One Day, One Life.

When I go to the camp in the morning I try to remind myself that all that I have ahead of me is this one day of my life, to do what I can to make some other lives a little bit better.

Today I met with a group of some of Nyabiheke Camp’s most vulnerable refugees—elderly widows, orphaned teenagers, old men, those with physical handicaps that include missing or misshapen limbs. I told them that although we call them vulnerable, they must be among the most courageous and resourceful of all of the refugees to have made it all the way to Nyabiheke from their far away homes in Congo.

The teenagers are to me the most heartbreaking. Small children can always find someone to care for them, but in this culture a 15 or 16 year old is viewed as an adult, even though we all know that deep inside they are still children and in need of love, guidance and support. I am hoping that through our program they can gain some skills and self confidence that might have a chance of keeping the boys from picking up a weapon to fight or the girls from giving birth to yet more children.

I have no photos to show you of this group, since I am very reluctant to point my camera at people who may feel exploited. But I want you to know that as they filed out of the room each and everyone took my hand and thanked me—and you—for our help.

So for this day of this life, we brought hope and encouragement. Thank you.