A Dollar a day.....................

I have always read that many people live below a dollar a day in Africa. And being a social worker I have had numerous occasions to witness this. Yet I have not really come up close and candid with this until yesterday. I hope that my friend will not be offended.

Yesterday was Easter monday, and as a fellowship team, we decided that we would at least share this one day together, at one of the members' houses. Grace* agreed to host us. It was decided that we would all contribute some money towards the festivities. Having never been to Grace's place, I had no expectations, except to have fun. We had agreed to meet at 3:00 pm. At 3:30 pm I was in the vicinity but was not sure where to go. A little girl came up to me with a big smile and said hi. she asked me where I was going, and gaily informed me that that was her sister. She introduced herself as atoti, told me the shcool she goes to and the class she was in, as well as her position - class prefect - and no she attained and other trivia until we reached the house.

While I tried not to let my dismay show on my face, I am not entirely certain that I was successful. They live in a mud house with rusted corrugated sheets for roofing. The floor is mud but has different pieces of plastic carpet to cover it. There are no windows which means that the door has to stay open at all times, unless it is dark then they light a small lantern. This family of 6 lives on a dollar for three days. There are 2 adults both female and four children. Grace sells seat covers which she makes in the house while her mother sells fish to feed, clothe and educate the family. Grace is physically impared but can walk while her mother doesn't have good eyesight. The children go to local schools but are more often than not at home because they do not have one of the many school requirements.

With all this, the family is still cheerful and happy. The children are polite and well diciplined. Although their clothes are not new, they are clean. We ended up leaving them with the money we had contributed, after all we could get food at home. It turns out that we were a blessing in disguise. They had not paid rent for 2 months, about USD 140, and did not have enough food to feed everybody. The adults had planned to take porrige for dinner so that the children could eat what was available.

Yesterday, I learned that I should not complain; I should alsways be grateful for what I have; others have it worse. I learned of the strength of humanity, when they have hope. I learned that I have a responsibility to step out of my cormfort zone and reach out to those who do not have as much as I do. I have a responsibility to highlight such cases so that my fellow brethren will not only appreciate what they have but be willing to help other achieve the same.

I have learned a lot indeed.