Why I don't have a 5 year old in my carry on:
First of all it's not that easy, just because a child could be labeled as an orphan or neglected, Westerners don't just get to waltz into a country, strap a kid on their back and leave a new parent. For many good reasons, just like in the States there are steps to go through to adopt. A friend of mine frustrated said "you'd think it would be so easy?!", I explained to her that not everyone in the world has pure intentions of providing a safe and loving home for a child. If it was easy, there would be many more children forced into child labor/slavery, there would be many more well meaning Westerners while on vacation in an impoverished country thinking "gee it's a swell idea to give this child a home", only to get back to their country unaware and unprepared to deal with all the challenges that come along with adopting a child from a different culture, with little family background and the stresses of bringing a child into their world.
When I decided to tack on a trip to Uganda, I knew I wanted to be able to see Mahadi and Ja-ja, get the chance to spend a little time with him, make sure he was doing ok and see if there is anything I could provide for him. I did not expect to be one of those Westerners, who wanted to smuggle a 5 year old into her carry-on luggage upon her departure from Uganda. And as many of friends on Facebook encouraged, bring him home, I'll give you money, I'll help you raise him, along with the emotional toll of dropping this sweet sweet boy off at an orphanage with no electricity, with minimal daily meals and no one to give just him the love and attention he deserves, I found myself googling "International Adoption from Uganda" right before I went to bed Friday night.
The next morning after having a good night's sleep and the raw emotion not quite as severe, the realist in me took a better look at this picture.
--Both of Mahadi's parents are still alive, that alone is a MAJOR hurdle in adopting him. All of a sudden this Western girl with "money" in their eyes, who has an interest in Mahadi could quickly make them realize Mahadi is valuable. If and when the time comes for me or a Ugandan to ask them to relinquish their parental rights, it will have to be done very delicately.
--Let's get real I'm currently a swinging bachelorette. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment, with a roommate in Venice Beach. I travel 200 days a year on business, last I checked 5 year olds really aren't interested in sitting in on a Pharmaceutical company's general session. Sure if I was too get knocked up, I'd make loads of changes to raise that child...but is an Adoption agency or the Ugandan government really going to think in my present life that I'm a qualified parent!? I'm willing to start making changes that would make me more qualified on paper, but those changes aren't going to happen over night.
--Then there is the Ugandan government, adoptions are starting to become a little easier than in the past. It used to be you had to live in Uganda for 3 years with the child before you could legally adopt, but that rule has been relaxed. Single parents are now allowed to adopt.
--Oh yeah and let's tackle that single parent portion. I hear it's kind of hard work, do I think I could do it, actually I do. I also appreciate all of my friends who have said, move home, move here, I'll help you. Those offers I know are genuine, but when the reality of their own family's needs and wants come into play, I have to be prepared to do it on my own physically, emotionally and financially.
I'm in no way ruling out becoming Mahadi's mom, in fact that would be awesome if it did happen, but there are many things I need to learn about and decide on before it becomes real.
I have asked both Jack and Josephine that should anything happen to Mahadi's Ja-ja that they would let me know immediately. I told them I would take care of all the financial costs of transport, boarding school etc, if they would just promise to take care of him over holidays and such. They both have given me their word and I love them dearly for that.
I'm currently planning a trip to come back in March. I really want to learn more about Mahadi's parents, is it a situation of true poverty, illiteracy, or is there something else going on. One of my desires is to become more involved with educating and empowering women, maybe Mahadi's mother needs education, a micro finance loan to help her climb her way out of poverty, or maybe she is just a neglectful mother.
For those of you who have never traveled to a 3rd world country, until you've seen the poverty, the hunger and desperation for yourself, it's very easy to think "why don't they just get a job", "how could they abandon their child?", "why do they keep getting pregnant?" All questions that do not have simple answers.
Until I have a clearer picture, I will make sure Mahadi is taken care of from half way around the world and then we shall see where this adventure takes us.
