Stories from the field

Remember this post I did awhile ago describing my connection and work with HELP International? And at the end I said stay tuned for stories? Well, this one isn't a total tear-jerker, but it is a heart warmer. So as you prepare to dress up your children and allow them to go out at night filling sacks with a ridiculous amount of candy, think about the kids on the other side of the world . . .

Our work in Africa:

As 2008 HELP volunteers got to know their community in Lugazi, Uganda, they were astonished at the conditions of children with disabilities. There were almost no resources for families of these children to turn to. And, because many villagers believed that disability is caused by witch craft or sin, parents feared to seek support amongst each other. Because of this, children with disabilities were left undiagnosed, malnourished, and hidden from the community.

In partnership with a local organization called, Hope for People with Disability, HELP started a support group for 5 mothers and their children with disabilities. As these mothers began to bring their children into the community to associate with each other, families with similar circumstances were excited to join. In a few weeks the group grew to include 33 families.

Every Thursday, families would meet to learn topics from effective communication to nutrition. HELP trained local caregivers to visit families of children with disabilities. They would visit each family once a week to set goals and encourage family bonding. In accordance with the goals set and achieved by families, HELP International was able to place 3 wheelchairs, 4 walking aids, and 6 mattresses with children in the group.

Even more exciting, HELP volunteers were able to partner with a non-profit health clinic, called Cheshire Home, which treats children with disabilities. HELP volunteers coordinated with local leaders in Lugazi to arrange for Cheshire staff to visit Lugazi for a monthly outreach. Now, all of the children have been diagnosed and their families have been given instructions on how to better care for them.

A volunteer who helped head this project recounted a particularly profound experience he had with one of our group members, Sam:

"Sam suffers from hydrocephalus. He is also blind and has no ability to walk due to severe deformities in his legs. Sam is very poor and his family cannot afford a new wheelchair for him to use. Through our home visits, Sam has learned how to crawl. As a result of reaching this goal, HELP was able to provide Sam with a new wheelchair customized to his body and conditions. Now, Sam can crawl to his new wheelchair, and use the wheelchair all by himself, giving him the freedom of mobility. One thing I learned from Sam: In America, we see the wheelchair as a form of confinement, but in Africa, the wheelchair sets someone free."

A Little Excitement

So there are two things that I am excited about tonight, but first I have to tell you that it is after 10pm and my 2 yr old has been awake in his room since 8:15! He just came down and said "I just need somebody to talk to." I said "no, you need to get in your bed and go to sleep." He says, "When I'm six can I play with friends?" "Sure, now go get back in your bed. Do I need to tuck you in again?" As we're going up the stairs he says "We forgot to do my homework." Silly kid. Earlier he came out and told me that his teeth were loose and I needed to pull them out. (Corbin lost his first tooth tonight shortly after I tucked them in the first time, so I sort of understood that one.) I told him they wouldn't fall out until he was five to which he excitedly replied "I'm five, Mom, I'm five!"

So onto what I am really excited about:
One, the new HELP International website is now up and running. It is not perfect, but it is much better than the old one. Just in case you forgot, HELP is the non-profit organization I used to work for and now serve on the board. Check it out and get a little glimpse of what I do and what I love.
Second, my neighbor (and other friends) finally convinced me to join the rest of the female population and read Twilight. So that is my plan right now. I am going to go get a bowl of ice cream and start reading. Those who know me know I am not really one for non-fiction and especially not the lovestory, vampire type - so we'll see. But since I really want to see the movie and nearly everyone I know is obsessed with this series, I guess I better see what all the fuss is about. I'll keep you posted.

PS when I started writing this post it was 10:10, so reading was my plan, but since then, I tucked Cody back in twice, switched over the laundry, fed Colton, put him back to bed, and talked to my husband who is at work, so now it is 10:55 - and I am SO tired. So I think I will read for as long as it takes me to eat my ice cream and try for another day.

a little fall fun

Since my brother Mason was here, and we really needed to get out of the house, and Russ was home, and it was fairly nice weather . . . we decided to go to Hee Haws (it's one of those farm fall fest fun things - you know).

Building the World oNe PiEce at A tiMe

Grandma Jill gave us a globe puzzle and Corbin did almost the whole thing by himself! He loves this kind of thing. He is so proud of it and I am so proud of him!

I hate spiders!

Recently we have had a few unfortunate visitors to our home - nasty black widows. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps! I can't stand spiders period, and those things really creep me out. So the problem is that Cody likes to pick up all types of bugs, including spiders, and bring them in the house and show me. So when Russ saw that we had black widows and several black widow webs, he emphasized to the boys that they should NEVER touch the black spiders with red bellies. So Corbin and Cody were playing outside on Monday and they ran in and told me they saw a "bad spider". It was Corbin who was telling me this, so I thought maybe he was just scared of it and wanted me to kill it. But sure enough, I went out there and right by their playset was a big, sneaky, disgusting, creepy black widow. Since I was in my socks, I ran back in and slipped on my dress shoes - the closest thing I could find - and went back out to smash the little bugger. I hate even thinking about it! Aagh! So the conversation that proceeded was what I really wanted to write about. It went something like this:

Cody: there are good spiders and bad spiders. The black ones are the bad spiders. They could kill you. Then we would have to have a new mommy.

Me: That would be really sad.

Corbin: But then Daddy would have to get married and we would get to be in the wedding.

I'm not really sure what to make of this. Kids are so bizarre.

Fall Break at Spring Lake

Corbin had two days off school (whoopee) for Fall Break, but the exciting part was that Russ had a day off too! So we went and played at Spring Lake - a little fishing, picnicking, feeding the ducks, catching caterpillars. And it was a gorgeous day!