I met a woman this week named Mamma Ann. I don't know her story in its entirety, but I know she must be a remarkable woman. Mamma Ann is one of the area coordinators for an HIV/AIDS care group program we have in the coastal province of Kinango District, a couple hours outside of Mombasa, Kenya. As a care group coordinator, Mamma Ann's responsibilities include supporting volunteer trained community health workers who are working with households of individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Care groups are formed by location and linked to a local medical facility to provide treatment and ongoing after care. The community health workers provide education, liaison, and support to families on a personal level.
Mamma Ann is a volunteer. I met Mamma Ann as she was meeting with one of the care groups and teaching them on a technique of water harvesting we are working to implement in their village. I joined the group looking over the water pan - a large rectangular pan-shaped hole dug in the ground with a rock-base bottom, located on a slope to catch the rain water as it runs down the hill and through the soil. The water is collected and used for irrigation of crops that are planted with a smaller water pan around them to soak up the water. This technique has proven to be successful in an area that suffers from frequent droughts and is sustainable with little resources in remote villages. A simple concept, but for the most vulnerable and in such a remote area, the little resources it takes to to create are not always available. I look down and the soil is course, dry. I trip on the rock bed that has broken through the surface. Our organization will provide the plastic sheeting to line the water pan the community has dug. Mamma Ann will teach and provide assistance as this new technique to harvest water and sustain small household crops is introduced. The water pan is but one project the care group program is working with. Others include integrating participants with our livestock and animal husbandry projects - providing an opportunity of livelihood, increased income and ownership within their communities. Livestock could be chickens, goats, African honey bees or even rabbits (through the local schools and youth program).
Woven in the center of the care group program is an opportunity for ministry.
Mamma Ann is a born-again Christian. She is also married to a Muslim man who practices polygamy. Her husband has multiple wives and many children. They all live on the same compound together. You can imagine her position. Mamma Ann's responsibilities to her family are a full time job. Even so, she volunteers her time diligently and with much joy as a care group coordinator - caring for others who are dying from a stigmatized disease, a disease no one wants to talk about, live around, or assist with. The obvious question is why - why does she volunteer? I want to know how - how does a woman in her circumstance find the strength, the grace, and the compassion to continue to give? Mamma Ann is living out her faith. Literally digging trenches to provide water for life. And while providing support to care for the most ill & discarded, she encourages hope.
"'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,' says the Lord." Zach 4:6.
Remarkable.
Mar 31, 2011
Mar 25, 2011
pick up your mat and walk.
“’Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’” John 5:7
Our study this morning was on John chapter 5. To quick recap: a disabled man lay near the healing pool in Bethesda, 38 years he waits for someone to assist him into the healing waters so he may walk. Jesus comes and asks him if he wants to be healed. He answers (7) “yes, but I have no one to help me; someone else always gets in first.” Jesus replies (8): “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” We each had different interpretations of what this implies. The study was on dependency and how so many communities in developing countries become dependent on foreign aid; the endless question of what can be done to stop the destructive cycle, but also continue to assist when immediate needs are critical. A colleague interpreted the passage more personally; sharing that sometimes we pray and ask for something with a specific answer in mind. Often, we do not see outside of our box, our thoughts of which solution is best, and miss completely that our prayers have already been answered. Often our healing and assistance may be found right in front of us. We only need to get up, pick up that which we have been lying on, and walk.
In regards to the question on development and outside aid to a community – how do you assist without creating dependence? I believe it is how we work amongst and within communities. Do we view people as beneficiaries, accepting handouts? Or do we ask them to participate in projects, develop ownership, building up leaders from within to ensure sustainability after the project has exited. I want to believe that organizations in international development are putting first the needs of communities and working from within, all the while assessing the impact each project brings. The future effects of bringing in foreign aid and introducing new “sustainable” options to the numerous needs we see around the world - this impact is important. I want to believe - that respect, dignity and basic human rights are being forthright and foremost in each project that is designed and carried through. I want to believe - that vulnerable adults, women, and children are all given priority care and not forgotten in the shadows. I want to believe there is good in people and in work that is done in another’s name. I at times do not see this happening and often feel as if I am laying by the poolside waiting for the miracle worker to show me the healing waters, the magic solution that will cure it all. The answer to the ageless question of how to help without creating dependency; without making the hurt and suffering and lack of self-empowerment worse.
“Get up! Pick up your mat, and walk.” This is what we can do.
Our study this morning was on John chapter 5. To quick recap: a disabled man lay near the healing pool in Bethesda, 38 years he waits for someone to assist him into the healing waters so he may walk. Jesus comes and asks him if he wants to be healed. He answers (7) “yes, but I have no one to help me; someone else always gets in first.” Jesus replies (8): “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” We each had different interpretations of what this implies. The study was on dependency and how so many communities in developing countries become dependent on foreign aid; the endless question of what can be done to stop the destructive cycle, but also continue to assist when immediate needs are critical. A colleague interpreted the passage more personally; sharing that sometimes we pray and ask for something with a specific answer in mind. Often, we do not see outside of our box, our thoughts of which solution is best, and miss completely that our prayers have already been answered. Often our healing and assistance may be found right in front of us. We only need to get up, pick up that which we have been lying on, and walk.
In regards to the question on development and outside aid to a community – how do you assist without creating dependence? I believe it is how we work amongst and within communities. Do we view people as beneficiaries, accepting handouts? Or do we ask them to participate in projects, develop ownership, building up leaders from within to ensure sustainability after the project has exited. I want to believe that organizations in international development are putting first the needs of communities and working from within, all the while assessing the impact each project brings. The future effects of bringing in foreign aid and introducing new “sustainable” options to the numerous needs we see around the world - this impact is important. I want to believe - that respect, dignity and basic human rights are being forthright and foremost in each project that is designed and carried through. I want to believe - that vulnerable adults, women, and children are all given priority care and not forgotten in the shadows. I want to believe there is good in people and in work that is done in another’s name. I at times do not see this happening and often feel as if I am laying by the poolside waiting for the miracle worker to show me the healing waters, the magic solution that will cure it all. The answer to the ageless question of how to help without creating dependency; without making the hurt and suffering and lack of self-empowerment worse.
“Get up! Pick up your mat, and walk.” This is what we can do.
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