I saw the saddest thing I have ever seen in my life today.
When we first got here we met Limon. We noticed him immediately because he is outside on the street by himself all the time. He is naked and dirty. He also has two large bumps on his forehead and he is almost deaf. We also noticed how he was tormented by children and even adults all day long. We also noticed his mom beating him a lot. Of course, it's just heart breaking to see all of that. Ever since we've been here we've been trying to figure out how to help him, how to make sure he's not picked on, how to get his mom to treat him kindly, how to make sure he's fed during the day, how to get him to a doctor. We've had a lot of confusion with people and misunderstanding. His mom has almost seemed terrified of us, and we have tried to communicate to her somehow that she is our friend and we want to help her and her son. She seemed distrustful though, and it didn't seem like she understood us. We've noticed though, that Limon isn't the only one mistreated. His mom is just as heart breaking as he is. She is tiny- she looks malnourished and sickly. I think she's fairly young but I think she looks old because she's not very healthy. She works for some people who seem pretty abusive. From what we have understood her husband abandoned her and their son and married someone else in another country. I don't think anyone here shows Hassina love or kindness. And, she has seemed so hardened that I have even been afraid to talk to her. Until the other day when she randomly came to our door and told us it would be okay for us to take Limon to the hospital. She seemed excited, hopeful and trusting. She told us she would leave Limon on the street, that we should pick him up, take him to the hospital and then leave him on the street when we came back. And that we should not tell anybody. I don't understand it all... but, she came today to ask about us taking him to the doctor again. She gave Austin a number where we could contact her if we need to. She had a tiny piece of paper tied into a not on her scarf. The woman seems terrified of whoever it is she works for, and she does everything in secret. She gave Austin the number to put into his phone and then asked if he would call it to see if it works. She got so excited and reached for the phone. It's hard to understand because I don't know what she's saying... but, it seemed like she hadn't talked to these people in a very long time. She started talking away and then we heard her burst out sobbing saying, "Oh baba!!"... calling out to her father wherever he is. Oh. It was awful to see. We all started crying seeing such a poor, wretched woman. I don't think I'll ever forget it. After she finished talking she sat down on the couch and started sobbing again on mom's shoulder... I can't describe how heart breaking it was to see. I wonder when the last time was that Hassina saw someone crying for her.. Mom said, "If we only came just so Hassina could make a phone call to her family- it would be worth it." And, it's true. It has been worth it.
I hope I am forever impacted by what I have seen here. I hope it is changing me. I am thankful that I was here today to cry for Hassina.
When we first got here we met Limon. We noticed him immediately because he is outside on the street by himself all the time. He is naked and dirty. He also has two large bumps on his forehead and he is almost deaf. We also noticed how he was tormented by children and even adults all day long. We also noticed his mom beating him a lot. Of course, it's just heart breaking to see all of that. Ever since we've been here we've been trying to figure out how to help him, how to make sure he's not picked on, how to get his mom to treat him kindly, how to make sure he's fed during the day, how to get him to a doctor. We've had a lot of confusion with people and misunderstanding. His mom has almost seemed terrified of us, and we have tried to communicate to her somehow that she is our friend and we want to help her and her son. She seemed distrustful though, and it didn't seem like she understood us. We've noticed though, that Limon isn't the only one mistreated. His mom is just as heart breaking as he is. She is tiny- she looks malnourished and sickly. I think she's fairly young but I think she looks old because she's not very healthy. She works for some people who seem pretty abusive. From what we have understood her husband abandoned her and their son and married someone else in another country. I don't think anyone here shows Hassina love or kindness. And, she has seemed so hardened that I have even been afraid to talk to her. Until the other day when she randomly came to our door and told us it would be okay for us to take Limon to the hospital. She seemed excited, hopeful and trusting. She told us she would leave Limon on the street, that we should pick him up, take him to the hospital and then leave him on the street when we came back. And that we should not tell anybody. I don't understand it all... but, she came today to ask about us taking him to the doctor again. She gave Austin a number where we could contact her if we need to. She had a tiny piece of paper tied into a not on her scarf. The woman seems terrified of whoever it is she works for, and she does everything in secret. She gave Austin the number to put into his phone and then asked if he would call it to see if it works. She got so excited and reached for the phone. It's hard to understand because I don't know what she's saying... but, it seemed like she hadn't talked to these people in a very long time. She started talking away and then we heard her burst out sobbing saying, "Oh baba!!"... calling out to her father wherever he is. Oh. It was awful to see. We all started crying seeing such a poor, wretched woman. I don't think I'll ever forget it. After she finished talking she sat down on the couch and started sobbing again on mom's shoulder... I can't describe how heart breaking it was to see. I wonder when the last time was that Hassina saw someone crying for her.. Mom said, "If we only came just so Hassina could make a phone call to her family- it would be worth it." And, it's true. It has been worth it.
I hope I am forever impacted by what I have seen here. I hope it is changing me. I am thankful that I was here today to cry for Hassina.
