Just walking across this IDP camp is an overwhelming exercise...My mind struggles with trying to envision 'solutions' to the simplest of the problems these kids face...lost or dead parents...disruption of all schooling...fear and insecurity...constant hunger...sickness and disease...
Blankets and water and toilets certainly help, but the kind of emotional garbage that begins to collect when you have this many thousands of kids just living in survival mode...what about their dreams?...what about their nurturing?...what about their health, inside and out?I just look at a 2 year old sitting in the mud outside a tattered tarp and grass dwelling and wonder...'who deserves that?'
Not that all these kids came from the most wonderful settings BEFORE all of this chaos, but at least some of them were with their mom, some of them slept in safety and security, and some of them had enough food to fight a fair fight against hunger and disease...
Some things just shouldn't be.
But if I stay in that place...of 'this isn't fair'...'this isn't right'...then I get close to SHUT DOWN MODE.
We can't solve this mess, but we CAN serve and bring some measure of comfort to these kids.
'Even a cold cup of water in My Name'
