Today was just another day, nothing out of the ordinary. I went to Oasis for most of the day, went into town, had some lunch, and then went home.
Just a regular day, but I guess I would have thought that by now it would feel like just that, an ordinary day, but i swear I just get happy all over again.
Its not an ordinary day, I mean I do the same thing, but I never wake up not wanting to see those kids. Or think it will be the same as the day before.
I sat with Manu, one of the teachers/adminstrative people at Oasis, during their break and watched the kids play soccer and just asked him more questions about them. Where they came from, what their life is like now, what they're like at Oasis when were not around, if theyre really as great as we think they are or is it just an act...
It was sad to hear deeper details of some of the kids stories but I was thinking as we were watching them play soccer and later teaching in class, how thankful I was for them and thankful they have a place to go like Oasis, and that they actually come everyday...
Kevin, I love this kid, he's still on the street but comes everyday and spends extra time asking me questions after math class
Kamao
Moses
Silas on his first day of class
It's already half way through November and February is going to come faster than I can imagine. I don't mean to but I think about it all the time, what it's going to look like to leave. Part of me wonders whether I've made a difference. Once I leave, someone else will come to take my place. Do I mean anything to these kids? Am I attached more then them? Probably, but then I have to remind myself none of that matters. The point is not my gain, but that these street kids, who their whole life have been thrown away and abandoned, feel like they're worth something.
I don't know what to do with all of these thoughts, I guess I have 3 more months to think...
4 comments:
Oh sweetie...Trust me, they love you as much as you love them. The kids still talk about people who visited years ago. You will have spent more time with them than any other visitors EVER.
But, what are you going to do once you leave? That is the big question. Will this experience just be a photo album on myspace or on Facebook? Or will you take that love for these kids...the personal knowledge you have of each of them and use their stories to shar Oasis with others...to help Oasis continue to grow and thrive and help more kids?
I love it that people want to come and work with the kids...but when they go home...they are usually just gone..just a story, a few photos on Geoffrey's bulletin board. You are FAMILY to these kids now and you CAN'T just disappear or you will be just another person who abandoned them.
Let's figure out how you are going to stay a part of Oasis when you go. I am so serious about this and I don't mean to pressure you ...but, I guess I do. Oasis needs you to stay involved. I need you to help me.....
Love you sana,
Lydia
"And I see strangers at war, I see strangers at peace, Still I hang my head in confusion, It's always been a choice that's been harder for me, And at the end of the day, knowing not what it means, Will you stand in the ashes, building a flame for the rest of your dreams? Would you love, could you love to be ordinary?"
Girl, you inspire me. You truly do. I send so much love to you over this crazy internet...I hope somehow it reaches you.
You, my friend, are not ordinary. You are so extraordinary. So incredibly beautiful - on the inside and out.
I was going to leave you this awesome amazing inspirational comment, but it would have read something like what melissa said.
...only, in a much less amazing way, because that's just how I roll. :)
Miss Daina...you have done what we are all to do with our lives; you see people for who they really are.
You see them how He sees them...
And because of that, I get to see these people through you...thank you!
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