With Will God gives a Way

After long conversations on the bus and after the bus and during lunch, my being felt overwhelmed with all that the MH community needed.  I felt like that typical American who wanted to just come in and fix everything with a blind eye. Although, I know how to tame the idealist and turn her into the realist quickly. Priscilla is about 10 years ahead of the junior humanitarians.

After one of my community chats with Mrs. Francis-she brought me right back into reality and regained my focus. They needed my expertise, my attention, my psych social education- not my pocket book. 

Still, I was thinking of how much of my expertise I could put to use in short time. Could I apply for a grant or get a sponsor? Of course it would not happen in 2 weeks, but could I start establishing those contacts?  A computer her could help gaining resources and applying for grants. Then the 4 computers for the center would come later.

As I analyzed myself the next day, I realized my heart was getting involved as I was emotionally connecting to her words and wanting to be super woman. 

Mrs. Francis was right it was time to work with these children, youth, and mothers. Talk with the mothers about parenting, abuse, youth address violence and anger, and kids learning activities to identify feelings and social skills. Home visits into the homes to see the family dynamics, talk with the Pastor, explore the community supports and emphasize them- oh there was enough group for at least 10 therapists. 

With the kids being out of school and the Christian camp just ended, it was clear what we needed to do. 

We have all these kids out of school and we need them to come together to do group activities. Mrs. Ravel said that she received a sponsor last summer who gave her money for snacks and supplies to keep the kids busy, but she did not hear back yet to see if they could assist this year, but she said with confidence, "We don't need them."

I looked at this woman with such admiration in my eyes. 

"You're right, we don't need them."

 "What do we have for supplies." 

"We have markers, paper, some tissue paper, and crayons. We have the church space that was given to us by the Pastor. There is no electricity though so we would have to finish before dark. Is that okay for you? 

"Let's do it. We can work with what we have and I'll just have to be extra creative." 

Mrs. Ravel went around the neighborhood by bike to tell everyone we were having a summer camp for a week and a half.  It's name was Believe in Me Summer camp:)