Random #2
The Half the Sky documentary was hard to take in. I couldn't help but remember a family friend's story. She has always loved to travel and at a young age fell in love with India. She went on countless trips to villages in the middle of nowhere to work with kids as a volunteer. There she experienced horror stories. Once a baby was crying and would not stop. Her starving and ignorant parents thought she was possessed and kept beating her. A volunteer heard of the child and went to see her and realized the baby was starving. The volunteer then put a bit of lentils in the child's mouth, which she devoured instantly and stopped crying. The baby was starving and the parents did not understand that she just needed food.
Although this is a heartbreaking story, as I can just imagine what the life of this child will turn out to be. There is more to my friend's story than volunteer trips. On one of these trips, she decided to adopt a child. She had fallen in love with a little girl with parents that did not care for her, but after years of trying could not adopt her. She was determined to adopt either way. She couldn't save this girl, but she would save another. After years of paperwork and meetings (it is very difficult to adopt children from India), she managed to adopt a girl.
When she first came to live with her, the child had still memories of her terrible time at the orphanage in India. She would disappear off my friend's sight and then be found on her knees cleaning the bathroom's floor. It was the girl's job at the orphanage to clean the bathroom, and she would get badly beaten and punished if she didn't do it right. But after a couple of months, the little girl had forgotten all about her life in India and was now the happiest kid I have ever known. The expression of joy and gratefulness in that little girl's face is unforgettable. She is very well behaved and receives every gift as small as it may be with such gratitude and happiness.
Her start in life was tough, but it does not define her. She has been given the opportunity to live a life most of the other kids in that orphanage could not dream of. She is a strong little girl, and her attitude towards life is admirable. Seeing her, so happy and grateful for everything makes me wonder about myself, and my own attitude towards life.
We have the advantage, a world full of open doors and opportunities. We can't be blinded by envy of those who have more. Instead, we must be grateful to be where we are and take advantage of what we have been given.
Although this is a heartbreaking story, as I can just imagine what the life of this child will turn out to be. There is more to my friend's story than volunteer trips. On one of these trips, she decided to adopt a child. She had fallen in love with a little girl with parents that did not care for her, but after years of trying could not adopt her. She was determined to adopt either way. She couldn't save this girl, but she would save another. After years of paperwork and meetings (it is very difficult to adopt children from India), she managed to adopt a girl.
When she first came to live with her, the child had still memories of her terrible time at the orphanage in India. She would disappear off my friend's sight and then be found on her knees cleaning the bathroom's floor. It was the girl's job at the orphanage to clean the bathroom, and she would get badly beaten and punished if she didn't do it right. But after a couple of months, the little girl had forgotten all about her life in India and was now the happiest kid I have ever known. The expression of joy and gratefulness in that little girl's face is unforgettable. She is very well behaved and receives every gift as small as it may be with such gratitude and happiness.
Her start in life was tough, but it does not define her. She has been given the opportunity to live a life most of the other kids in that orphanage could not dream of. She is a strong little girl, and her attitude towards life is admirable. Seeing her, so happy and grateful for everything makes me wonder about myself, and my own attitude towards life.
We have the advantage, a world full of open doors and opportunities. We can't be blinded by envy of those who have more. Instead, we must be grateful to be where we are and take advantage of what we have been given.
Wow, thank you for sharing your friends story. If only the world had more people like her willing to act rather than curl back to the comfort of our country. I've heard some terrible stories about things that go on in this sex trade, because I have friends who work for difference gov agencies relay them to me, and all it ever does is infuriate me. I have another friend who runs marathons and raises money for organizations that combat the sex trade. Maybe you can find your own way to do something about this, and that way you will have your own story.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was really hard to watch the documentary. It's upsetting to see how there are so many issues out there. All it takes is an individual to change one person's life, in order to change many more. Thanks for sharing your friend's story. I believe that one impact on the little girl's life could be the start to something greater, if others can see that they too can help make a difference.
ReplyDeleteThis is so heartbreaking! I agree that the documentary was really powerful and heartbreaking. It is so sad that people don't have the resources to know crucial pieces of information for health and safety. Thank you for sharing this story! Reading it was so intense but it's great that you were able to learn from one of your friends the reality of people's circumstances.
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