the sun beats down on our backs and burns as we walk about 3 miles in the rocky cobble.
we walked with kaka (which means brother, but is actually one of our security guards), to his local church and the walk itself was unbelievable. At one point, kristina and i looked at each other and said - what we just saw is indescribable.
we were really in the slums. babies carrying mini-jerry cans filled with water, clothes hanging on clothes lines and ripping off the children who wore them. no shoes, or barely shoes. children playing in the mud as goats and dogs walk by. children picking up the trash off the grass and 1 room mud huts for 6 people.
and yet, despite the overwhelming poverty, some of the most beautiful people i have ever met.
the pride and happiness after all 15 of us (other volunteers) sat down on the bed where his 4 children (pray god, goodluck, joylove, and ester) sleep and the 1 couch. his wife was excited to share her family and home with us and walked alongside as we continued our journey through the slums to church.
along the way, like always, we collected the village children who latches on to your hand as if you were their saviour.
church was another amazing experience. we were welcomed with warmth into this christian church into a room full of men, women and tons of children wearing their sunday best. kaka's wife was in the dance group that congo-ed around the room embracing god and the community with love and hope. kaka ended up introducing us in front of the church... it was really amazing watching the congregation embrace all of our group.
for the first time on this trip - i felt god's presence. i met a little girl who barely smiled, the only one child that wasn't excited to meet a "white girl" - she quickly became my biggest fan. we kept playing with a flower that had appeared from somewhere, she would put it in my hair, i would put it in the rip of her shirt. she would hold my hand and i would put my arm around her. she finally smiled and hugged me goodbye.
as the songs played on - they ended towards sadness as the choir and members of the congregation began to cry. we left early as these services usually last for 4 hours.
we walked with kaka (which means brother, but is actually one of our security guards), to his local church and the walk itself was unbelievable. At one point, kristina and i looked at each other and said - what we just saw is indescribable.
we were really in the slums. babies carrying mini-jerry cans filled with water, clothes hanging on clothes lines and ripping off the children who wore them. no shoes, or barely shoes. children playing in the mud as goats and dogs walk by. children picking up the trash off the grass and 1 room mud huts for 6 people.
and yet, despite the overwhelming poverty, some of the most beautiful people i have ever met.
the pride and happiness after all 15 of us (other volunteers) sat down on the bed where his 4 children (pray god, goodluck, joylove, and ester) sleep and the 1 couch. his wife was excited to share her family and home with us and walked alongside as we continued our journey through the slums to church.
along the way, like always, we collected the village children who latches on to your hand as if you were their saviour.
church was another amazing experience. we were welcomed with warmth into this christian church into a room full of men, women and tons of children wearing their sunday best. kaka's wife was in the dance group that congo-ed around the room embracing god and the community with love and hope. kaka ended up introducing us in front of the church... it was really amazing watching the congregation embrace all of our group.
for the first time on this trip - i felt god's presence. i met a little girl who barely smiled, the only one child that wasn't excited to meet a "white girl" - she quickly became my biggest fan. we kept playing with a flower that had appeared from somewhere, she would put it in my hair, i would put it in the rip of her shirt. she would hold my hand and i would put my arm around her. she finally smiled and hugged me goodbye.
as the songs played on - they ended towards sadness as the choir and members of the congregation began to cry. we left early as these services usually last for 4 hours.
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