בלגן

This has been a crazy week. After I got back Tel Aviv, I was deeply saddened to hear that Tygist, a teenager from Ethiopia, had passed away. I met her briefly when arrived at the house; everyone loved her. I noticed one night she looked ill, and fatigued.  Later that night she vomited blood, which is really bad for someone with MS. She went to the hospital, and never returned. Although I did not know her for long, I know she was an amazing girl.

Tension was high in the house that day. Everyone was on edge, including myself. On top of that, the house mom was sick that day, so it was just me in the house with the patients and nurses.  Later that day a Romanian man came to SACH with bags of food and candy. He explained how he bought one bag for everyone, and then each Romanian child got her own special bag. I did not see a problem with this, as long as the Romanians kept this loot in their own rooms. Of course, they did not. Every 10 minutes little Allina was coming downstairs with a new piece of candy that no one else got. I asked her mom where she was getting this candy. This conversation somehow turned into an argument with me and 3 Romanian mothers. They kept yelling at me saying "This food for ROMANIANS, for US!" Eventually we settled it out.

Yesterday, the house mom was sick again. Just me, and the kids. Thankfully all the mothers and nurses work together to make everything go smoothly. I have really bonded with the nurses coming from Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. They all have kids of their own, and have been away from them for several weeks, even months. It made my day when Pascar (from Ethiopia) asked me why I'm not extending my time here at SACH. She said out of all the volunteers she's met, I spend the most time with the kids, including eating meals with them. Looking back at my first couple days here, I can't believe how close I've grown with everyone. Last night for dinner, the Zanzibar mothers insisted I try "Chapati" the most delicious flatbread, naturally drenched in oil!

 I have noticed the 7 new kids from Zanzibar are quite aggressive! The 16-year old in the picture, Daifat, seems to put the other boys in their place! Because Zanzibar consists of tight-nit communities, word spreads about SACH and its generosity. Daifat keeps asking me and some other volunteers for money, and clothes.  Even one of the mothers kept asking me for my sweater! (This is not allowed btw).

The boy in the red jacket is Eliasa.  This is Eliasa's second time at SACH. He needed follow-up surgery. I thought I'd point out to him a moth sitting on the wall outside. What he did with it, I did not expect. He grabbed the moth, crushed it with his bare hands, and then attempted to chase me with it. Naturally I screamed and ran away. He ended up chucking it over the gate. No more moth..

Below is Issa. He is a very sweet boy. I always joke with him that I want his jacket (it's super cool), he definitely thinks I'm a nut! I was SO impressed when he turned a simple paint pallet into this:

I can only imagine the what these kids are capable of if they were given the same opportunities as we were. Some of these kids grow up with only a couple toys, and definitely nothing like the supplies we provide for them.

Thankfully the house mom is back today! She is such an incredible person, and does everything she can to make sure things run smoothly, and that all the kids have equal opportunities. One night she came rushing from home, late in the evening, when she got word one of the nurse's wanted to travel to the West Bank in the morning. She came back to make sure her passport would be available to her if needed  (The nurse did not know she might need her passport).. The nurse didn't even know about this. As my mama says, the nicest actions are those which are anonymous; one with no expectations for anything in return.

Tomorrow I will go to the hospital with adorable little Allina. Her sister is in the hospital right now preparing for heart surgery. Her mother is with her sister, leaving Allina alone at the house. Thankfully she is in good hands :). Everyone takes care of everyone, regardless of race, religion, language, etc.

Tonight I am looking forward to watch the Rosebowl at an American bar in Tel Aviv. GO BADGERS!!!


XO from the holy land