So two things you need to know about me for this story.
1) I LOVE Ethiopian children! I think Paul's biggest fear regarding Ethiopia is that he will arrive here and find I've already adopted (or otherwise procured) a small family of children. This may be because I've been talking about how cute Ethiopian children are since I've found out I am coming here. And because I keep sending him pictures of Ethiopian kids, many from adoption websites. Or maybe because I keep saying how great it would be to adopt an Ethiopian child. But I digress.....
2) I also LOVE Luna bars. I always have at least one on me! But I didn't bring many here because they tend to melt.
Anyways, in my time wondering the streets so far I've been bombarded by kids asking for money. I know not to give them any, because it just promotes further street begging, and the kids usually don't get to keep the money anyway. In Thailand and while traveling around Asia I used to always try to have some sort of food on me to give the street kids. I plan to do the same here, as well as find the local organization that provides meal tickets that can be bought and given out, but its only day 2! So I've had 2 days of having to say no to kids who beg for money, which is heart breaking in so many ways. Besides just begging, some of the kids here are really aggressive, shouting "give me money" and stopping right in front of me so I have to walk around them. There are no words to explain how difficult it is to know that I can't, no matter how much I want, help each child.
Today was different. While walking home a small boy with the largest smile I've ever seen ran along beside me. He held his hand out and when I shook my head no he just continued to smile and run. I looked for a place to buy fruit or a snack, but we didn't pass anything open on Sunday. This went on for about 5 minutes when I crossed a busy intersection and he didn't follow. He just stopped and continued smiling. It was then that I realized I DID have food with me. My last Luna Bar! As if he knew I was going to crack he looked at me, still grinning, as I walked back to give him the precious Luna Bar. I'm not sure he knew what it was, and he definitely didn't know how stupidly expensive one of those things cost at Whole Foods, but he smiled even wider as he ran away.
The problem always is, you can't help everybody. A few blocks later, I walked past a mother and her small daughter, who was dressed all in pink, also asking for money. Now anyone who knows me knew I was going to be a sucker for this situation, so I went to a nearby kiosk and bought the girl some snacks and some water. Except other children saw me. It was a long, heartbreaking walk home.
I've learned I need to find the organization, Hope Enterprise, that provides meal tickets for foods. I've also been reinvigorated for work tomorrow, as I hope the work I will do will have an impact in reducing the dire poverty, especially for mothers and children. Speaking of work, tomorrow is my first day! There will be lots to tell soon.
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