Almost over :(

I cannot believe that I go home in 2 days! This has been the quickest month of my life. I have made so many amazing friends that I already miss so much and I haven’t even left yet. Everyone has such amazing hearts and passions for life. I also decided that Africans are the most beautiful people in the world! Seriously, everyone I meet is like super beautiful, lol, it is slightly annoying haha :P. I am going to miss every part of my experience here, and am already trying to plan when I can come back! :)
This past week has been insane. I am trying to do so much, and see everyone before I go back! A huge challenge for me this week has been home visits. I have been going everyday with Patrick to visit the homes of kids who need sponsors, so that we can get their information and pictures in order to make them portfolios. The poverty here is completely overwhelming. Along with that, my heart breaks every time I hear the stories of these families. I think we all have a stereotype of Africa, and we’ve all heard the same stories about the people living here, but we never think twice about it. But, being here, entering the homes of these families, and kids that I know personally, and hearing their stories, is truly life changing. Yesterday, Patrick and I went to the home of a little boy named Peter. He is 6 years old and lives with his mother and 3 year old sister. His father died two years ago, leaving the family with no income, and the mother can rarely find work. Often the only food that Peter receives is when he attends school and gets porridge in the morning and beans in the afternoon. Both Peter and his mother are HIV positive. Because of his illness he is often unable to attend school, and often does not have any food.
I have visited about ten homes in that past two days and heard several stories both very similar and very different from Peter’s. The reason I wanted to briefly talk about Peter is because he was the only child we visited who was not completely thrilled and excited to hear about the possibility of getting a sponsor. He feels defeated, he feels like there is no hope for him and that nothing will improve in his life. Patrick told him that everything would be okay, but he has no reason to believe that. How many 6 year olds do you know with this fear?
Sponsoring a kid like Peter not only allows him to go to school and receive food, but it gives him hope and shows him that his life can change. I really hope somebody would be willing to sponsor Peter and give him some hope, along with all the other kids! :)

Zana Community Childrens Center Project

Here are a few examples of some of the jewelry we have already made at the school....but there are tons more! And more variety as well! :)
--These are African Wood necklaces, and paper bead necklaces. The beads are paper and made from a specific tree here. They are hand rolled and dipped in varnish (for coloring) by the kids and then made into beads! :) Beautiful.