Monday 26 September 2011
The Wrap Up of my time spent with Mahadi
My time with Mahadi on Friday wrapped up all too fast:
I let Mahadi pick his shirt to wear in the morning. We got dressed and proceeded to walk out the door of my guesthouse room and the key was jammed. I have a major phobia of being locked in a room and started to panic, as the key would not turn nor come out of the lock. I was attempting to stay calm as I grabbed my phone to look up the number of the guest house, I didn't want to resort to banging on the door like a maniac, but that was about to come next as I looked at the windows and realized they were covered with iron bars, the terror of the building being on fire (even though it wasn't), was getting close to pushing me over the edge, luckily it didn't phase Mahadi one bit. The guest house staff came right up and opened up the adjoining room to my room and let us out as they figured out why my key was stuck.
After breakfast we spent some time reading, counting, singing Head n Shoulders, Knees n Toes, and barking like a big dog. There are many guard dogs in this neighborhood and boy do they bark. Mahadi's impression is priceless. Jack arrived to pick us up and Mahadi ran right into Jack's arms and gave him the biggest hug.
We started to make our way back to the orphanage, but not before we stopped to pick up deworming medicine from the pharmacy. Jack and I both think Mahadi could have worms again, as he nearly eats everything insight and he sort of has the tell tale belly but not as bad as he used to have.
As we drove closer to the orphanage Mahadi's demeanor changed, he got quiet again and was taking everything in, like he knew he was going back. Jack asked him "Mahadi- do you love Ja-Ja?" and Mahadi shook his head no. Jack then asked "Mahadi- do you love Mama April?" and he shook his head yes. That is when flood works started with me. Do I really think he doesn't love his Ja-Ja, no I don't. But I'm well aware that the attention I was able to give him was much different than the attention his Ja-Ja is able to give him.
We stopped and fed him lunch, this time the restaurant only had matooke, rice and groundnuts (basically liquid peanut sauce). Many times restaurants in Africa only have what is available to them based on what they can afford to buy, so they may not have chicken and beef everyday.
At the gate of A Greater Life we were met by many children, Emmy (one of the teachers) and Ja-Ja. They were all very excited to see him, I immediately started crying. We pulled out his mattress, new clothes and 6 soccer balls I had picked up on the way to the orphanage. We went to make his new bed, actually Emmy made his new bed. A lot of times Africans think Muzungus can't do certain things, like make beds or wash clothes by hand. When I told them I had washed Mahadi's uniform the night before, they were in complete shock that I knew how to wash, it's kind of amusing.
Jack had thought it would be a good idea to make sure Mahadi was playing and didn't see us leave, but it didn't happen that way. He was my side all the way, even climbing back into the car. Luckily, he was a happy little boy as we left, I'm not sure if he could fully comprehend that I would be gone for awhile.
Ja-ja continued to thank me profusely and at one point telling Jack that the money I spent God would bless me and He would in some way replace the money I had spent on Mahadi. As Ja-Ja was saying her final goodbyes to me, here eyes filled with tears, it was a moment I will not forget in the near future.
I climbed in the car, all the kids waving goodbye and we drove away.
I know what you will say next: Why don't you adopt him? You need to be his mother! Bring him back to the States!
I'm going to tackle this INCREDIBLY difficult issue in my next blog.
Again thanks for reading!
I let Mahadi pick his shirt to wear in the morning. We got dressed and proceeded to walk out the door of my guesthouse room and the key was jammed. I have a major phobia of being locked in a room and started to panic, as the key would not turn nor come out of the lock. I was attempting to stay calm as I grabbed my phone to look up the number of the guest house, I didn't want to resort to banging on the door like a maniac, but that was about to come next as I looked at the windows and realized they were covered with iron bars, the terror of the building being on fire (even though it wasn't), was getting close to pushing me over the edge, luckily it didn't phase Mahadi one bit. The guest house staff came right up and opened up the adjoining room to my room and let us out as they figured out why my key was stuck.
