Rochelle
Hello all. I wish I had the energy to stay at this Internet Cafe this evening and send you a longer message (with pictures). But I've been here three hours already after a long day of helping my girlfriend with car repairs at the beginning of the day, and then spending some time with three street kids during the middle of the day.
The latter is what is on my mind right now. Although the details are something I hope to share with you all another time, I 'would' like to share what's on my mind now. I've had a really hard time trying to find some kind of a next step for Rochelle (the one that I spent the most time talking to). It seems as though there is no next step for her in the part of the town that I am in. At least not one that I am as of yet aware of.
I spend nearly two hours with Rochelle just trying to talk to her, give her the attention that she wanted, just showing her the love that so many others haven't shown her. After trying so hard to have a clue as to what she was saying for nearly twenty minutes, I fed her some coco-pandesal and she followed me down the street as I walked.
It's been a long time since I've been a shy fellow and I am trying hard to push beyond even the little shyness that remains in me as I considered the importance of communicating with Rochelle and I weighed it against the shyness that was keeping me from asking a total stranger if they knew enough english to help me to communicate with this little girl.
When I finally found a shop keeper willing to help me, I talked with the girl for about an hour. And then when I understood it wasn't realistic to try to get her to the part of town that HeCares Foundation is in, I decided I would leave. But as I started to leave the little girl (about seven yrs old) started to cry so much. And the shop keeper translated to me that the girl said she was lonely and didn't want me to leave. As the little girl continued to cry I attempted to go to a very large Catholic Church called Conception Church (taking the little girl with me) and ask for help.
After asking five people, two of which couldn't understand my english, I finally made it to a sixth person that was a representive of the church. I wasn't very happy with the way my concern was disregarded and I was told that the children begging for money and food was normal and that it was ok, I could simply go on my way. The church representative tried to shew the child away.
I continued to try to help the girl but she finally went away after a couple of hours. I was left wishing I could help but I couldn't today. I gave her a little food and a chochlate drink but she needs more than that. I'll keep looking for resources in the Conception area. These children need guidance and every day care.
The latter is what is on my mind right now. Although the details are something I hope to share with you all another time, I 'would' like to share what's on my mind now. I've had a really hard time trying to find some kind of a next step for Rochelle (the one that I spent the most time talking to). It seems as though there is no next step for her in the part of the town that I am in. At least not one that I am as of yet aware of.
I spend nearly two hours with Rochelle just trying to talk to her, give her the attention that she wanted, just showing her the love that so many others haven't shown her. After trying so hard to have a clue as to what she was saying for nearly twenty minutes, I fed her some coco-pandesal and she followed me down the street as I walked.
It's been a long time since I've been a shy fellow and I am trying hard to push beyond even the little shyness that remains in me as I considered the importance of communicating with Rochelle and I weighed it against the shyness that was keeping me from asking a total stranger if they knew enough english to help me to communicate with this little girl.
When I finally found a shop keeper willing to help me, I talked with the girl for about an hour. And then when I understood it wasn't realistic to try to get her to the part of town that HeCares Foundation is in, I decided I would leave. But as I started to leave the little girl (about seven yrs old) started to cry so much. And the shop keeper translated to me that the girl said she was lonely and didn't want me to leave. As the little girl continued to cry I attempted to go to a very large Catholic Church called Conception Church (taking the little girl with me) and ask for help.
After asking five people, two of which couldn't understand my english, I finally made it to a sixth person that was a representive of the church. I wasn't very happy with the way my concern was disregarded and I was told that the children begging for money and food was normal and that it was ok, I could simply go on my way. The church representative tried to shew the child away.
I continued to try to help the girl but she finally went away after a couple of hours. I was left wishing I could help but I couldn't today. I gave her a little food and a chochlate drink but she needs more than that. I'll keep looking for resources in the Conception area. These children need guidance and every day care.
posted by Timothy at 12/23/2005 09:28:00 AM
1 Comments:
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I recently got an email response to this post which reads as follows.
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Wow Tim-
I never read that one before....whoa what a devastating way to live....the Catholics are a strange breed. Mother Teresa was one of a kind...
Thank you for sharing this.
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I wanted to share my response to this as I think there are some who might find some value in the response.
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Your welcome,
Well, it's not the Catholics that are to blame but rather the individuals that don't take the time to seek God's will for them in their lives.I believe that everyone that takes the time to figure out what God's will is for them will at least know what the wrong is that they do. And the struggle that they have will be to accept God's grace and that grace/forgiveness will fuel their desire to do more of what God wants them to do.
I just remember the the girl's name was Rochelle, feel free to put her name in God's presence as you pray.
And below is another story for you, though not one of the ones that put me in the best light. But I think it's important to share my struggles as well. I do have a hard time loving people sometimes, but the point is to 'struggle' to fight to do what we inwardly know would be pleasing to God. Not that the struggle or the fight has any value in guarenteeing our salvation. Only the Christ can do that.
The struggle and the fight is, as I said above, a response to the salvation that we've accepted from Christ. There is one sure way to find out if someone has accepted Christ's salvation. If they accept it then the one thing they struggle to do more than any other thing in their lives is to show gratitude to the one that gave them life. If there is any greater passion in their life other than God then you know that they have not yet accepted the grace that all they have to do is reach out and accept. That gratitude goes hand in hand with the acceptance of that grace. But I am sure I am telling you things that you already know.
God bless. And I hope you guys get my future emails.
... Tim
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