The following is a very special guest post from my sister, Jessica. She recently embarked on a journey to Nepal– a small, independent third world country between India and China (yes, I had to look on a map). As a volunteer at a shelter for abused women and children for one week, she saw first hand something most of us never will in our lifetime- true poverty.
I asked her to share her experience here on my blog to give our corner of the world a rare glimpse into what poverty truly looks like.
Kathmandu
Imagine your five year old able to entertain herself for half the day with a pencil and some scratch paper. Or try to picture your nine year old washing her own laundry by hand. Sounds kind of like a day off, right?
Well, in the village of Kuleswar, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal, there are eight children between the ages of three and sixteen doing those things with great pleasure every day. Only, the pencil is just one of two in the Maya Counseling Center and it’s less than an inch long because it will be used until there is no lead left to use. And the outfit she is washing is also one of two that she owns and it gets washed once a week, which is when she changes clothes.
The Laundry Room
My claim that I started doing my own laundry at the age of ten diminishes to nothing as I am standing on the roof of the center, looking down and watching Marisa carefully and diligently scrubbing her dress with water she brought up from a well and a bar of soap that eleven others need to share.
I reach down and take a sniff at my shirt and feel even less worthy—it still holds the Bounce Fresh Scent smell…just like all of my clothes in my suitcase.
The Dryer
After she rings out the fabric, Marisa carries her clothes and her two little sisters’ clothes up four flights of stairs, to the top most part of the roof to hang them on the clothesline. She is methodical and determined, not even letting my (exciting) presence get in the way of her task. If she were coloring or playing with a ball, she would drop it if I stepped into the room but not the laundry. Or the dishes.
It’s hard for me to describe what I felt as I first met those sweet, beautiful children. I know I couldn’t help but think how someone could possibly harm any one of them. From the moment I took off my shoes and stepped into the shelter, their temporary home, they were elated to have me there. Our bond began with Samjana applying a tikka to my forehead and it will forever remain.
As my stay lengthened and I got to know the children, I was blown away by their intelligence, creativity, and maturity. But each child, even the three year old was missing a piece of her childhood innocence. I could see in their eyes that they had been severely sexually abused. Yet their hearts were still full of love and I found this to be incredibly inspiring.
Abuse aside, and more generally speaking, the children in Nepal have nothing and everything. Nothing in terms of possessions and what we consider necessities, but everything in terms of spirit and appreciation. Some old crayons, a pencil stub, and a sharpener will make their day.
Even dirt is entertainment
They will draw and color on every inch of the paper and then flip it over and repeat. They will be so excited about what they produce on the page, as if they were actually chasing the butterfly around a grassy field instead of drawing it.
I know that those who live with very little appreciate the little things more. But those people in the states who I know with less than most don’t always live up to that–because we are surrounded by so much wealth. In Kuleswar, and in most of Nepal, there is nothing but extreme poverty.
I knew going in that I would be living and working in a third world country but until I was there, I had no idea what that entailed. It entails limited running water, intermittent electricity, no toilets, no soft bed, and a very hard time finding enough food.
City Street
When the electricity goes out, they light candlesticks. The first time it happened while I was there, I felt my way to my headlamp and pressed a button and gained instant electricity. They were fascinated. I had a light strapped to my head while they had to carry around candlesticks that burned their hands when the wax dripped.
The children were fascinated with everything I owned, things I always found necessary in my life, like my wristwatch. They adored my watch. They wanted to push the button over and over again that made it light up. One day I looked around at the kids and three of them had drawn watches onto their wrists with a pen. My heart melted.
Mother and Child
I spent a lot of time playing with the children. They love to play all sorts of games. They also love singing, dancing, and learning English. When I would tell them a word in English, they laughed and repeated it again and again. They also enjoyed teaching me Nepali.
“Namaste.”
{To be continued…}
Jessica F.
Jessica is my second younger sister out of three. She is a fellow survivor of abuse, and an activist for social justice and civil rights. A writer with a B.A. in History from UCLA, she is applying for a masters in social work to be a therapist. She is also a gifted athlete, and one amazing Auntie to her nieces and nephews.
Great story….one that breaks my heart. If you ever go back, I would love to buy watches for you to take to the children there (if they would allow that). It truly is amazing how they live compared to us. It’s good for us to see how blessed we truly are.
Thanks, Jessica and Alyssa.
Wow Jessica! Thank you SO much for sharing your experience with us.
I look forward to reading more!!
.-= Rachel @ Surviving The Stores´s last blog ..Worth-It Wednesday =-.
Thanks for sharing your amazing experience, Jessica. You are so right about how much we take for granted, even when we are consciously trying not to do so. Can’t wait to hear more!
.-= Tara @ Deal Seeking Mom´s last blog ..$1 off New Buddig Fix Quix Coupon (TX, AZ, & St. Louis) =-.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. When I am really feeling down in the dumps and think that things can’t get worse, I will remember your story. Things might not be where I would like them but tonight my children are asleep, bellies full, safe in their own fully furnished rooms with an abundance of clothes hanging in their closet. Thanks for the perspective. I can’t wait to hear more.
