Sugar Cane and Phase 10: 9-15

Today Julie, Leann, and I did some orientation with the Social Work Department. We went to the office and met up with Rebecca. She was really cool and pretty intense. She told us that we were going to Kosovo today.

We rolled out around 9:00 and began walking through the slums. It was pretty intense. As we walked the young kids called, “Howareyou?!” Some ran up to us and grabbed our hands and walked with us for a little while. Rebecca knew many people as we walked through to Area 2 and then into Kosovo. Many people greeted us and it was nice meeting lots of people. Rebecca said that the community is our security. Since Missions of Hope is so loved by the community, if something bad happened to us while in the slums, it would be taken as an action against the community. We really felt safe. Rebecca said that she didn’t walk alone for the first two months she worked as a social worker, but now she feels totally safe because she is well recognized and loved. While we were walking, she bought us some sugar cane from a local vendor on the path. It was really good.

We made it to Kosovo’s school and visited the head teacher Charity in her office. We also went to a few classrooms and said hello to the classes. (The students love visitors!) Rebecca took us to the new school building that is under construction and we went to the top to get a bird’s eye view of the slum. It was really intense. We were literally surrounded on all sides by the most extreme poverty I have ever seen.

While walking down the street we met Steve. He is known to be a drunk, but we caught his attention due to our blindingly white skin. He came over and we greeted him. He asked us to pray for him to stop drinking. It was cool. He wasn’t drunk today and he knew some English. We took a picture with him and he asked us to bring him a copy when they are printed so he can show his friends.

We continued into Kosovo to go on a house call. On the way we met so many people (parents of kids in the Kosovo School). One of the major things I was thinking about while walking was the possible risk of tetanus. Everyone’s house is made of rusted jagged sheet metal. There were quite a few pigs out and about eating trash. Also, on the side of a hill there was a herd of goats.

On the house call we spent some time with a woman who wanted all of her children to go to the MOH school, but there weren’t enough openings. We prayed with her and then left. It made me realize that if there were enough money/resources for MOH, all her children could attend school. We made it back in time for some lunch. We had beans and maize with potatoes and cabbage. It was interesting, but I always love it when we get potatoes. Rebecca said that the kids get breakfast and as much lunch as they can eat every day. Preschoolers also get milk before they go home. This is SO vital. Some of these kids don’t get dinner. Also, while they are at school they get clean water and can go to the bathroom as many times as they need (for free).

After dinner we played some Phase 10! It was a blast. Julie pretty much dominated. We were joined by Leann, Elizabeth, Bethany’s parents, and Faith. It was really cool getting to spend some fun time with everyone. To finish the night we went to bed early!