"I'm what the world considers to be a phenomenally successful man. And I've failed much more than I've succeeded. And each time I fail, I get my people together, and I say, "Where are we going?" And it starts to get better." - Calvin Trager
Saturday, June 12, 2004 There are small children EVERYWHERE in Malam ... and when they see us coming, they often flock to us, love to touch us, walk with us holding our hands. They call out "Obrunee" (I have no idea how to spell that word!), which means "white person" in Tri (a widespread local language). Even the parents will call out "Obrunee" when we go by to let the children know. The children always say hi ... ask us our names, which they are really good at remembering when we come back. They treat us like royalty, which a lot of times just makes me feel so guilty because I don't feel worthy to receive such treatment. James explained to me that they are just so grateful that we would come from so far away to be with them. Many of the children go to school ... in the morning and afternoons you will often see them in their school uniforms. Some can't afford the school fees, though. James was walking on a morning this week and found a young girl in her school uniform crying. When he asked her what the problem was, she said that her mother couldn't afford food for breakfast, so she was having to go to school on an empty stomach and she was hungry. And this is not neglect --which does happen --, the mother works hard and the money goes to school fees, books, clothes and other things. Of course, we have this problem in America too. I remember the kids Robin taught at Grant. Anyway, this was taken Saturday morning, so even if these kids are in school, they wouldn't be in uniform. | Mike at 6/12/2004 11:14:00 AM
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"Christ's example is being
demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy,
which is AIDS. The church is the sleeping giant here.
If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest
of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't,
it will be irrelevant."
- Bono