Inspiration

There are times now when the stagnant state of poverty and lack of education becomes so apparent and options for improvement seem so unobtainable. I start to get homesick and feel hopeless and useless... But then something like this happens:

Malaria is one of the number one causes of death and sickness here in the South RIM. Therefore, as a health worker, it is one of my priorities for a topic of education. In training, we were taught how to make this mosquito repellent which can be made from all local resources. Part of our homework was (in French) to discuss Malaria and make this cream with the family. Well, as their religion and culture go, life is in god's hands so their opionion of health care is often very lax. They postpone going to the doctor for that reason, in addition to the poverty or lack of access all together, and often preventable diseases turn fatale. As is the case for Malaria. Mosquito nets are available but often go unused. So, as you might imagine, my attempt to make the cream with them induced a very sub-excited response. I tried in French to motivate them and they all but ignored me. So, I continued to make the cream on my own, cooking on this little charcoal stove without pot holders in midday heat, and they watched and laughed as I attempted feabley to fan the coals. I had asked my little brother to get me one of the ingredients, lemon leaves. He disappeared for the entire day and I was pretty sure he forgot about me. When I asked the family, they didn't seem to care much either, let alone know where he was, not to mention their lack of interest in the cream. I was in shock. If they know how dangerous this disease is, why don't they seem to care? Why don't they feed the kids balanced meals when they know the importance of nutrients and there are resources available? How do you let your kids run around without shoes in rotten battery, razor, dead animal and car carcass filled trash? WHY DON'T THEY WASH THEIR HANDS?! So... I left the half-finished cream under the tent and stepped outside the tent when I felt the tears coming. I'm sitting in our boutique (corner shop) when I see Alpha, my brother, running up to me with his shirt filled with lemon leaves, excited that we could finish the cream. I dry my eyes, made a joke about the tears, go back with him, and smile as I watch the whole family turn when they smell the sweet frangrance of lemon leaves cooking. They watch as I finish the cream and all take turns smelling and smiling and putting on the cream. It's those moments that make this worthwhile and give me hope....

Another story- I rewrote the hand-clapping game of Mrs. Mary Mack in French and changed the words of the song to a story about basic sanitation. I taught it to one girl, who got other girls involved and now the girls and boys of the family and a few neighbors know the song and often ask to play the game with me. Maybe the message of the song will spread, too. Soon enough I'll get to start a real project- it'll be hotter than the heat here, Inshallah! A few more weeks until swearing in as a PCV!!!

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