We had an early start this morning - traveling east to Kayonza district. After two hours we arrived at the Aides Hospital sponsored by the Clinton Foundation. One of our Esther Home girls became ill last week and was transported to the hospital. The hospital was located in a remote area an hour distant from Kayonza – the mud huts were unlike the others we’ve encountered – these had thatched roofs and were round in structure.
We arriveed at the hospital where women and children lined the outside waiting areas and doctors and staff were visible everywhere. We were ushered into the area where Maria was – she and another girl was sharing a twin sized, simple framed, plastic mattress hospital bed. She had an IV drip and was extremely surprised to see us and wondered how we managed to find out that she was ill and hospitalized. Emma, our wonderful new friend, our interpreter, our guide and Africa New Life’s Operation Director, had been following up on Maria with the local Mayor and knew of her health situation. She shyly greeted us and expressed, with tears, her appreciation for her opportunity with the Esther Home program. We took her and the IV set up out into the outside corridor so that we could visit with her. Bunny took her place next to Maria and held the IV bottle while we visited. We learned that the young girl that she was sharing the bed with was HIV positive. Ron and Emma approached the doctors and made arrangements to take Maria back with us to Kigali for further treatment. Maria was diagnosed with a strand of hepatitis – they felt it wasn’t too serious but she needed further testing and bed rest. They did find out that she was born with her heart and other organs on the right side of her body – which they said was not that abnormal but wanted us to be informed for future medical treatment. Maria’s brother had been with her for the past week sleeping along side her on the concert floor. Maria is 21 and her brother Christen was 24. Both of them are refugees from Tanzania. Both are true orphans – no parents or other living relatives.
We met with the program coordinator and a doctor from Chicago – we were so impressed with the work they were doing at this hospital. Of course to see these beautiful people suffering was almost, at times, too much to absorb.
There was this small child, with a two month old baby wrapped around her, that sat with us in the outside courtyard. Ron asked one of the staff doctors about her and was told that her mother was HIV positive and being treated in the hospital. He then went into the ward where she was. Talking with her (via the doctor) he found out that she had two older boys that were living on the streets and had these two small children who were staying there on the hospital grounds while she was being treated. So Ron managed to guide her to the outside courtyard where Ron and Emma got more information about her. Again Ron opened up his heart and said that he wanted to help support her and her children. Emma took the information and visited with her for quite some time. We all stood there witnessing the incredible scenes around us. We finally received the hospital records for Maria. We all left feeling very humble and overwhelmed.
We then headed to the Refugee camp. We were again traveling on deeply rutted roads – this time we noticed that the soil was too dry for any type of agriculture - similar to the bush area in South Africa.
In this remote isolated area the refugees had built a small community of thatched roof huts. Tanzania displaced all the Rwandan refugees after destroying their homes and raping the women. Maria and her brother were among the group of refugees that came across the border and were given a small plot of land where they built their own thatched roof hut. Their plot of land was amazing - they had constructed a little living space fenced by twigs and thorny bush – little thatched circled walls were separately constructed to house their toilet and wash areas. They made a chair and placed it under a tree for their outdoor living room. They innovatively made a separate cooking and sleeping area. They had constructed the most remarkable space in the camp.
Africa New Life has a feeding program in place where they supply these refugees with food. They supply beans and flour that feeds approximately a thousand people. They fill the gap when other agencies can not fulfill the need. Again, Africa New Life impacts this region with substantial aide. We continue to marvel at the work that this organization does.
Ron, with camera in hand, wondered around the camp greeting the women and children. A short while later he motioned for us to join him. He had come upon a group of women sitting around a hut under the shade weaving baskets. We watched in awe while Emma communicated with them about buying their baskets.
After some time under the blazing sun we gathered up Maria’s belongings, said our good by to her brother Christen. We were so sad to witness this brother and sister leave one another – I can’t begin to describe our feelings about this. We told him that we will put our efforts in finding him an opportunity for better conditions.
As we drove away Maria looked out the window at her brother with deep sadness in her eyes but yet with great joy in her heart at her opportunity to be in the Esther Home Program.
Maria supported herself and her brother by working as a house maid while living in Tanzania and put both of them through school. They both graduated from high school - Maria’s dream is to be a lawyer. She comes to this program with very good English skills and strong character. Maria has endured more than most young women in our program.
There is so much to share with you about today’s journey – way too much for this blog space and my midnight blog writings. It was an experience that one will never forget and we are truly humbled by it. Once again our hearts are full and our journey is like no other.