.-= Hollie @ Happy Couponing´s last blog ..Kroger 10/14 – 10/20/09 =-.
What a touching story. I’m excited to read more.
Hi Jessica! Thank you so much for showing us how really blessed we are. Alyssa, you are such an amazing sister! I miss you guys and I hope to see you soon and meet Mia! Love, Joyce xoxo
Great story. America is “Disneyland” compared to the rest of the world. We forget how good we really do have it sometimes. Even our poor are richer than most.
Amazing. Thank you for sharing. I’m often overwhelmed by the privilege and expectation I see with people these days — I long for getting back to basics (my 6 siblings and I in fact only had scratch paper, pens, and a ball for entertainment …and it was perfectly fine!). This is such a beautiful post; off to RT it. -Christine
.-= Boston Mamas´s last blog ..Conversations About Cancer =-.
Such a touching story. I would like to encourage people to make shoeboxs for Operation Christmas Child. The deadline is coming up next month. Can you imagine children just like this opening a shoebox to find toys, school supplies, shoes, even a watch? It not only makes their day, for some it makes their year. I collect stuff all year long for this. Remember all those free after ECB school supplies at CVS? Most are going in these shoe boxes. Here is the link for more info on getting involved:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
On another note, a few weeks ago I was having a big-o pitty-party. Then my neighbor tells me that a blanket I donated to her ministry went to a boy who didn’t even have a blanket on his bed. WOW! How so very easy it is to forget all the little blessings we have. She crashed my pitty-party, but I am so glad she did.
Thanks for the story, I can’t wait to hear more!
Felicia
.-= Felicia´s last blog ..I’m Back! =-.
Thank you so much for posting this and to your sister for writing about her experience. I have been struggling with being happy and content with what I have and this really helps me to put it all into perspective. I look forward to reading more about her trip and will try to remember to keep this in my heart and head so when I am feeling sorry for myself, I just have to remember! Thanks again!
Jessica,
This s beyond powerful. Talk about perspective. Thank you for sharing this amazing story. It’s definitely an eye-opener… ! Bless you!
xo
Audrey
Thanks for sharing this story with us. I myself am a survivor of abuse and alot of people don’t know how good they have it, especially here in the US compared to 3rd world countries.
Thank you for having your sister share with us. I look forward to reading more of her touching experience!
Maggie
Oh my goodness. My 7 year old was looking over my shoulder while I was reading this. He wanted me to explain the story, and immediately asked if he could give them his money? What could we do?
What can we do?
Steph
A year ago, my niece married a young man originally from Katmandu, Nepal. Fortunately, for him, he didn’t grow up in poverty. I must admit, our family had a tough time getting used to the idea of the two of them being married since he is not a Christian. I pray they can make it work.
Should write excellent post! Can’t wait to reading your next post!
This helps to put so much in perspective. I think of the PILES of crayons, markers, colored pencils my precious children have. The tons of papers, coloring books, activity books they have. Stuff like that you can get for a buck at the local Dollar Store. I can picture the children sharing that little nub of a pencil. It just breaks my heart. This is definately a journey that will forever be in your sister’s heart. Thank you for sharing. God Bless…
Love the story! It’s exactly what I have experienced in my travels to many 3rd world countries. You can’t help but look at your own life and realize all of the abundance you have, when faced with such poverty. I would like to encourage everyone who can, to participate in Operation Child through Samaritan’s purse. As Felicity above mentioned, it’s a great organization to support. Just fill a shoebox—it’s that simple! We did it for the first time last year and it provided so much joy knowing that a child who TRULY needed these things, would be given such a gift.
A year ago, my niece married a young man originally from Katmandu, Nepal. Fortunately, for him, he didn’t grow up in poverty. I must admit, our family had a tough time getting used to the idea of the two of them being married since he is not a Christian. I pray they can make it work.
Wow. That is quite a perspective. Thank you for sharing your experiences, Jessica.
.-= natalyn´s last blog ..my would-be portfolio: chicago family edition, part 2. =-.
Thanks so much for sharing the beginning of your story. I look forward to reading more.
Thanks for the depth of sharing! We should all have this sort of experience.
Such a touching post. These are two of the greatest things that always break my heart…children who suffer poverty and sexual abuse. May the Lord bless you!
.-= Lynn Mosher´s last blog ..If I Have Chosen to be God’s Servant… =-.
Wow Jessica is such a talented writer! The way she explains her trip with such vivid detail made me feel like I was reading it from a book. I would love to read more of her work!
Thank you for sharing your trip with us. I am extremely anxious to see the rest. Could you please tell me where or how we could help these children ? Like clothes or supplies…anything. Thank you…..
What a great story and reminder that we are truly blessed. We take so many things for granted on a day to day basis.
Thank you for the pictures and experience. The children have been blessed by having you there. I’m sure they will always remember you.