A Step Back In Time

Wednesday, November, 7th

Climbing into an old wooden boat, to cross a lake, dirtier than I have ever seen, to get to an island called Bethany. We are there with Dr. Martin to assist with a free clinic for immunizatons and health care. There were so many people, so many children. There is an orphange there with 600 children, and they were all coming down the hill when we arrived. Tables are set up, benches for the moms holding babies. Some waled for 4 hours with their children in tow, babies on backs. They have a system in place, and everyone is seen. I am weighing babes, Gail is giving shots, we are doing what we can. So many children...It is amazing how little it takes to make a difference.

I saw a man coming up the hill with large buckets of dirty lake water. He had a big climb, so I went down to help him. I walked the buckets 1/4 mile up hill to the orphange...it was hard, and he does this alone, 3x a day. When we got to the orphange we talked about the povery of the people, and spoke of malaria and AIDS. He then graciously invited me to meet his family down the road.

A step back in time. As I rounded the corner, I saw his mud hut. His naked children playing in the dirt, and his wife putting the fish he caught, out in the sun to dry out. He introduced me to his family and asked me if I wanted a tour of his home...His name was Jackson, his wife, Hope. His children were Delisious, Believe, Unity, Harrison, Promise, David, Blossom.

I asked him if I could record it, and take photos, so I could show Canada that they need to help. As I walked through his home, as he showed me where the children slept, it took everything in me not to cry. All of the kids sleep on a little dirt mat, with no mosquito nets. He and his wife sleep on another mat, in another room, with no mosquito net. The mud walls with holes for windows, with no screens. The cut out for a doorway, with no door. As I filmed, I was telling him what a beautiful home he had, and how big it was. He was proud, I had no intentions of shaming him.

As I walked away from the house, it was more clear than ever before. I am going to get these people nets. We need to do more people! They are $6! I have never seen anything like this.

In the afternoon, we left the island to head to a village that was already netted by BAN.We wanted to make sure the people were happy, and be sure the nets were working well. We travelled by Boda Boda, a small scooter, to the vilage of Kisennego. I thought I saw poverty. I had not. We had a meeting with the villagers to discuss the nets and their progress. Faith was the interpreter and Gail and I asked questions, as did they. They gave me permission to look in their huts and take photos. I went from hut to hut, filming moms and babes under the nets, in front of the nets, asking if they were helping, always with the response of yes! This village is near a swamp, and they mosquitos are many. These nets have saved many lives. It was a great feeling to see what we have done. In the big picture it may not seem like much,it's just a net right, but saving lives...it doesn't get any better than that!