First update
Wow! Sorry it's taken so long to write....as you can imagine, there are many things going on here and I am no longer hooked up to the Internet I.V. (it's taken a while to adjust to that!)
Upon arrival I was placed in a cottage with 2 volunteers and 2 young children that had been resued from a brothel about 5 weeks before. When I met the children they were (surprisingly) very well behaved, I learned only later that these two had not only been found in a brothel that was full of used condoms, with no food as well as no birth certificates, medical documentation or any other documentation. Essentially, we really are not sure who these kids are, where they came from and who their parents are.
The two had apparently been so neglected that they had never seen a toothbrush before, were scared of water (obviously rarely bathed) and the older of the two spent much of her time scratching and biting; the younger, still in diapers had been so neglected that she is developmentally delayed. The two volunteers have managed to provide a great deal of structure, care and discipline that these 2 kids are well-mannered, helpful (the older likes washing the dishes, we, of course oblige)and improving daily. The 'grandmother' has been trying to get the children back and almost had the social worker somehow convinced to do so until the 2 volunteers met with the social welfare tribunal with the case. Currently social welfare has agreed to not place the children back with their 'grandmother' but has also not (yet) agreed to place the kids with a very willing foster couple....things work VERY differently here so not quite sure what will happen next.
As for the new volunteers (incl me) we are lucky to be the first group of volunteers to receive CSO training (Child Safety Officers) from Jackie and Thuli of Bobbi Bear. This will better prepare us with our upcoming cases once training finishes. Although I've only been here for a week, I can see how 6 weeks is simply not enough time!!
Reactions
Ken Deal wrote:
18 Mar 2008 at 16:26 Hi Molly:Thanks for the note. Of course, I've been worrying about you and your note serves as evidence that you're in good shape. It sounds like you've gotten there at the right time and that you're having some of the experiences that you were hoping for. It sounds like a lot of work and not much time for typical tourist things. Looking below, I see "add reaction" and I'm not sure if my note should have gone here or down there. So, I'll copy & paste. Our weather here has been great. That is, until today ... we have a little blizzard; which means lots of wind blowing around a little snow -- the snow loses. I'm working all the time and we hope to start the addition in a month or two. I've ordered a new motorcycle that should arrive at the beginning of May. Grandma has gone into the new nursing home but is not doing too well. They put her on a pain killer and it had a very bad affect on her; she was very confused and weak. She's off that now and is improving, I think. I have to call Barry a little later.
Please write again.
Love, Dad
Kathy Herman wrote:
18 Mar 2008 at 17:38 Hi Molly,It's so good to hear from you. I've been wondering how things were going there. It must be pretty exciting to be part of a project that really gets in there and makes a difference. I am really jealous. I would love to do that. I hope you have time to take some photos of your experience.
I look forward to hearing more from you in the near future.
Love and God bless,
Kathy
Barbara Deal wrote:
18 Mar 2008 at 18:21 Hi Molly,I'm glad you had a chance to post an update. I let Dad do the worrying; I think it is wonderful that you have found this opportunity to be of service to others. Perhaps you can help change someone's life for the better in the short time that you will be there.
Lots of love,
Mom
Lisa Henderson wrote:
18 Mar 2008 at 19:23 Hey molly,So great to hear from you. I've been wondering how you were doing. It sounds like you are facing some heartbreaking situations. I admire your strength. They are so lucky to have you there. Things here are good. My Dad did really well in surgery and is maintaining his sense of humour throughout. It was good for Leanne and I to fly out and see for ourselves.
Stay strong and safe and can't wait to get another update.
xo
Lisa
Leanne Hunter wrote:
19 Mar 2008 at 12:48 Hey Mol!!!!So glad to hear that you are safe and clearly already busy. I can't believe that they would give those children back to someone who has so completely displayed her lack of even basic care for them. That is so shocking and it must be incredibly frustrating to have to watch it unfold.
Things are pretty good here - trip to Boston was wicked awesome (snrk snrk). Ate oysters and chowder like it was going out of style and nearly depleted Sam Adams white ale. My dad's bypass went as well as it could have - there are however, some other complications that they are trying to get straightened out.
The kids are good - Hailey got her report card and did really well - lowest mark was a B+, the rest were A's. Isaac is being typical Isaac - an angel one moment and a little devil the next.
We are thinking about you all the time!! We send our love and our best hopes that you will see great things happen from this time you are spending there.
Love, Leanne
JJLT wrote:
19 Mar 2008 at 22:04 Oh my miss Molly...How I love thee!!! I am just so happy to hear from you and so happy to find out that you are getting to have the experience that I think you hoped for. By that I mean truly meaningful, unforgettable experiences that allow you to actually make a difference. Those people are so lucky to have you there!! I hope you are getting along well with the other volunteers and that you are not too homesick. Keep us posted with all your adventures.
Love ya long time,
JJLT
Tanya Woods wrote:
20 Mar 2008 at 03:05 Hey Moll,I was so glad to hear from you. You have definitely been in my thoughts. I completely admire what you are doing and quite honestly don't know where you find the strength. Your memo describes some pretty horrific experiences, which I can only imagine to be the tip of the iceberg. Take care of yourself and these little kiddies, who so obviously need someone like you to offer them a safe place, something we take for granted every day.
See you soon.
Love
Tan
Claudia wrote:
20 Mar 2008 at 13:39 molly, dear,boy it's good to hear from you! i have been wondering already how u have been and i am very glad to hear that u r obviously doing well! :) i sent ali a text a few days ago to see if she had heard from you and coincidently you had just sent her a message - so i sort of knew that ur trip went well and u r ok but it's so much better to hear it from yourself.
babes, i so admire you and am very proud of you! it sounds heartbreaking and frankly very scary what u have been experiencing so far but equally so great what u and the other volunteers are accomplishing! incredible! it's outrageous how adults or any human being can treat kids so badly! keep up the good spirits and keep us posted!...i can't believe it's been more than a week that you've been in london...
take care and lots of love,
claudia xxx
Adrienne wrote:
21 Mar 2008 at 15:15 Molly, Thanks so much for taking the time to write this. This is Friday; Sunday is Easter and you should know that lots of prayers for you and your work will be going up from down here in Charlottesville, where daffodils are already blooming. Thank you so very much for giving me the opportunity to be some small part of this awesome work you are doing. Stay safe. Love, Arwen's Mom
Name: Molly Deal
Volunteered at Bobbi Bear from 10 March 2008 to 19 April 2008.
Latest Be More news
Mailing list
Would you like to receive an e-mail everytime I post a message? Then subscribe to the mailing list!
Latest messages
Links
Be More
Would you like to know more about Be More, then check the website at www.be-more.org. You can find the latest news, more information about my project and you can become a donor!
RSS Feed