A few random thoughts ....

The past 2 days have been filled with new experiences for each of us. As we debrief in the car on the way home we all have some similar observations to make and questions to ask. Some things we have been struck by:
1. The dichotomy of the dire poverty and squalid living conditions and the bright-eyed smiles on the people and their cheery greetings for us.
2. Going to bed last night, mildly complaining about how very cold it was as we burrowed under mounds of blankets and then recalling the children we had visited with during the day whose "houses" had windows without glass in them and a curtain covering the front door. How were those little ones staying warm?
3. How do you reconcile with yourself the sight of a little boy, Emmanuel, who we thought was approx 2 yrs. old, and then find out he's 4 but very malnourished? Or 5 year old David with his huge smile and hugs and HIVAIDs; and he's only one of many with this afliction? Or little girls only 4 or 5 themselves, carrying their younger siblings on their back because they are the mother to that child now that the biological mother has died of HIVAIDs?
4. Being overcome by the great need here and feeling somehow that the team building program we begin tomorrow perhaps isn't something of priority and probably more "practical" training is what's really needed; only to meet with John and Prya to review our program and realize that it's exactly what the team at Isubilo is wanting and looking forward to - not only better communication among the team, but especially building up of the team, realizing each individual has an important part to play and is valued because of it. Our thinking changed in a hurry with the realization that we are exactly where we are meant to be at this time.