Each of our sponsored kids have asked us many questions. They truly don't know what it is like to live in America, just as I don't know what it's like to live in a 3rd world country. I can get a glimpse of their live through the Internet and television. They only know what I tell them, and I don't tell them that we have clean water that runs in our home. I don't tell them that we have so much food that it often spoils and gets thrown away. They don't know that we have 2 nice cars or the size of the house that the four of us live in. Today I just wanted to write down a few things that have left me speechless over the last years of writing to these kids.
The one question that sticks out the most is when Ashenafi asked me if my children were students, or if they are workers. How sad is that? Child workers are so common that he had to ask if my children worked.
Nanese has asked me if we have a lot of food in our country and if we grow corn here. I can't tell her that not only can we buy corn from farmers nearby, but we can cook it on our gas stove and add butter & seasoning to make it taste so good.
Tamasmen-Love asked if my parents were still alive. I don't know her family situation but I am lead to believe that her parents are not living.
Tadesse wanted to know what school was like here. Another question that is hard to answer as I don't want to tell him my kids ride a bus, have clean water and food at school, and every other thing that is provided for them. Vestine asked "does it rain in your country?"
So many simple questions that have weighted answers that I cannot share. I hope all of our blessings will someday be available to them!
Chronicles of our family as we researched adoption and our eyes were open to the needs of the children in Africa.
In response to my grandmother having breast cancer, my Ruth (who is 19) said that many women in her village have had breast cancer, but all they can do is cut off their breasts and pray. I have decided to tell her that God has healed my grandma's cancer, but to not include the fact that radiation and chemo were what really saved her life. I want her to know that there is a great big world out there full of amazing things, but at the same time I don't want her to feel like her life has been cheated in any way. Its such a balancing act of picking and choosing what to tell her and how. Its hard at times, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI've just found your blog and look forward to reading more. I also have a Compassion focused blog and am putting together a "master list" of Compassion bloggers. You can go here to submit a description of your blog for my list (which I'll publish at the beginning of the year). http://compassionfamily.blogspot.com/2011/12/calling-all-compassion-bloggers.html
ReplyDeletesuch tough questions. They are showing us life through their eyes. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Teena