Cut-a-thons, contacts, nuts, and a Rubiks cube...
So much to gather...baby clothes, bras, toys..
I feel so fortunate to be the ambassador of so much good will.
In Niamey I'll be staying with my great friend Assalama Sidi and her family. She is a brilliant Nigerien woman who has incredible compassion to compliment her intelligence. I first met Assalama (Ahs-ah-lah-mah), as one of my language instructors in the Peace Corps "training camp".
As some of you know, immersion is the name of the game there in learning languages, and that meant speaking only french or huusa. Considering that I spoke very little french, we're talking one community education class of french, being taught hausa IN french was quite a challenge. Needless to say, I was thoroughly frustrated and one evening, as I was on the verge of tears, Assalama said to me "I want to help you" in clear, perfect english!!! Even in my astonished state, it was music to my ears. You see, the instructors were not even allowed to let us know that they spoke english. From that day on, Assalama was a confidant and did what she could to help me learn the language. She is now the Director of one of the Peace Corps Volunteer programs in Niger.
Speaking of great women, my sister Martha, a wonderful mother and hair stylist extraordinaire, is sponsering a "Cut-a-thon" at her salon in Litchfield to raise money for goats for the mother's in Niger. More info to come on the specifics.
There's a new book out called "Angels of a Lower Flight" by Susie Scott Krabacher. You may see it in movie form soon. It's an incredible story of the author's quest to help children in Haiti. The things she says are like a mirror to my thoughts. Her mantra as she tries to save each orphan is "In this world you are loved". She saw a "save the children" commercial of sorts and wanted to do more than just send a check, so she went, and she's built orphanages and clinics.
I'm convinced that if we all just do what we can, we will be better and feel better. I know that Oprah can snap her fingers and buy goats for the whole country. But I'm not discouraged, I can't do that, but that won't stop me from doing what I CAN do. I hope you won't let it stop you either.
Zoulleha
I feel so fortunate to be the ambassador of so much good will.
In Niamey I'll be staying with my great friend Assalama Sidi and her family. She is a brilliant Nigerien woman who has incredible compassion to compliment her intelligence. I first met Assalama (Ahs-ah-lah-mah), as one of my language instructors in the Peace Corps "training camp".
As some of you know, immersion is the name of the game there in learning languages, and that meant speaking only french or huusa. Considering that I spoke very little french, we're talking one community education class of french, being taught hausa IN french was quite a challenge. Needless to say, I was thoroughly frustrated and one evening, as I was on the verge of tears, Assalama said to me "I want to help you" in clear, perfect english!!! Even in my astonished state, it was music to my ears. You see, the instructors were not even allowed to let us know that they spoke english. From that day on, Assalama was a confidant and did what she could to help me learn the language. She is now the Director of one of the Peace Corps Volunteer programs in Niger.
Speaking of great women, my sister Martha, a wonderful mother and hair stylist extraordinaire, is sponsering a "Cut-a-thon" at her salon in Litchfield to raise money for goats for the mother's in Niger. More info to come on the specifics.
There's a new book out called "Angels of a Lower Flight" by Susie Scott Krabacher. You may see it in movie form soon. It's an incredible story of the author's quest to help children in Haiti. The things she says are like a mirror to my thoughts. Her mantra as she tries to save each orphan is "In this world you are loved". She saw a "save the children" commercial of sorts and wanted to do more than just send a check, so she went, and she's built orphanages and clinics.
I'm convinced that if we all just do what we can, we will be better and feel better. I know that Oprah can snap her fingers and buy goats for the whole country. But I'm not discouraged, I can't do that, but that won't stop me from doing what I CAN do. I hope you won't let it stop you either.
Zoulleha
posted by Seeds of Hope Africa at
Monday, December 31, 2007
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