Today has, as usual been a day of extremes.
After visiting Smokey Mountain yesterday I had, kind of, assumed that everything else would be better! Then today we were taken to a bump site where Kanlungan have only recently started work. About 50 little shacks have been thrown together in a valley in the middle of a disused bump site (Closed because it didn't meet the city council's standards!) we visited as the rain was washing the mud and rubbish into the valley. Those of you who visited at Easter saw the other extreme of heat and dust. There is no power, water or sanitation and the community has been pretty much hidden from the world for about 8 years. Smokey mountain should not exist but at least there are signs of hope and regeneration there in the community. This place was so bleak. Kanlungan are currently feeding the 150 children twice a week but can not get permission from the landowner to build anything or do anymore. it's a start and something tells me that once Kanlungan gets teeth into the problem they won't rest untill things improve.
On the up side we visited the settlement which has been build for the community who used to live on the railway. It's a town of hundreds of identical little brick block rooms but there is a school and a feel of safety up there. We visited the homes of Tunasan children who have moved away from the railway and are now attending the school.
Spending time at Tunasan playing with the kids and watching the older boys at work producing Christmas cards was so encouraging. We've got a great selection of cards to bring back for sale in the UK. The income the boys get from the cards is going towards buying them shoes and school supplies for the coming term. They are so industrious, only stopping long enough to take part in presentation the whole group put on for us. We did another Adams family rendition of 'Shine'.
So it's bedtime now and tomorrow we do the out of town residential home, the farm and the boys home so it's going to be a long, long day.
love to you all,
Helen
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1 comment:
Hello to the Adams family. We miss you!!! Its great to hear what you are doing & seeing, & from your descriptions & remembering the photos you showed, I can imagine you there. Bless you all as you share love with everyone. It's good to know they are learning 'Shine'!!!
lots of love, Rachel & all the Grice family xx
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