After breakfast we spent some time reading, counting, singing Head n Shoulders, Knees n Toes, and barking like a big dog. There are many guard dogs in this neighborhood and boy do they bark. Mahadi's impression is priceless. Jack arrived to pick us up and Mahadi ran right into Jack's arms and gave him the biggest hug.
We started to make our way back to the orphanage, but not before we stopped to pick up deworming medicine from the pharmacy. Jack and I both think Mahadi could have worms again, as he nearly eats everything insight and he sort of has the tell tale belly but not as bad as he used to have.
As we drove closer to the orphanage Mahadi's demeanor changed, he got quiet again and was taking everything in, like he knew he was going back. Jack asked him "Mahadi- do you love Ja-Ja?" and Mahadi shook his head no. Jack then asked "Mahadi- do you love Mama April?" and he shook his head yes. That is when flood works started with me. Do I really think he doesn't love his Ja-Ja, no I don't. But I'm well aware that the attention I was able to give him was much different than the attention his Ja-Ja is able to give him.
We stopped and fed him lunch, this time the restaurant only had matooke, rice and groundnuts (basically liquid peanut sauce). Many times restaurants in Africa only have what is available to them based on what they can afford to buy, so they may not have chicken and beef everyday.
At the gate of A Greater Life we were met by many children, Emmy (one of the teachers) and Ja-Ja. They were all very excited to see him, I immediately started crying. We pulled out his mattress, new clothes and 6 soccer balls I had picked up on the way to the orphanage. We went to make his new bed, actually Emmy made his new bed. A lot of times Africans think Muzungus can't do certain things, like make beds or wash clothes by hand. When I told them I had washed Mahadi's uniform the night before, they were in complete shock that I knew how to wash, it's kind of amusing.
Jack had thought it would be a good idea to make sure Mahadi was playing and didn't see us leave, but it didn't happen that way. He was my side all the way, even climbing back into the car. Luckily, he was a happy little boy as we left, I'm not sure if he could fully comprehend that I would be gone for awhile.
Ja-ja continued to thank me profusely and at one point telling Jack that the money I spent God would bless me and He would in some way replace the money I had spent on Mahadi. As Ja-Ja was saying her final goodbyes to me, here eyes filled with tears, it was a moment I will not forget in the near future.
I climbed in the car, all the kids waving goodbye and we drove away.
I know what you will say next: Why don't you adopt him? You need to be his mother! Bring him back to the States!
I'm going to tackle this INCREDIBLY difficult issue in my next blog.
Again thanks for reading!
Sunday 25 September 2011
24 Hours with Mahadi
Hours with Mahadi:
Josephine hopped in front with Jack and I jumped in back with Mahadi and the adventure began. Mahadi's eyes were so BIG as he took in everything around him the cows, the trucks, everything. Mahadi had skipped lunch at school because he was too busy with me and Jack, so we stopped at a local restaurant to get something to eat. Meals on a daily basis for Mahadi consist of porridge in the morning, posho (corn meal made into a very thick and tasteless lump) and if the school can afford it beans and rice. At the restaurant we ordered for Mahadi: rice, Matooke (which is mashed green bananas), chicken, greens and an Orange Fanta to top it off. Jack had bets that Mahadi would not be able to eat all the food on his plate, Jack lost that bet. Mahadi ate everything with the exception of the Matooke (he must be my boy after all...I don't like bananas either).
After lunch, Josephine and I went across the street to buy a few pieces of second hand clothes for Mahadi. If you ever wonder where all of our donated clothes go in the US, if they don't sell in Goodwills, etc, eventually they get bagged up and put on containers and shipped over to Africa. People will then buy the bags of clothing, not knowing what's inside for a little over $200 a bag and then resell the items in the market. The woman we bought a few items from was a very smart and shrewd business woman. I bought Mahadi, 4 shirts and a pair of jeans for $6.00 We then bought him 2 pairs of second hand sandals, one pair being Tevas, I mistakenly said aloud to Josephine "ooh Tevas these are like 50 dollar sandals in the US", I bought them for less than $3.
