Hey guys,
Well, today I had the very neat opportunity to visit with Diane who we've had as a sponsor child for 8 years now. It was very odd to actually meet the girl behind the picture that has sat on the desk in the kitchen for years.
Diane was a little shy (strange white guy comes to visit an awkward teenage girl... it's understandable) but through the hesitation, she and her family were quite welcoming. I met her father, mother, and sister (and their dog Sugar).
It only took a few minutes from the time when I sat down for Diane to break out a folder and had it to me. Inside were stacks of letters, all in mom's handwriting. Ever letter you had ever written for eight years was there, along with a postcard of Toronto and a picture of our family (taken at Eva's wedding).
We talked about her school (she'll be done in a year as students in the Philippines start high school earlier) and how she'd like to go on to study physical therapy or hotel management in university if money allows. I spoke with her family about their jobs. Her dad is in fact a security guard; her mom and sister work at a factory assembling clothes for Dickies (a brand commonly found in the US or Canada) for about $3 USD/day. Her sister went to college for one year but had to drop out because she couldn't afford it and had to work.
I was able to get them a fan, some chocolates for the family and gave Diane the necklace you gave me mom. They were THRILLED with the floor fan as the current fan is temperamental at best, and, well, a fan is a nice thing to have when it gets up to 35 - 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. I didn't get anything more at this point because I wanted to avoid looking like Santa Claus and simply there to give gifts. I spoke with the folks at Partners and their going to look into what it would cost for a year of university (the first number thrown out was about $5 year for tuition... I'm doubtful, but STILL!!!) and also what a wood bed would cost for their home as Diane and her sister sleep on the floor.
Unfortunately, the pictures and details of poverty only give the surface layer of the story... one we've seen before through pictures and letters. Today, I got the opportunity to see even more. To see a real live girl, her family, her dog and some chickens out in her yard. To see her home and life. To see real people who breathe, smile and laugh. They're poor, yes! They're not dead, however. I don't think we need feel sorry for them. Us feeling sorry for them actually does nothing to help anyone. We can help -- and I think we should -- but it seems as if they're quite happy. I think that happiness is something that we could definitely stand to learn more about.
I'm grateful to have seen the genuine side of life that they have and I hope you're able catch a glimpse of what I saw today.
Love you guys!!
PS Sorry this ended up sounding like an editorial... I switched into "contemplative blog writing mode" somewhere in the middle. Hope it doesn't come off as "preachy." It's just too good for me to change now!!
Eight years of letters... she really did get them!
Diane and Mom outside their home... probably about half the size of my family's kitchen
Hanging out
1 comment:
Noel, that is So amazing. WOW what a tremendous blessing to meet Diane! SHE IS BEAUTIFUL. ITs so encouraging to hear and see, like you mentioned, some hope, that we can make a difference, and although sometimes i am sure it seems like our effort is only a drop in the bucket its still a Drop and you just dont know what that can do for someone else. WOW i just thinks thats so incredible, i hope that i will have the opportunity to meet my sponsored boy and my other two sisters Gracy and Katie in Kenya. Thats just amazing. Well Noel, may God continue to pour down his blessing on your life. i am definetly looking forward to hearing more about the challenges and opportunites he places in front of you in these next few weeks.
Take care
kristen
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