We arriveed at the hospital where women and children lined the outside waiting areas and doctors and staff were visible everywhere. We were ushered into the area where Maria was – she and another girl was sharing a twin sized, simple framed, plastic mattress hospital bed. She had an IV drip and was extremely surprised to see us and wondered how we managed to find out that she was ill and hospitalized. Emma, our wonderful new friend, our interpreter, our guide and Africa New Life’s Operation Director, had been following up on Maria with the local Mayor and knew of her health situation. She shyly greeted us and expressed, with tears, her appreciation for her opportunity with the Esther Home program. We took her and the IV set up out into the outside corridor so that we could visit with her. Bunny took her place next to Maria and held the IV bottle while we visited. We learned that the young girl that she was sharing the bed with was HIV positive. Ron and Emma approached the doctors and made arrangements to take Maria back with us to Kigali for further treatment. Maria was diagnosed with a strand of hepatitis – they felt it wasn’t too serious but she needed further testing and bed rest. They did find out that she was born with her heart and other organs on the right side of her body – which they said was not that abnormal but wanted us to be informed for future medical treatment. Maria’s brother had been with her for the past week sleeping along side her on the concert floor. Maria is 21 and her brother Christen was 24. Both of them are refugees from Tanzania. Both are true orphans – no parents or other living relatives.
We met with the program coordinator and a doctor from Chicago – we were so impressed with the work they were doing at this hospital. Of course to see these beautiful people suffering was almost, at times, too much to absorb.
There was this small child, with a two month old baby wrapped around her, that sat with us in the outside courtyard. Ron asked one of the staff doctors about her and was told that her mother was HIV positive and being treated in the hospital. He then went into the ward where she was. Talking with her (via the doctor) he found out that she had two older boys that were living on the streets and had these two small children who were staying there on the hospital grounds while she was being treated. So Ron managed to guide her to the outside courtyard where Ron and Emma got more information about her. Again Ron opened up his heart and said that he wanted to help support her and her children. Emma took the information and visited with her for quite some time. We all stood there witnessing the incredible scenes around us. We finally received the hospital records for Maria. We all left feeling very humble and overwhelmed.
We then headed to the Refugee camp. We were again traveling on deeply rutted roads – this time we noticed that the soil was too dry for any type of agriculture - similar to the bush area in South Africa.
In this remote isolated area the refugees had built a small community of thatched roof huts. Tanzania displaced all the Rwandan refugees after destroying their homes and raping the women. Maria and her brother were among the group of refugees that came across the border and were given a small plot of land where they built their own thatched roof hut. Their plot of land was amazing - they had constructed a little living space fenced by twigs and thorny bush – little thatched circled walls were separately constructed to house their toilet and wash areas. They made a chair and placed it under a tree for their outdoor living room. They innovatively made a separate cooking and sleeping area. They had constructed the most remarkable space in the camp.
Africa New Life has a feeding program in place where they supply these refugees with food. They supply beans and flour that feeds approximately a thousand people. They fill the gap when other agencies can not fulfill the need. Again, Africa New Life impacts this region with substantial aide. We continue to marvel at the work that this organization does.
Ron, with camera in hand, wondered around the camp greeting the women and children. A short while later he motioned for us to join him. He had come upon a group of women sitting around a hut under the shade weaving baskets. We watched in awe while Emma communicated with them about buying their baskets.
After some time under the blazing sun we gathered up Maria’s belongings, said our good by to her brother Christen. We were so sad to witness this brother and sister leave one another – I can’t begin to describe our feelings about this. We told him that we will put our efforts in finding him an opportunity for better conditions.
As we drove away Maria looked out the window at her brother with deep sadness in her eyes but yet with great joy in her heart at her opportunity to be in the Esther Home Program.
Maria supported herself and her brother by working as a house maid while living in Tanzania and put both of them through school. They both graduated from high school - Maria’s dream is to be a lawyer. She comes to this program with very good English skills and strong character. Maria has endured more than most young women in our program.
There is so much to share with you about today’s journey – way too much for this blog space and my midnight blog writings. It was an experience that one will never forget and we are truly humbled by it. Once again our hearts are full and our journey is like no other.
2 comments:
Hi Joyce and Ron - I just realized that I could write to you - don't know if you'll receive this or not before you get home, but just wanted to let you know how wonderful it is to be able to follow your trip - I want to be there so much! It sounds like you are having an amazing experience - life changing - and can't wait to hear more when you get home! Please give my love to all the Esther Home girls and let them know I'll be there to see them soon. Stay safe! Love, Cathy
I really look forward to your daily entries. Your writing style truly puts you there. It really makes one feel fortunate for everything we have, and yet it opens ones eyes as to what others in the world don't have. Great work! as usual.
Dave
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