Part of Josephine's concern about Mahadi staying with me for the night was a lot of kids in orphanages wet the bed. I wasn't too keen on sleeping with a bed wetter, not to mention I'm staying in a guest house, so I really didn't want to have to deal with a wet bed. I had wanted to buy Mahadi a bed anyway, since he slept with his Ja-Ja at the orphanage. So for less than $35.00 I was able to buy him a mattress, sheets and a blanket.
On the way back to the hotel, Mahadi fell asleep in my lap, exhausted I'm sure from all the excitement and full belly of food. Jack and Josephine dropped us off back at the guest house and mentioned I should walk down to the Italian Gelateria for dinner and ice cream. I thought sure I can handle walking with a 5 year old about a 1/2 mile from my guest house, no sweat.
I made Mahadi's new bed, changed his clothes and we set out on our walk to dinner. Did I mention I can't see in the dark? Did I mention they don't have street lamps in Kampala? Did I mention there are no sidewalks either? We walk out of our guest house gate and we are standing in the pitch black. Right, Gulley be brave and find your flashlight. There were plenty of curious stares as we walked down the street, Mzungu (white person) and little Ugandan boy walking down the street at 8pm. Mahadi chatted all the way down to the restaurant and back, I had no idea what he was saying because it was all in Lugandan. He proceeded to eat an entire breast and leg of chicken with probably a cup of rice. When we got back to the guest house, I knocked on the guest house gate and the guard dog, popped his head through the hole where you'd put your hand to open the gate and scared the living daylights out of both Mahadi and I as he ferociously barked his head off.
We got back to our room, Mahadi colored and kept chattering away while I did a few things around the room. I decided it was time to give Mahadi a shower. Mahadi had never had a shower before and his eyes almost popped out of his head as I put him under the water. I climbed into the shower (with all my clothes on mind you) and attempted to scrub him down while he was standing as far away from the water as possible. I then pulled the shower head off it's holder and gave him a quick rinse off. As I wrapped him up in the towel, his eyes still as big as saucers, he had stopped talking I wondered if had rendered him mute by giving him a shower. Much to my relief once he was dressed and coloring again, he was a happy little boy.
At 9:30 he put all the crayons and paper in a neat little stack and gave me a tug on the hand, he was ready for bed. I made sure he went to the bathroom before he laid down, his head hit the bed and he was out. I spent a lot of the night watching him sleep, horizontally, diagonally, off his bed, with covers, without covers. I also began to wonder who was going to have a harder time saying goodbye the next day. The next morning Mahadi woke up at 6:30, I said good morning buddy and he sleepily climbed right into bed with me and fell back to sleep. I'd be lying if I didn't say my heart melted. I'm happy to report he didn't wet the bed either.
I texted Josephine and asked her if she thought I could keep Mahadi for a few more days. She didn't think it would be a good idea, saying it would be harder for both of us the more days we spent together. I knew she was right.
I'll wrap up the rest of Friday in my next blog.
Thanks for reading!
Josephine hopped in front with Jack and I jumped in back with Mahadi and the adventure began. Mahadi's eyes were so BIG as he took in everything around him the cows, the trucks, everything. Mahadi had skipped lunch at school because he was too busy with me and Jack, so we stopped at a local restaurant to get something to eat. Meals on a daily basis for Mahadi consist of porridge in the morning, posho (corn meal made into a very thick and tasteless lump) and if the school can afford it beans and rice. At the restaurant we ordered for Mahadi: rice, Matooke (which is mashed green bananas), chicken, greens and an Orange Fanta to top it off. Jack had bets that Mahadi would not be able to eat all the food on his plate, Jack lost that bet. Mahadi ate everything with the exception of the Matooke (he must be my boy after all...I don't like bananas either).
