What is shocking poverty? Walking yesterday with Fr Thadeus I saw again the scattered homes where people are living in the dusty land and scattered fields around here. American eyes see something like a waste land. I saw a boy and his dad out in what seem like the middle of nowhere using a hoe or kind of hoe fork to break down the soil to prepare for planting which every one is doing now because we are getting signs of the rains beginning. The houses are leftovers from when the state run cattle farms which failed to prosper faded away. They are a sight for our eyes but provide some shelter for the families who carry water on pails and things from the market on their head. The mothers leave there kids at home in the dust alone. 3year olds and 5 year olds which says something about the security of the place. What could anyone take. To them the dust the unpainted walls are just home. Father Thedeus talks with them jokes with them and makes the kids and mothers laugh. I am almost ashamed to take pictures lest I make them feel like an object of pity or anomaly or outrageous spectacle. Who am I to judge and project for them what I think is a way to live.
The good thing is that the less you have, the more you appreciate what you do have. We are spoiled!
ReplyDeleteWhile I was at the clinic, I saw the material poverty but I also saw something else, something we have lost. I like to tell about the day we walked to the village to tell the older children to bring the ones under 5 down for their vit. supplements and worm pill. I gave one 10 year old boy a piece of hard candy, he broke it in his teeth and handed it off to the little ones. When would he get another piece candy, but he never hesitated to share.
ReplyDeleteI never heard anyone complain or raise there voice in anger. Life is hard there esp. if they don't get enough rain, or if you are sick or injured but they pull together to help each other in ways you don't see in this country of over abundance.
Dad,
ReplyDeleteHow are you? I'm glad to read you are doing well, I finally made time to sign up for an account. Sounds like you are really enjoying your experience so far...mechanic, mason, fireman, exotic eater...who would not like it!
We enjoyed a really nice visit with Mark and Mimi the end of September, about the time you were leaving for your trip. The boys really enjoyed having them around. PopPop and I took the boys to the gym and did some gymnastic, they were having so much fun, we stayed for almost 2 hours. The boys spent the majority of the time in school, but did enjoy two day of goofing off in Seoul. We toured around and accidently ran into a military parade and multiple flyovers celebrating the day the Koreans recaptured Seoul from the north.
Jack is playing soccer and enjoying it very much. I think he enjoys chasing the girls on his team more than he enjoys the game itself. I keep telling him to focus, he replys back I am...just not on the game.
Nico is doing well in school. We are still focusing on his reading and writing. He struggles sometimes but had a really good progress report card, 90s and one 80%, so I was very happy with him. He really enjoys camping, so we went this past weekend for one night...we had a lot of fun.
Ry, is still the cutest little dude. He keeps his edge with his older brothers by being a tough little dude who knows how to make others laugh at him by being cute or saying something funny.
They still talk about the hole house and ask about going to visit Grandaddy and Abuela house. Nick was saying today how he wants to visit next summer when we leave. We are excited.
Well, Marcy is playing crud tonight with her friends. Tomorrow she has a big tournament at the O'club and she and the ladies are really fired up about it. Last year in the tournament, her team finished second to the Seoul Sisters, the wives of the guys stationed in Seoul. They have them marked for a serious grudge match. Marcy is one of the strongest players on her team, so I know she will do well and carry her team. Last year, she was the last girl left on her team, out numbered by 3 girls and she beat every last one of them....the girl has some game. She also raced a 10K last weekend before we went camping, she was pretty happy to finish because she wasn't training as much as she wanted. Overall, we are doing well, enjoying the wonderful experience we have here and our family.
Keep up the great work Dad, we all love you and miss talking to you so easily. Take care and God Bless,
Love, Jack