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A Sign Sparks Emotional Response-
Now That Spark Is A Flame!, 7/4/2009
NOBODY’S CHILDREN
We first reported these words found spray painted on the side of a train car prior to the refugee camps being built many years ago. The train lacked toilets and big rats were running everywhere outside. Inside the cars blankets separated families living in the cars with temperatures soaring to 120 degrees in the summer. Such oppressive heat I never want to experience again. Using the analogy of living like sardines is way to kind amongst the clutter they endure. Are you starting to get the picture of stench and filth in this stifling heat? The government eventually was ashamed and moved the refugees into camps. The locals could not understand why they did not go home. The answer is quite easy. Just as after a war our veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, so do some of these families. Others do not want to return to their mixed ethnic village where their neighbors were trying to kill them just a few years ago, and who can blame them? Passions and memories run deep in this part of the world where two world wars started and even before that the great clashes with the Ottoman Empire which eventually conquered the area for some time.
Our mission dedication came after we learned of this situation and witnessed firsthand these less than adequate living conditions. Our initial opinion was, Ok, let us help them restore some dignity. Provide medical care; give them some food, clothing, shoes and transportation via bicycles along with other needs either through our observation or requests by the residents as long as it is within a reasonable limit. Today, we still provide services where we can within the political and financial limitations we encounter.
Next year will be the ten year anniversary of providing assistance. It is hard to believe that the war will be over 15 years and some families have lived under those harsh conditions even longer.What makes this even more difficult is the stark realization that these people were just like most of us, middle class with a nice home and nice belongings. We are not going into a region that has never seen clean comfortable bathrooms or lived in pretty homes with colorful flowers planted in rows outside. Suddenly,the reality of going backwards in life hits home hard, very hard. So hard in fact that to comprehend what you are witnessing one has to place yourself in their condition. Hard isn't it? What would you do? Would you be depressed living in a one room tin hut with a bare light bulb having a curtain separate your one bed and four kids of varying ages from the living room all crammed in a room the size of a one car garage? Where do you go to find peace and quiet? Where does your daughter go to find privacy? How does this gnaw at your inner most being? Do you think you would sit and cry as hopelessness creeps in? Now you know why our motto is "Sharing Treasures, Providing Hope". In this case sometimes hope is just being there showing you care, a smile, a touch, a hug, a promise to return, to never forget. Letting them know someone out there actually cares, lifts the spirit to endure another day. This year why don't you come with us and make a difference?
There is a special melancholy feeling that comes over me and envelops my being when I visit the camps in the late fall. My mind automatically replays images and flash backs to an old time song and the tune plays over and over in my head. It has haunted me so during the years since that first visit. I can’t look at the snow or hear carols being sung without thinking what must it be like to live in a tiny one room tin hut without a bathrooms in the winter? So overwhelmingly strong was that initial thought like a CD on automatic replay that I named a program to build a home after that song. The song is called” I’ll be home for Christmas”(if only in my dreams) and that quite frankly, was all they had---- their dreams.
There are other needs outside of the camp situation. There is a village called Mothers Village where mothers take refuge from being abused. The village concept has orphans living with an unwed expectant mother and or abused mothers. Children there can live in peace and exist in a wonderful spiritual environment. There is also a section for young men who wish to become clean of drugs. We met the young men and all of these people that live in Mothers Village while in Medjugorje.
We marveled at how well the relationships were and the respect of the young men we met. Fr. Kennedy stated “I am totally surprised how well behaved and polite these former drug addicts were during our visit. Unlike any experience anyone had here in the U.S. in similar conditions.
We played baseball with the children and some of the adults wanted to learn and so they joined in as well. It was refreshing to hear the sound of young people laughter and giggles that became contagious to us all. We hated to leave for the experience recharged our batteries as well as those in residence.
There is a serious need for detergent, bicycles, underwear and shoes for the older children. Young infants can use anything diapers, powder, clothing.
Adults can use just about anything underwear and depends, shoes, and the basics toothbrushes tooth paste, sunglasses. However, the underlying poverty is the obvious need for food and basic medical care.
To tell the entire story would take volumes. Our programs evolved with each passing day we worked in those camps. Programs such as Home or Christmas, Academics in Progress, Pedals Around the World, Book bags for Bosnia, Baby shower for Bosnia are just a few. All of our programs are listed on the home page. We have documented many times the story of the sign “Nobody’s Children” and the how the condition is “Flying Below the Worlds Radar. We have asked for action not empathy and we are pleased to announce that we are starting to make headway in raising awareness for next year’s May 2010 mission.
"Pedals Around The World" is a wonderful program for gently used bicycles. This September 19th we are having a Tour de Bucks ride with four separate distances to enter and we also are having a 3 mile walk! In addition to this event we are working on a bike ride in Bosnia for our May trip that will be extra special. Bicycles will be given away at each of our "Pedals" events to predetermined needy children.
Maggie Kay has written an article called “Nobody’s Children” based on the information I have given her along with a Dr. DiPalma who had just returned from Medjugorje this spring. Maggie was so moved by the story she put together she now wishes to join us in May of 2010.
A special thank you to Maggie for her efforts from all of us at HWIP!
We are posting Maggie Kay’s “Nobody’s Children” with the following permission. Reprinted with permission from the American Podiatric Medical Association
Please read Maggie’s great article.
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