After lunch, Josephine and I went across the street to buy a few pieces of second hand clothes for Mahadi. If you ever wonder where all of our donated clothes go in the US, if they don't sell in Goodwills, etc, eventually they get bagged up and put on containers and shipped over to Africa. People will then buy the bags of clothing, not knowing what's inside for a little over $200 a bag and then resell the items in the market. The woman we bought a few items from was a very smart and shrewd business woman. I bought Mahadi, 4 shirts and a pair of jeans for $6.00 We then bought him 2 pairs of second hand sandals, one pair being Tevas, I mistakenly said aloud to Josephine "ooh Tevas these are like 50 dollar sandals in the US", I bought them for less than $3.
Part of Josephine's concern about Mahadi staying with me for the night was a lot of kids in orphanages wet the bed. I wasn't too keen on sleeping with a bed wetter, not to mention I'm staying in a guest house, so I really didn't want to have to deal with a wet bed. I had wanted to buy Mahadi a bed anyway, since he slept with his Ja-Ja at the orphanage. So for less than $35.00 I was able to buy him a mattress, sheets and a blanket.
On the way back to the hotel, Mahadi fell asleep in my lap, exhausted I'm sure from all the excitement and full belly of food. Jack and Josephine dropped us off back at the guest house and mentioned I should walk down to the Italian Gelateria for dinner and ice cream. I thought sure I can handle walking with a 5 year old about a 1/2 mile from my guest house, no sweat.
I made Mahadi's new bed, changed his clothes and we set out on our walk to dinner. Did I mention I can't see in the dark? Did I mention they don't have street lamps in Kampala? Did I mention there are no sidewalks either? We walk out of our guest house gate and we are standing in the pitch black. Right, Gulley be brave and find your flashlight. There were plenty of curious stares as we walked down the street, Mzungu (white person) and little Ugandan boy walking down the street at 8pm. Mahadi chatted all the way down to the restaurant and back, I had no idea what he was saying because it was all in Lugandan. He proceeded to eat an entire breast and leg of chicken with probably a cup of rice. When we got back to the guest house, I knocked on the guest house gate and the guard dog, popped his head through the hole where you'd put your hand to open the gate and scared the living daylights out of both Mahadi and I as he ferociously barked his head off.
We got back to our room, Mahadi colored and kept chattering away while I did a few things around the room. I decided it was time to give Mahadi a shower. Mahadi had never had a shower before and his eyes almost popped out of his head as I put him under the water. I climbed into the shower (with all my clothes on mind you) and attempted to scrub him down while he was standing as far away from the water as possible. I then pulled the shower head off it's holder and gave him a quick rinse off. As I wrapped him up in the towel, his eyes still as big as saucers, he had stopped talking I wondered if had rendered him mute by giving him a shower. Much to my relief once he was dressed and coloring again, he was a happy little boy.
At 9:30 he put all the crayons and paper in a neat little stack and gave me a tug on the hand, he was ready for bed. I made sure he went to the bathroom before he laid down, his head hit the bed and he was out. I spent a lot of the night watching him sleep, horizontally, diagonally, off his bed, with covers, without covers. I also began to wonder who was going to have a harder time saying goodbye the next day. The next morning Mahadi woke up at 6:30, I said good morning buddy and he sleepily climbed right into bed with me and fell back to sleep. I'd be lying if I didn't say my heart melted. I'm happy to report he didn't wet the bed either.
I texted Josephine and asked her if she thought I could keep Mahadi for a few more days. She didn't think it would be a good idea, saying it would be harder for both of us the more days we spent together. I knew she was right.
I'll wrap up the rest of Friday in my next blog.
Thanks for reading!
