that there is not the continual line up that they are facing now....

I guess the hardest part of today is that we started off at the dump... I am Canadian... I am not supposed to have friends that live in the dump.... at least that is what I thought, but now when we go to the dump, they all come over and are excited to see me again,. and what to know how my summer was and how my family is doing... all the things that you might ask a Friend that you have not seen for a while.... Yet how do I ask them about their summer... Do I say.. "Hay it is great to see that you are still alive".... or " I like what you guys have done with the place"instead conversation is " OH I see they are dumping in a different area now... does that make things easier or harder for you ?"... instead I focus on what I can .. I tell them that they are in my thoughts, and that even when I am not in KG, I do not stop thinking about them, and I encourage them to go to Laurisa when they are in special need, and we will continue to do what we can to help......

I say that, but as I walk away I almost feel ashamed that they are still there....sure I justify by telling myself that at least we are doing something...Besides our friends, there is no one else that ever visits them, ... well that's not true... one large Humanitarian aid group came once about 2 years ago and gave them each 1 kg of rice.....

These are the dark corners of society .... it is not a pretty place... I have no idea why it hit me so hard this time, but I am not alone... even our friends here recognise the desperation being faced ... winter is just around the corner, and as my friend Jayne put it..." No one is saying the words, but with every passing day, the people her move one day closer to sure pain suffering and for many death as the winter approaches"...

How many will die before I return ?