T.I.A.

There is a saying we have begun using frequently here, T. I. A. (this is Africa).  We use this phrase when our 8:30 taxi shows up at 10 a.m., when they send a bus with 20 seats for 30 people, when there are 5-6 new volunteers showing up every night and there are not beds for them, when our "Food Day" at the refugee camp today, which was scheduled for 12:30, finally happened at 4 p.m.  These kids typically only get one meal a day, which is a mash of garbanzo beans that they are fed at school.   I was so excited to help serve them this big meal, but it was just anti climatic when they have been sitting out on the field waiting for it for 4 hours, not to mention my own group of students who are not used to being hungry and waiting for lunch til 4!  There is always one moment on our trips when I totally stress out because things are completely off schedule and Brian steps in to smooth the waters.  That was today!  We had a beautiful ride through the Rift Valley and many of the kids saw a few baboons along the way.  The IDP camp and school were all that you might imagine, with the kids barefoot and in tattered uniforms, but huge smiles and hugs, following us around asking if we would "sponsor them".  We were taken to visit a few of the homes in the camp, which was a little awkward as it was somewhat propagandish to show us the dire straits in which these people live, and then ask us to think of ways to support and make a difference.  You can sponsor a child in the camp for $120/year, it is just so difficult to wire money here, so they need to come up with a simpler formula.  I think we could all afford the $10 / month.  They had them tell us their stories, similar to the story of Therese that we heard a few days ago.  It is crazy to think of our ridiculous, frustrating politics currently in the US, but it puts it in perspective to realize that regardless of who wins the election, we will not have house burnings, gang rapes, and massacres between the democrats and republicans (I hope).  I want you to know, that although a few kids did come up and ask me when we were going to eat, or what the plan was, when I had to reply, " I have no idea, TIA", there were no complaints.  I realized quickly that it was absurd for me to be upset that my precious Orange County teenagers were going to experience hunger for a few hours, that their blood sugar levels might plumet, we all survived!  We then distributed 30 suitcases of school supplies, shoes, socks, underwear, medical supplies, 150 soccer uniforms, they are using our flourescent green soccer pennies for their dance team uniform.  The miracle will really be if noone gets sick.  We had to eat with our hands, off the same plates the kids had just used, that we had washed in dirty water with no soap.  We ate boiled rice, beans with flies hovering, and a stew made with goat meat that had just been slaughtered in the nearby field...............but your kids say they love it here and want to stay forever!  Tomorrow will be our final service day at the women's rescue centers and orphanages.