Our family has been contacted with news that both Clementina and her young baby have been hospitalized sometime last week. Apparently Clementina has some growth or tumor on her uterus which is causing vast amounts of pain and needs to be removed urgently. Last reports said that she was in the hospital in excrutiating pain, yelling and screaming and crying for her baby who apparently is very sick with Malaria.
It has proved difficult for us to get all the information we need about Clementina and her case, but we do know that she needs care now and that the hospital will not operate until they are paid to do so. Without medical insurance (which Clementina does not have) the surgeons will not move forward with treatment. We are trying desperately to obtain doctors numbers and emails so that I can communicate directly with them about her needs and prognosis should the operation go smoothly. They need 1,20o USD to get this woman medical care and home again to her family, not to mention the fact that Clementina's landlord is now coming forward asking for the four months back rent she has not been able to meet due to her physical condition deteriorating. Rent is $50 a month, so I need to get them $200 for rent alone if I do not want the kids to lose their house at this moment in time.
I cannot really explain the feelings of unease and worry that I have been sitting with over the past few days as I have learned about this (I should include Ariah and others as well who have grown to love Clementina and her family and are very dedicated to them- I know that many people are sick about this, frustrated with the lack of information and also the feelings of helplessness and worry for Clementina's life). As a privileged American and a woman who showed up at a random moment and saved the family one time already, it is me who is being looked to to again move mountains. It is likely that the only hope of this problem being remedied lies in my hands and the hands that surround us. That is a heavy weight to carry at times like these, and I have had to think long and hard about what it means to have someone's life in your own hands... and those of her 5 children as well. They need their mama home and well. Without her, they are orphans too, maybe not with such a bright future as Pacifique has.
Where you come in... I am sure we can get the money wired over there in time for Clementina, but Scott and I don't have it yet. We need to fund raise it. We have some of the funds already, almost half maybe combined with efforts of some friends in the Bahamas who have come to know and love Clementina and her children too. Our goal is to wire funds obviously as soon as we have all the information, but we need the funds! Please please please, there is a donate button under the header of this page, please use it if you are so inclined to do something for this family this holiday time.
You may contact me as well privately at jayasun@vermontel.net or jsholliman@gmail.com.
I will keep you posted... I am feeling so responsible for this family and their future, and having the participation of others monetarily and otherwise meets my desire for help and care and brings such relief. Who knew that on the anniversary of the day our son was found, St. Nicholas day, we would be deciding the fate of a mother and her kiddos too.
Be blessed,
Jaya and family, Clementine's included
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Happy Birth Day, Pacifique!
Once there were two women who never knew each other
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun
The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it
The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it
One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name
One gave you a talent, the other gave you aim
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried you tears
One carried you and birthed you, that was all that she could do
The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.
Now, which of these two women, Are you the product of?
Both, my darling, Both, Just two different types of love.
~Anonymous
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun
The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it
The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it
One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name
One gave you a talent, the other gave you aim
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried you tears
One carried you and birthed you, that was all that she could do
The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.
Now, which of these two women, Are you the product of?
Both, my darling, Both, Just two different types of love.
~Anonymous
As we celebrate the birth of our dear son, Rukundo Pacifique, it occurs to me that we have not to date had any ceremony: no blessingway for the new mother, no birth passage to serve as a marker of welcome to this world and our family, no welcome home gathering or celebration upon entry to the US, and now, on this day we choose to celebrate Pacifique’s birth, we are not even having a gathering of community for him, for us. Oh, how I long for some sacred ritual or marker of his coming to us, of us coming to him; of the circle we have completed.
So in this age of technology, it dawned on me: I can request writing, blessings for Pacifique and his life, on his journey here to this Earth and to our family, from those who are gathered around us, who have been with us all along.
If you will please leave a blessing, a prayer, a thought in the comments section, I would be so grateful and happy to collate them in a little wee book for Pacifique to have along side him in this life of his. So that in some way, as he grows, he will always know the love he has been given, the gratitude and joy with which we celebrate his life and his getting here. So that he will see, know, just how many people have witnessed and celebrate the Miracle of him joining our lives in physical form.
Thank you, dear ones, for keeping the circle around us all. We are blessed indeed.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Rwandan Family Aided by Vermont Community
When we were finally refused our adoption request in June of 2008, I knew I could either in that very moment of holding that dismal piece of official letterhead praise or curse God. I decided with a deep inhalation to say "thank you" and believe that miracles can occur in ways that hurt and ways that make us blissful. This refusal was a miracle showing us where a door was closed, where our child wasn't- not in Rwanda in June of 2008. I could have felt many things in addition to anger... guilt, shame, embarrassment after holding our own hands out to many in this community and then taking the money to travel all the way to Rwanda only to fail at achieving bringing home a child. "Thanks for the money... I had a great life-altering trip to Rwanda!" In fact, there were all the above feelings of course, but we focused on the acceptance and gratitude mostly. I knew that I went for a reason, and the truth is we assisted an entire family because of my trip at that particular time. To the family, I was an angel who came into a desperate situation and changed their lives forever.
While in Rwanda in 2008, a young Rwandese man named Happy befriended me and took me to the slums. Happy knew a family who was suffering greatly- a widow with five young children who lived in a "house" literally falling down around her. My blog entry about that woman, Clementine is here. In the time since meeting her, our family and other friends in this community and a dear friend in the Bahamas have successfully sent all her children to a good school, clothed them, helped her move twice and taught her to make jewelry. She lives now in a beautiful home in a good neighborhood and has a small store that she runs out of her front room. Her neighbors are supplied with fuel, grains, soap, and other various staples and she is able to pay for rent and food on her own!