Saturday 24 September 2011
How it began with Mahadi
The Beginning- 2.5 years ago (approximately)
I was living with my good friend Jen Gash and she had recently come back from a trip to Kampala, Uganda. She was traveling with a professional photographer during that trip and Hannah had snapped this great photo of what we thought were two little girls, holding both hands and looking at the camera. The photo hung in Jen's bathroom, one weekend my sister Katie was visiting and she made up names for the two girls, Bernie and Tasha. We created a whole story about Bernie and Tasha's lives.
Six months later I'm traveling in Uganda with Jen, we had spent most of our time in the North, but one of the few days we were in Kampala, we went to A Greater Life, to see how the beds and nets Sweet Sleep had provided were holding up. If you've never been to a third world orphanage, let me just tell you the kids are going to be REALLY excited to see you. They don't care who you are, you're someone different, you're going to give them lots of hugs and hand holding and maybe even a present. It's typically a mob scene, if you have a camera and you start shooting and show them the photos at minimum you will have 30 children clammering to see themselves. At some point during the mob scene Jen says to me "oh hey this is where Bernie and Tasha live". I started scanning the faces of all the kids and sure enough I spot Bernie...except Bernie is a BOY! Bernie was very shy but I had a chance to hold him and play with him, but it's very hard to spend time with just one child. Here are some photos of the first day of meeting Bernie:
NOTE: I'm not sure if it's my iPad or the app, but the photos are not posting in the order they are meant to be posted. I think you will be able to tell the photos from 2 years ago to the photos of the past few days.
Later on that day I asked Josephine, Sweet Sleep's in country director, to find out what his real name was and his story. I then learned his real name was Mahadi and he lived at A Greater Life with his Ja-Ja (grandma) along with a couple of siblings. Ja-Ja cooks at the school, she does not receive a salary, she does however receive a roof over her head and food. Mahadi's mother is still alive, though I still haven't gotten a straight story on her. I have a few suspicions but nothing is confirmed.
Over the past two years, I have sent money with Jen when she goes over on a trip to pay for Mahadi's school fees, medical needs and clothing or shoes. He's been dewormed, treated for Malaria and a minor burn. Before you start singing my praises, the amount of money I have sent is nominal. In the past two years I've maybe sent over a total of $300 maybe 400 at the very most.
September 2011
When the opportunity to work a program in Tanzania came up this September, I knew I needed to include a trip to Uganda. I wanted to see for myself how Mahadi was doing, what else I could provide and in the back of my mind maybe even spend a day or two with him. I arrived to Kampala on Wednesday and was greeted at the airport by my dear friends Josephine and Jack. We decided we would go to A Greater Life on Thursday.
We pull up to the gate of A Greater Life, waiting for someone to come with the key to open the gate. Once we were in, immediately, it became a mob scene of 30-50 children running to the gate to say hello. Immediately, I see Mahadi who has a HUGE grin on his face as he sees Jack driving the car. Jack always drives Jen to A Greater Life and I know Jack is sure to spend extra time with Mahadi when he is there, since he knows Mahadi is so special to me.
It was chaos 15 little hands trying to hold my hands or any part of my body, I could see Mahadi in the mix of all the kids, but it was difficult to single him out. Emmy, one of the teachers hollered at all of them to run back to class, meanwhile Mahadi's Ja-Ja was running up to greet us. She was profusely thanking me for providing for Mahadi.
We watched Mahadi's top class (pre-k in the states) sing a few songs. I then asked Josephine if she thought it would be possible if I spent some time with Mahadi and his Ja-Ja away from all of the other kids. Mahadi, his Ja-Ja and I along with a teacher who could translate for me, went to sit on the steps outside of the one room Ja-Ja, Mahadi and 5 other kids sleep in. The whole time Mahadi is sitting on my lap, smiling, laughing, eating some popped corn, Ja-Ja offered me some sugar cane, so I shared that with Mahadi and a couple of other kids who were checking out the scene. I learned Mahadi had been healthy lately, that he shared a bed with his Ja-Ja and some of the money I had recently sent paid for shoes and his school uniforms.
