What a crazy week it has been. Pure. Exhaustion. School is now in full swing for all, which doesn't leave a lot of time for much else! But what I'm learning in school is making us ready to get to Mozambique in a hurry.
Philemon is working on his degree for safety management and I'm working on my Masters in clinical social work. I'm interning for the Children, Youth and Families Department here in Farmington, NM. I must say that this internship has already made me think twice and even three times about moving to Moazambique and working with children that have been traumatized SO severally.
The stories here that involve children and sexual abuse make me gag. My stomach turns to a pile of giant knots that continue to get tighter and tighter as I hear of the trauma some have survived. The extreme situations are even worse. Some parents have prostituted out their children for drugs. Some have sexually abused their children and violently caused physical harm as well. Some parents have left their toddlers alone to fend for themselves, in disgusting environments; many times, children are part of drug operations. And some have even killed their children.
I'm shocked at the things that go on in this area. Shock isn't really even the word. Disgusted. Horrified. Sickened. Outraged. The hate that I feel towards the things I have heard so far is great. But it is the need for change that motivates Philemon and I. If these things can be happening here, these things can happen anywhere. But the difference is that there aren't enough people in certain places to help. We know there are hundreds of thousands of organizations that have committed themselves to caring for hurting and abandoned adults and children. While the intentions are good, what is it doing?
This is how Heart for the Needy is different. It is not about having good intentions or wanting to help. The reason this organization exists is to change the future of the lives we come into contact with, and stop putting a band aide on the problems that we see and experience. I do not, by any stretch of the imagination, think we have all of the answers. But at the same time, I can't help but take notes from the few things I have seen that don't work.
I'm sure as the semester rolls on, I will learn how to help and understand the problems that plague our area. In essence, I'll be preparing for the rest of our lives. There's no time to waste! We both have so much to do, so much to learn, and so much to understand. But then again, we were made for such a time as this!
Blessings,
Phil & Laura
P.S. By the way - if anyone would like to join our Board of Directors, let us know at heartfortheneedy@gmail.com.www.facebook.com/laura.olaniyi
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