I just got home from being in Mawanga for 7 days. It was the most eye-opening week thus far. In different ways than I’ve been expecting my eyes to be opened. I’m going to struggle my way through explaining how it is here. It just isn’t something you can portray for someone else…it’s something you have to experience yourself. Everyone who comes has their own way of taking it all in. Everyone absorbs differently. According to our personality, passions, strengths and weaknesses, interests, awareness’s. So it is hard to try and put to name to what I’ve seen and how I’ve digested it all.
I had this huge thing typed up and then realized I need to use these words instead, so this is all i'm going to say about it:
I am tired of people pitying Africans. Pity your neighbor. Pity your boss. Pity anyone but them. Care about them, and love them. But do not say, "Aw, poor African people. They have it so rough. If only I could give them some money and get them new some things, then maybe life would be better."
Yes, sometimes. Money makes life EASIER, I don't know about better. But they are so strong, they aren't like helpless babies being tortured. They can stand their own. And they do. So they don't need your pity. Or guilt, guilt won't get anyone anywhere. They are only different. People think that we have it all together and our lives are so much better. No.
Everyone everywhere pain, heartache, suffering, issues, difficulties, worries and struggles. But they're different different struggles. We aren't better, wiser or happier than them. We are one thing and one thing only..and that is DIFFERENT. From an outsiders view, it may look as though life is terrible for the average African. But things that seem gross or sad or hard to us is normal to them. I only say all this because I once thought in the exact mind set that i'm trying to per-sway you to flee from. Just pray for them. They need it, just as we do.
While I was in the village I worked in the clinic. I didn’t know what I’d be doing, I just knew they needed some help. So I packed up and went on my way. But the first day I was there, my friend Judith (who is a nurse in the clinic and the girl that I stayed with while was there) walked towards me with a silver tray full of things that looked very important, dangerous, and complicated. None of which I knew what to do with. She handed me the tray and said, “You’re going to give an I.V. Do you want gloves?” I didn’t really take it to seriously, but I put on gloves anyway and followed her into the ward, (Side note to Charlie: the word WARD reminded me the whole time of Hospital Hymns J haaa) which was really just a small room full of sick people lying down on beds. I sat the tray down on the bed of the girl I was going to be treating, Judith sort of walked me through what I was supposed to do and told me to go! It was crazy. I could NOT believe I was giving someone an INJECTION with a needle! But I did, the whole time I worked there for those 7 days. I treated people.
ALSO: one more thing I wanted to say..
There were five demon-possessed girls at the overnight in Mwanga. THAT IS MY BIGGEST FEAR! Demons…and thankfully we left at 3am, and it happened sometime after that, but we could hear them shrieking all the way from where we were sleeping. I’m so glad I wasn’t there. I just KNOW that while I’m here though I’m going to have to face that. Because it’s my absolute biggest fear and witchcraft and demonic possession is such a common thing here. So I know it’s comin for me! I’ll be fine though. When I think about it enough, deep down, there is no need to fear anything.
I’m done rambling for today. Hope you enjoyed. Love you all, miss you. 53 days until I come home…whoot whoot!
