Boon’s Journey Notes
Today was my first visit to Shepherd‘s Hand. I finally got the opportunity to meet Simba and the children in person after a year and a half of phone and video communication. The things my eyes saw today have forever change my life.
Touring the orphanage’s living areas opened my eyes to the deplorable conditions that are their reality; these inhumane conditions are their every day life. The children, who have been left in the custody of the orphanage live in conditions that would be deemed uninhabitable by most humans-especially those of us with the privilege of being American.
As I walked around observing their living spaces-breathing the air-combination of odors that invade their senses, I gained insight into the life of the people who are confined to the slums of Uganda.
My thoughts immediately raced to my own family-my children-thoughts of how blessed we truly are to have access to an abundance of food, shelter, running water, healthcare, and a sense of security; things that we so often take for granted.
No one should exist in these conditions, especially children. I couldn’t hold back my tears. Witnessing the suffering and struggles first hand has changed the way I see my own life. It felt like I was in mourning-like I was attending the funeral of someone close to me who has passed away. It was spiritual. I know that this is my calling.
I have never seen anything like this. The sewer runs through the community, carrying dirty water, mosquitoes, and disease. En route to school each day, the children cross over the sewer via a narrow bridge. Some of them walk alongside it-diving in-in search of empty bottles and scraps to salvage. It is very dangerous. The sewer is where malaria is born and many of the children are infected with this deadly disease.
Sadly, people living in the slum usually can not afford preventative medication that would protect them. It breaks my heart.
The mosquitoes hatch egg’s during the day and fly around bitting people at night. The living quarters where the children sleep, isn’t sealed which makes away for the mosquitoes to enter their resting spaces, and nets designed to keep them out, are a luxury that the orphanage simply cannot afford.
The more I witnessed, I’m beginning to feel their reality. It’s becoming harder to look these people in their eyes. Between the emotional state that I found myself in, and the guilt I feel for just being American; living in a country of abundance, a space where it’s natural to complain about the things I don’t have, I am now ashamed of the moments that I have been ungrateful. In this moment, a fire was lit within me to do something. God is leading me to act.
These children breathe disease everyday; foul odors are part of their normal. At any point during my visit, I could have returned to the comfort of my room. Escaping their unfathomable reality-pushing it to the back of my mind. The thing that kept me there is the realization of their true lack of resources and opportunity. For them, there is no option but to stay here in the slums that is their home.
The trash system is inefficient. It is not uncommon for residents to dump trash in the sewer-they burn large quantities of trash. This includes everything from the bathroom/outhouse items to common things like bottles and foods; anything that you can think of goes in the open sewer or is burned.
Although there is a plethora of need in the country, my focus is the forty-plus orphans within Shepherd’s Hand community. The unfortunate reality is that there are hundreds- maybe even thousands of orphans and people living in these conditions. Leaving the orphanage today , I feel broken and sad, but steadfast in my quest to continue the work that I’ve set out to do.
On the car ride back to our base, one of the locals with whom I’m staying with offered a great suggestion that can help the community immediately.
He suggested buying a “Boda Boda” (motorbike) to use as a taxi service. This can generate enough income to buy food to feed the children each day. Tomorrow, I will present this idea to Simba, the leader of Shepherd’s Hand to get his thoughts. If he agrees, we will purchase the bike.
Last night we took three of our Ugandan friends out for drinks at one of the local bars to express our appreciation for their hospitality and for helping us navigate Uganda.
Outside of the bar, I am introduced to a mother who sells snacks every night from the evening to early morning to make just enough money to buy food for her and her little ones.
This is a common thing that mothers do to make money. The fathers usually drive “Bodas” for taxi service (like what we want Simba to do.) Mothers and Fathers do what’s necessary to provide for their families.