Five o'clock in the morning
she's up--
Darn early for a girl
who likes to sleep late
She's off to Baylor
with two of the babes from MIS
to wait in line
Lines begin early
5:00 a.m. is not too early
to wait
That was an early morning
Usually they leave our house
at about 7:00 a.m.
walking in the frosty morning
to grab the taxi
walking from the taxi to MIS
It's about a 45 minute trip
They're yawning and shivering
before they leave
but the kids at MIS are waiting
The kids
fill albums
Michelle with a photographer's eye
has captured the beauty of these kids
She paints a pristine world around them
They could be from a wealthy family
They look so beautiful...
children of privilege
Then the next photo paints them
in the real scene of MIS
dirty
crowded
too much pap and not enough nutrition
Not enough of anything
Annie tells me that these kids
likely never will be adopted
because they are not registered
with Social Welfare
In this society
where are they?
Who are they?
There are often no records
Records, for kids found
in pit toilets
in ditches
on roadsides
on doorsteps?
The detritus of despair
Perhaps rather than lack of care
Who cares?
Annie is in the baby room
and as I enter
I see her on the floor
surrounded by the children
She loves them
that is clear
She's nursed them
potty-trained them
cuddled their tears away
held them close
so close every day
that she lives with chronic
ring-worm
Just a by-product of
affection here
Strange ring of love
Strange love
these girls have found here
Strange love
they have given
these two--only 18 and 21
They are an anomaly
from their community
where girls their age
get married
have babies
"Of their own"
But here they are
in Lesotho
at MIS
and with us
sharing our home
They have become more than house mates
they inspire me
with their energy
with their passion
with their courage
with their giving hearts
They are the bright future of a global dream
They, and their kind, are the seed of hope for a better world
They have reached past self-serving, self-absorption, self-indulgence
To touch the hand of another
To carry just a bit of compassion
from one side of the world to the other.
Annie and Michelle thank you
~ Wendy ~
2 comments:
"There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate."
Frost, Robert
wonderful piece, Wendy... heroism can often be found in those everyday acts... i like that... give my best to Benno...
We love you Wendy, you are an inspiration to us as well. You've helped us to get through each day we face here. You are a mother to us and we will always look up to you and remember everything you've done for us. We will miss you dearly. Thanks for all the love you've given to us, we treasure you.<3
Love Annie and Michelle
P.S. "I'm 21 Wendy:-)" - Michelle
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