Hope

Last week Dara, Carlos and I went on a two hour road trip to Nhamatanda. This is a new area that Rubatano Home Based Care (who I work with) is planning on expanding to. Carlos had previously preached at a church in Nhamatanda, and the pastor had become very interested in starting home based care in his church to care for the widows, sick, and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s) in their area.

We drove out to meet with the pastor and the future volunteers. We arrived at a humble little mud church and met 13 people who were excited to be trained and get working. They had already identified different OVC’s in their area desperate for help. We then traveled to another church ten km away where another 12 volunteers were ready and had identified more OVC’s. I was so touched and encouraged! A community that has gathered 25 volunteers through their own initiative to take care of their poor, sick and orphaned neighbors.

One family that we met really stood out to Dara and myself. We walked far into the community, down little paths, through fields, and came upon a man named Chico and his two children, Luisa 7, and Joao 9. Their mother had died in 2003, and their father was in a work related car accident that left him with pain and limited strength in his right arm- able to lift only a couple kilos. Their house had only three walls, and no roof, so they were living under a small sheet of plastic supported by one wall and a few bamboo poles. Recently someone had stolen the family’s mattress and blanket leaving them with only a sheet to cover themselves with at night. Bleak. We felt terrible leaving them- giving them only our prayers and a little money.

There are so many people here who are just as desperate as they are. AIDS is a very big problem- spreading like crazy, and making orphans of thousands. This is largely because the town is situated on a busy intersection that many truck drivers pass through to get to other countries. These drivers take advantage of desperately poor girls and women who will sell themselves for as little as 40 cents. Bleak.

There are so many heavy, heavy things here that could envelope you if you let it. There is hope though! There are people here that will stand up and take care of their community. 25 new men and women who are so excited to start. Each day when I work with the volunteers I am encouraged and amazed by their love and devotion. They are so kind to their orphans and patients! Yesterday I watched as one of the young volunteers, 24 year old Adao, taught a young orphan how to multiply and divide using pieces of corn. I saw another orphan, one in a family of 6 young kids, run up to him with joy and hug him. The volunteers have been wonderful to us, and have made us feel so welcome here. As long as there is prayer (this is key) and people who will stand up and care for their neighbors, there is hope!