She still struggles as many Rwandese do to supply everything needed for her children. In an effort to keep supporting her, I asked her to make as much jewelry as she could in the days I was there. On the day we left Rwanda, Clementine brought the jewelry to me and I now have the task of selling it for a better price than she could receive for it in Kigali...
Joyeuse before and after our assistance
... isn't she beautiful?
Mama Clementine could not wait to get Ariah into her arms. The walk to Clementine's place was about 15 minutes, finally taking us between homes and gardens, laundry lines and privy's. As we we approached Clementine's, people were yelling to each other, to the family, that we were coming. Clementine ran up to Ariah, gasped, covered her mouth with her hand, began to cry and then grabbed Ariah up and held her on her hip. She hugged Ariah and wouldn't let go and for the long while where her eyes were closed, I imagined that Clementine perceived this beautiful 7 year old American as her life-saver. The one who changed the lives of her entire family. Of course others helped, but I don't know what Clementine knows about the people that helped to change her life and the lives of her kids. I just know that she was grateful beyond words to Ariah.
Ariah had brought along some necklaces of her own to give to the kids. One got given to a neighbor girl rather than Clementine's child. It was definitely overwhelming to be in a sea of kids who all wanted to touch Ariah and us as well, and not obvious which ones were Clementine's kids at first. (The boy in the green and baby on photo right are Clementine's.)
The little girls on photo left and right below are Clementine's kids. The one in the pink next to Ariah never left her side or let go of her hand.
The same two children last year when I visited their home...
Clementine's new home! In a great location with cement floors!
Her store supplies are on the left of the photo, but she uses the front room as a sales location as well. In time, with some additional money raised, Clementine and my friend Happy will build a shed type cupboard to enclose the supplies from the elements.
Clementine before our help in the photo below- she was so worried and sad when I met her, just hopeless and helpless. When we saw her this time, she was happy and even had bulked up substantially since they now have food for their bellies!
Many people have woven a web that has sent us to Rwanda twice now. Each time, we were able to touch other people as well as ourselves and we hope to continue the support of this mom and family as well as the orphanage and others. I offer this blog as a tangible way to say thank you to each and every one of you who have helped along the way. You have indeed shifted many lives with your love and compassion. Should you desire to contribute financially or in any other way to the continuation of support to this family, please let me know at jayasun@vermontel.net.
While in Rwanda in 2008, a young Rwandese man named Happy befriended me and took me to the slums. Happy knew a family who was suffering greatly- a widow with five young children who lived in a "house" literally falling down around her. My blog entry about that woman, Clementine is here. In the time since meeting her, our family and other friends in this community and a dear friend in the Bahamas have successfully sent all her children to a good school, clothed them, helped her move twice and taught her to make jewelry. She lives now in a beautiful home in a good neighborhood and has a small store that she runs out of her front room. Her neighbors are supplied with fuel, grains, soap, and other various staples and she is able to pay for rent and food on her own!
She still struggles as many Rwandese do to supply everything needed for her children. In an effort to keep supporting her, I asked her to make as much jewelry as she could in the days I was there. On the day we left Rwanda, Clementine brought the jewelry to me and I now have the task of selling it for a better price than she could receive for it in Kigali...
Joyeuse before and after our assistance... isn't she beautiful?
Mama Clementine could not wait to get Ariah into her arms. The walk to Clementine's place was about 15 minutes, finally taking us between homes and gardens, laundry lines and privy's. As we we approached Clementine's, people were yelling to each other, to the family, that we were coming. Clementine ran up to Ariah, gasped, covered her mouth with her hand, began to cry and then grabbed Ariah up and held her on her hip. She hugged Ariah and wouldn't let go and for the long while where her eyes were closed, I imagined that Clementine perceived this beautiful 7 year old American as her life-saver. The one who changed the lives of her entire family. Of course others helped, but I don't know what Clementine knows about the people that helped to change her life and the lives of her kids. I just know that she was grateful beyond words to Ariah.
Ariah had brought along some necklaces of her own to give to the kids. One got given to a neighbor girl rather than Clementine's child. It was definitely overwhelming to be in a sea of kids who all wanted to touch Ariah and us as well, and not obvious which ones were Clementine's kids at first. (The boy in the green and baby on photo right are Clementine's.)
The little girls on photo left and right below are Clementine's kids. The one in the pink next to Ariah never left her side or let go of her hand.
The same two children last year when I visited their home...
Clementine's new home! In a great location with cement floors!
Her store supplies are on the left of the photo, but she uses the front room as a sales location as well. In time, with some additional money raised, Clementine and my friend Happy will build a shed type cupboard to enclose the supplies from the elements.
Clementine before our help in the photo below- she was so worried and sad when I met her, just hopeless and helpless. When we saw her this time, she was happy and even had bulked up substantially since they now have food for their bellies!
Many people have woven a web that has sent us to Rwanda twice now. Each time, we were able to touch other people as well as ourselves and we hope to continue the support of this mom and family as well as the orphanage and others. I offer this blog as a tangible way to say thank you to each and every one of you who have helped along the way. You have indeed shifted many lives with your love and compassion. Should you desire to contribute financially or in any other way to the continuation of support to this family, please let me know at jayasun@vermontel.net.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
PICTURES FOR YOU
Meeting Nola for the first time
Pretty proud I learned to carry him african style
With our dear neighbors
Pacifique with his Great Grandfather age 91
Ariah and Pacifique
cabbage head
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