Jack had stayed with the car and about 20 kids were climbing in and out and all around the vehicle. I was busy chatting with some other kids, when Jack said "April, Mahadi is telling everyone he is going with Mama April today" I said "really? Do you think I could take him for a night?" I asked Josephine and God Bless Josephine (knowing full well what a swinging Bachelorette I am) said "April I don't think you could handle it, what if he cries or he misbehaves" I said "Josephine I'm the oldest of 4 and I used to be a nanny, I think I can handle it". She said "Are you sure?" And I said yes, but maybe you and Jack should stay the night with me just in case...ha! We asked the head mistress and Ja-Ja if it was ok for Mahadi to come stay with me for the night and they both said yes.
Thus began the 24 hour adventure of Mama April and Mahadi.......
I was living with my good friend Jen Gash and she had recently come back from a trip to Kampala, Uganda. She was traveling with a professional photographer during that trip and Hannah had snapped this great photo of what we thought were two little girls, holding both hands and looking at the camera. The photo hung in Jen's bathroom, one weekend my sister Katie was visiting and she made up names for the two girls, Bernie and Tasha. We created a whole story about Bernie and Tasha's lives.
Six months later I'm traveling in Uganda with Jen, we had spent most of our time in the North, but one of the few days we were in Kampala, we went to A Greater Life, to see how the beds and nets Sweet Sleep had provided were holding up. If you've never been to a third world orphanage, let me just tell you the kids are going to be REALLY excited to see you. They don't care who you are, you're someone different, you're going to give them lots of hugs and hand holding and maybe even a present. It's typically a mob scene, if you have a camera and you start shooting and show them the photos at minimum you will have 30 children clammering to see themselves. At some point during the mob scene Jen says to me "oh hey this is where Bernie and Tasha live". I started scanning the faces of all the kids and sure enough I spot Bernie...except Bernie is a BOY! Bernie was very shy but I had a chance to hold him and play with him, but it's very hard to spend time with just one child. Here are some photos of the first day of meeting Bernie:
NOTE: I'm not sure if it's my iPad or the app, but the photos are not posting in the order they are meant to be posted. I think you will be able to tell the photos from 2 years ago to the photos of the past few days.
Later on that day I asked Josephine, Sweet Sleep's in country director, to find out what his real name was and his story. I then learned his real name was Mahadi and he lived at A Greater Life with his Ja-Ja (grandma) along with a couple of siblings. Ja-Ja cooks at the school, she does not receive a salary, she does however receive a roof over her head and food. Mahadi's mother is still alive, though I still haven't gotten a straight story on her. I have a few suspicions but nothing is confirmed.
Over the past two years, I have sent money with Jen when she goes over on a trip to pay for Mahadi's school fees, medical needs and clothing or shoes. He's been dewormed, treated for Malaria and a minor burn. Before you start singing my praises, the amount of money I have sent is nominal. In the past two years I've maybe sent over a total of $300 maybe 400 at the very most.
September 2011
When the opportunity to work a program in Tanzania came up this September, I knew I needed to include a trip to Uganda. I wanted to see for myself how Mahadi was doing, what else I could provide and in the back of my mind maybe even spend a day or two with him. I arrived to Kampala on Wednesday and was greeted at the airport by my dear friends Josephine and Jack. We decided we would go to A Greater Life on Thursday.
We pull up to the gate of A Greater Life, waiting for someone to come with the key to open the gate. Once we were in, immediately, it became a mob scene of 30-50 children running to the gate to say hello. Immediately, I see Mahadi who has a HUGE grin on his face as he sees Jack driving the car. Jack always drives Jen to A Greater Life and I know Jack is sure to spend extra time with Mahadi when he is there, since he knows Mahadi is so special to me.
It was chaos 15 little hands trying to hold my hands or any part of my body, I could see Mahadi in the mix of all the kids, but it was difficult to single him out. Emmy, one of the teachers hollered at all of them to run back to class, meanwhile Mahadi's Ja-Ja was running up to greet us. She was profusely thanking me for providing for Mahadi.
