Call 911 and step over the body !

I received a letter from my Mom today... she of course has been following the blog, and she sent me a little advice after reading a few of the stories .....

"I remember the advice given to me from A.A. when we were at the height of our involvement with helping alcoholics at the motel. I was horrified by it but once I calmed down, it made sense - It was - "Dial 911, step over the body and have a good day." In other words, get the person the best help you have at hand and then get on with your life doing what you are called to do."

This is actually a practice that I have begun.... I was starting to get a little concerned that I am becoming desensitized to things here... maybe I am becoming hardened... but every now and then I realize that I am still vulnerable. maybe it is just how I am learning to prioritize.... ... I had a heart crushing moment today... A man that we have been trying to help made a Bad choice... We have been trying to help his family for a long time. He has a large family, and our lives have become so entwined, that some of his kids I feel like and treat like they are my own... All of our workers have given extra attention to try to bring stability to this family.... Yesterday, Gengish was able to make a break through with the father, and the father asked if he could please join Gengishes rehab program... This is the breakthrough I have been waiting for for a long time... We now have a starting place to begin restoration.... Today he went to the centre, had lunch and decided that he was not staying, and went home.... When his son met up with us in the capital city an hour later, I took one look at him and I could feel that crushing blow...Everyone says that sober , the Papa is a wonderful caring man..... my question is ... is it not that sober caring wonderful man that takes the first drink that brings carnage and destruction to those he loves... is this the sign of a good man ? ..... I guess I need to just call 911 and step over the body..... that does not mean that we are not devastated, but until he "comes to himself" there is nothing more that I can do for him, and I can't let him distract me from the rest of the day... I just waisted two trips to the city on him.... I don't have that kind of time ... there are to many others that are ripe for the harvest.

Like this man

How many times do we pass men like this in the front of the bazaar... they push themselves around on little carts they have made, and beg for money.... today with our friend Kyle, we did not walk past, we stopped and made a difference.....

Friends of Kyle's have brought over 150 of these incredible little carts to town.... They are made of wood with a light steal and aluminum frame... they are hand propelled, and have large wheelbarrow tires to navigate the rough terrain here .... the cart is put together and modified specifically to fit the individual...

in the back there is a large space to carry groceries and supplies... this means that rather then just sitting at the front of the market begging, they can run a small business helping people with their shopping and carrying their groceries.... I will be trying to schedule a clinic in town in the next couple weeks to fit a bunch of adults and kids for their own carts.....

Tonight it was off to the invalid home for a visit and a celebration of the new room .... The nurses were as excited as the men to see us today, and some of them have even volunteered to come and work with us where ever we go.....
We brought Ice cream for everyone, and packages of pastry, apples, socks and candy...

Here is our friend that is newly up and around out of his wheel chair... he was dancing to the music that Larisa's Family sang for them

Not to be out done, this man threw down his crutches and began to dance .... 278 men watched as he took his first steps

We seem to be getting a collection of extra wheelchairs and crutches here if you hear of anyone that needs them...... it is amazing what happens when you shine a little light into the dark corners.... HOPE is an amazing thing.......

Before we left, a couple of men wanted to sing for us.... it was such a great night.... This place that was such a dark spot is very quickly becoming a light to others... I can't remember if I have shared about my taxi driver Almos.... with out Julie and the girls here, many times, the bus is a little to big, so I have been using a taxi... I found this taxi driver that has been such a blessing to me... something in his being bears whiteness with mine.... Tonight as we were VISITING, with the men, I looked across the room, and Almos was TALKING to one of the men.... tears were streaming down the mans face as Almose spoke life into this man ..... It is no coincidence that he is working as a driver for us... that I am sure of.... HE gets it!

Tomorrow morning I am going early back to the village to let the parents of the little boy with the cleft pallet know that the operation has been fully sponsored for their son, and that the top cleft pallet surgeon in the country has seen the photo's we gave him, and that surgery has been scheduled for Monday morning... We also have sponsorship money in transit for an operation for a shunt for a Hydrocephalus baby that is in need.... I will share more about this in a post dedicated to this issue as it is something that I have developed a burden for, and I feel needs to be addressed more, but for Today, WE CAN AND WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.....