Last time we came, we ho’d. This time we came, we ho’d not. Because our ho’s were not needed – they had planted THE ENTIRE PLOT OF LAND! There was corn for days. CORN FOR DAYS. RA1 felt at home for a few brief moments in the giant corn field – until her eyes fell upon the mango trees thrown throughout. We were really excited to have our dear fellow volunteer Margaret with us to give her a little taste of what we had been doing with the women.
Since there was nothing for us to do at the farm, Christine took us to the clinic she works at. Christine dispenses medicine to HIV positive patients, does individual and couples’ counseling, and works at the hospital each day. As we walked into the building where counseling takes place the patients broke out in a traditional Rwandan ‘Welcome Dance’ and cheered as we walked in. (Full Disclosure : We were so NOT equipped to counsel, so we’re wondering why exactly these people are excited for our arrival!!) We're not sure if words can accurately express the hope that flooded that room full of people. They were smiling, laughing, clapping and were sitting in a room waiting to receive medicine for a disease that will eventually end their lives. It was so inspirational to see the faces of women, teenagers, children, men and the elderly all joining in on the singing when they were in this room to face the reality that they were fighting a disease that would take their lives.
Before we left, Christine showed us her mushroom operation. Mushrooms have a nice piece of protein in them, but are very expensive in Rwanda. Christine grows them at the clinic (in the mushroom house – see pics) and sells some of them and gives others to the patients gratis. Even if its more of a mental thing on the nutritional value of mushrooms for HIV/AIDS patients, it clearly goes a long way as the patients were way excited to get the boxes she handed out.
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