We watched Mahadi's top class (pre-k in the states) sing a few songs. I then asked Josephine if she thought it would be possible if I spent some time with Mahadi and his Ja-Ja away from all of the other kids. Mahadi, his Ja-Ja and I along with a teacher who could translate for me, went to sit on the steps outside of the one room Ja-Ja, Mahadi and 5 other kids sleep in. The whole time Mahadi is sitting on my lap, smiling, laughing, eating some popped corn, Ja-Ja offered me some sugar cane, so I shared that with Mahadi and a couple of other kids who were checking out the scene. I learned Mahadi had been healthy lately, that he shared a bed with his Ja-Ja and some of the money I had recently sent paid for shoes and his school uniforms.
Jack had stayed with the car and about 20 kids were climbing in and out and all around the vehicle. I was busy chatting with some other kids, when Jack said "April, Mahadi is telling everyone he is going with Mama April today" I said "really? Do you think I could take him for a night?" I asked Josephine and God Bless Josephine (knowing full well what a swinging Bachelorette I am) said "April I don't think you could handle it, what if he cries or he misbehaves" I said "Josephine I'm the oldest of 4 and I used to be a nanny, I think I can handle it". She said "Are you sure?" And I said yes, but maybe you and Jack should stay the night with me just in case...ha! We asked the head mistress and Ja-Ja if it was ok for Mahadi to come stay with me for the night and they both said yes.
Thus began the 24 hour adventure of Mama April and Mahadi.......
Sunday 1 May 2011
How different are we?
One of the great joys I get out of traveling is not discovering only the differences within the country and people I encounter while out on my travels, but also the similarities:
--when you hear a person laugh
--when a child cries
--when two siblings fight amongst each other
--when parents board a plane with three kids, 15 bags and that stressed out look in their eye as they board a plane.
Can you tell what ethnic background someone is by their laugh or cry?
Can you tell what religion someone is by how they break up a fight amongst their children?
This morning waking up in Paris, hearing the news of Osama bin Laden's death the first thing I thought-- wow they got him. The next thing I thought was this is not over.
For those of us who travel, we are no less in danger today, than we were yesterday. For our troops in Afganistan, Iraq, and around the world, this does not mean they are coming home tomorrow. For those who died on 9/11, for the soldiers and civilians who have died fighting over the past 10 years and will not be coming back, the death of Osama bin laden does not make terrorism go away.
I have not been able to see much of the news as I'm currently on a bus to Normandy. But I have seen Facebook and Twitter and as I read about my fellow Americans celebrate the death of Osama Bin laden, I realize once again we are more alike than ever as fellow Americans dance on the grave of Osama bin Laden just as Al-Qaida sympathizers dance on ours.
--when you hear a person laugh
--when a child cries
--when two siblings fight amongst each other
--when parents board a plane with three kids, 15 bags and that stressed out look in their eye as they board a plane.
Can you tell what ethnic background someone is by their laugh or cry?
Can you tell what religion someone is by how they break up a fight amongst their children?
This morning waking up in Paris, hearing the news of Osama bin Laden's death the first thing I thought-- wow they got him. The next thing I thought was this is not over.
For those of us who travel, we are no less in danger today, than we were yesterday. For our troops in Afganistan, Iraq, and around the world, this does not mean they are coming home tomorrow. For those who died on 9/11, for the soldiers and civilians who have died fighting over the past 10 years and will not be coming back, the death of Osama bin laden does not make terrorism go away.
I have not been able to see much of the news as I'm currently on a bus to Normandy. But I have seen Facebook and Twitter and as I read about my fellow Americans celebrate the death of Osama Bin laden, I realize once again we are more alike than ever as fellow Americans dance on the grave of Osama bin Laden just as Al-Qaida sympathizers dance on ours.
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