We recently took a trip to a dam/watering hole that SMRC started for the community. We drove most of the way along the rocky dirt road, but decided to walk 2-3 km the rest of the way to the dam.
Along the way I saw a lady up ahead walking without shoes on, carrying something over her head. When we caught up with her I learned that she walked all the way to Mariakani to buy flour. Mariakani is about 15 km away. It was incredible that this woman walked hours one way just to get that flour; and barefoot on top of that.
Now what is the definition of living and surviving? Are these people really living their lives or simply making ends meet in order to do it all over again the next day?
American society, for the most part, allows us to live. We have the luxury of doing fun things like vacations, while also getting a great education and becoming successful in a profession. We are able to have "toys" like big cars, iPods, Blackberrys, HDTVs, and laptops...all accessories that allow us to enjoy life, and have fun living.
Do they have that here? It is often said that ignorance is bliss, but in reality what are they surviving for? Do they want to survive to achieve more? Is it just too hard? The lady who walked to Mariakani for flour...what is she surviving for? Family? Children? About every two days she will walk a couple hours, just to get the most basic food to survive and get to the next day so they can do it all over again? And this is not an exception; most people are in the same situation living in mud huts, walking hours to fetch dirty water every morning and simply working to feed their children and themselves. Some dont have enough money to buy toilet paper or foot apparel; two things Americans cannot live without. Now that sounds like surviving to me.
The funny thing is, it happened by chance for almost all of these people. They were born here, in Gotani, Kayafungo Kenya in a developing nation living in mud huts while I was born in Naugatuck, CT USA living and growing up in a life that I have been have to fully live. Why? Chance? It just happens?
This is why I have a moral obligation to help people in the developing world in anyway that I can. If I were in their position, I would hope for the same. It do this because last night, as I lay in a mud hut with my headlight on in the middle of Kayafungo Kenya I had an excess of hosptiality all around me. Today I woke up at 6am to help farm with the family. I am exicited and thrilled to be here.
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