Its All About The Kids

Today I was given the opportunity to visit a medical clinic in a local town.  It was a very small city, and boy it was poor.  The first thing I noticed was the sewage streams in the streets.  Each home had a fence or wall of some sort.  Under the fence was an opening where their sewage flowed out of.  Trenches were dug so that it would meet the neighbor’s trench, and so on.  When this is done, you end up with one big trench that flows, well, who knows where?  There are no underground tanks or sewage lines to take it to a local treatment facility.  Sorry to share about that, but it was just gross and it did not seem to bother the locals.  They did avoid stepping in it, but if they slipped into it, there was no attempt to clean up.  It was business as usual.

 

We checked out the clinic, which was very bare.  Here is a picture of the room used for emergencies.  It had very little supplies, and was more like a cheap hotel room. 

We are helping upgrade their facilities, which is obviously necessary.

One of the Soldiers in my squadron started handing out candy and shoes, so I figured it was a good time to hand out stuft animals.  Handing things out was difficult.  No one wanted to wait their turn, or even cared if the kid next to them got one.  Some were looking after their sibling, but that was it.  I guess with children who have nothing, its hard to feel bad for the next kid. 

I got swarmed with children and was unable to give them out one at a time.  The system that we figured out was to give them to our gunner, who was still in our vehicle (higher up and kids can’t grab from him).  He pulled some aside and then threw the rest to the kids.  Once those were handed out, then we observed who did not get one, and gave out the rest.  So, in then end we handed out the last bit to smaller kids and little girls who were more timid in scrambling to get one.  “Mista Mista!!” was all that we heard.  So, they have learned just enough english to get our attention.  I did have a conversation with one boy who spoke english ok.  He told me his uncle is a teacher, so he spends a lot of time with him.  They were asking me my name, and I would ask right back what theirs were.  Ali and Mohammed were some of the names.  One boy had a black eye.  Not sure where he got that.  Tough neighborhood and fought another boy or got beat by a parent, who knows?  He is on the left in this picture. 

Once we gave out all the stuft animals, they kept asking us for more and more.  I had a box of toiletries to give to the clinic, but decided to give it to the kids.  One thing that we learned is that if you want the kids to have something, then you have to give it to them directly.  Those who work in the clinic are probably honest, but that is no guarantee.  The items might end up being sold or something, so giving to the kids seemed like a good idea.  Overall, I think we won over a few hearts and minds.  They might be smaller hearts and minds now, but they will be running the country a few years down the line. 

Thank you to those who sent stuft animals and school supplies.  I will hopefully be able to give out the school supplies soon.  It’s more than a donation.  It’s being part of history and shaping another country’s future. 

“My God!  How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!”  Thomas Jefferson

(I think we are all learning what ole Thomas meant by this.)

Comments

[Tesse]

Just wanted to say I miss you very much and can't wait for your return! Take care! Love you!

[Donna]

I can send you more beanie babies. Is your mom still handling that or can I send them directly to you?

[Tiffany]

The children in the pictures are so precious! They look so excited to see you guys and the goodies. Keep up the good work over there! I am so proud of you and your fellow soldiers who are giving up so much but also giving back so much to the kids.
I love you Shawn!!

[gavin]

great pictures and glad to know those little items we have been giving are making it into the hands they are intended for. i was curious to not see any little girls, i'm glad you were able to get items to them as well.

[Janet Richardson]

There is a little girl called Molly on Cape Cod who is really pleased to see the blue dog she collected is being held by one of the Baghdad children in the photos.She collected 300 beanies.Isnt that great?
Love you
m0m

[Shawn]

I remember the little boy with the black shirt got that blue dog. Strange what you remember when you are giving things out and trying to scan rooftops for the enemy. I just wanted to remind everyone that I am not in Baghdad. We are about 90 miles North of the capital. This is in a small town outside of the larger city Tuz. Thanks again for sending stuft animals!

[Chris]

These are not the kinds of images I am accustomed to seeing. I thank God for your faith, and I am grateful for your service to our country. May the peace of Christ be with you, evin amid conflict.

[Lauren Coakley]

I just dropped off a donation of beanies to a local organization. Thank you for all that you are doing for us! You are a real life hero!

[Elaine]

Just so glad to see someone who loves kids over there giving to them. I so wish I could help - just to pick them up and love them for even a minute. I am so proud of you and all you and your fellow soldiers are doing. Be safe!