After village walk to pray for people, encourage people, help where we could, etc. went to visit some of the mamas of the church. Three women took us to their houses, where we prayed and learned about them. We brought bread, beans and a few other things to give away. It was very difficult though, every house we visited they would immediately show us: roofs that needed mending, walls that needed to be built; they would tell us; we don't have furniture, we want more things, etc. It became very obvious that they had invited us to come over, so that we could buy them things, not just to be friends. This was definitely an awakening. In a culture with so many westerners coming through, the people of the village see white people as people who can buy things for them; not who genuiely want a long lasting relationship with them, where they can be empowered.
We graciously stumbled through an explanation that we want to be their friends, not just supply everything they "need." Obviously any real needs we would do what we could, but these things were not needs, they were wants-and I didn't want our friendships to be built around what we could supply for them. That is not a real friedship. They looked at us disappointed, however, this would be the beginning of a real friendship... although a tough beginning.
June 20, 2010
After church, went to visit a good friend; Fatima, who works in the kitchen. She has two children that are mentally handicapped, as well as several other children that were in her home. We sat around, prayed, sang, danced, laughed. Came back, and took three of my friends to get cokes, and play cards.
Then all of a sudden fights broke out between some of the IRIS boys. Tetra tried to discern what was going on, as we pulled the boys apart. Went back to the center; and more fights broke out! As Tetra pulled Anselmo (an IRIS boy) off of another, he first is shaking with anger, then quickly begins to wail and heave with huge tears rolling down his cheeks. We don't understand.
I see Antonio accross the lot, and walk over to say hi and it is good to see him back at IRIS. His cuts are healing but he is still getting help from a friend to walk. He immediately asks me if I can talk with him privately; he asks me for money. He says he needs medicine and that he cannot afford it. I tell him, he should bring the prescription to the center and that when I go to town I can get it. He gets upset with me that I don't want to help. ...WOW! I really don't understand. I want to help, however, I don't want to feel manipulated into supplying money; I am learning...
June 22, 2010
Learned another Mozambican card game with my friends... played for hours in front of the church with many IRIS boys. Still so much to learn about this culture... beautiful but still a mystery.
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