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Tuesday’s Child Blog Following Yonder Star to Gaza – Day 6 “Be comforted my people, be strengthened says your God…like a shepherd He tends to His flock, He gathers the lambs in His arms” Is 40:1,11 We start today with mass in the Holy Family Church in Gaza city. The church is quite beautiful and the old murals all around depict the first 12 years of the life of the Child Jesus. My eyes are drawn to the three wise men following the star, for this was the theme of our Christmas appeal for children in Gaza. They three wise men travelled from afar bearing gifts, to pay homage to the Child Jesus. Tuesday’s Child came to pay homage to the children of Gaza, whom He loves so much. Thankfully, the mode of transport has moved on in 2000 years, can’t imagine travelling by camel! Sadly, however, when it comes to slaughter of innocent children, nothing has changed and the world has failed to learn, for Rachel still mourns for her lost children. After mass, a little boy comes running up to me smiling and takes me by the hand. It is Sorbian, the little boy we met on the feast of the Epiphany, last Thursday. Such a difference in a child, in a few days, warms my heart. Amazing how provision of temporary relief to struggling parents permeates the children also. Eyes dancing, he takes me out to listen to the drums playing outside the church in honour of a visiting Bishop and, giggling, he imitates the drum playing. I recognise the drumsticks from the cache of musical instruments we brought in last time. Then, he takes me over to the crib, he goes straight in under the paper mache rock, crouches down beside the baby Jesus and gives him a kiss. I think of the little drummer boy carol…I am a poor boy too…par rum pum pum pum!
We say good-bye to Sorbian and drive to the Zeitoun area for our third party of the week! The venue is already in full swing when we arrive. Children are singing and dancing and mothers joining in. There is great colour and vibrancy and screams of delight as the human size cartoon characters also make an entrance. In between, children sing their party pieces. There are a range of songs, one about animals, one about how important it is children clean their teeth, one about a chicken and many about friendship and peace. After the singing and dancing is over, we have the presentation of gifts. The children can hardly contain themselves, such is their excitement and, as each child received their gifts, there is a cheer and a round of applause. Lunch and juice are also provided in the same way as the previous two parties and, again, I notice that while all the children drink their their juice many prefer to save their lunch home and bring it home. Their choice and a very thoughtful one. Large platters of mini pizza and samosas are presented to our table, I wrap these in serviettes and hand them out to the hungry eyes all around, focusing on the children saving their lunch to share with their families. The things we take for granted. The singing and dancing seems to go on for ever! I take a break and talk with as many children as possible and ask them what they are brilliant at. Singing, dancing, drawing, arabic, sports and summer games are among the most common answers. When I ask what they want to be when they grow up, we have budding doctors, lawyers, human rights lawyers, engineers, teachers (especially arabic), journalists and social workers. The overwhelming answer is doctor. The hopes and dreams of children here very much reflect the environment. Yet most of these children are from the poorest of families and medicine is the most expensive course here to study. Fours hours later, the party is coming to a close and we are presented with a gift from the people of this area. We accept it gratefully on behalf of Tuesday’s Child and every person back home who supported our Christmas appeal for these so precious children. Time to go home now. Children hang around in the hope of more food and gifts, but we are cleaned out, even of our surplus supply. Three huge parties in four days, fantastic! And all the children had a ball. It is great to bring a little joy, into their lives, if even for a short time; I am very privileged and I give thanks to Him in whose name we work. The overwhelming message from the children, we want peace, we want a future, we want our freedom, we want to grow up in a world without war where each of us can reach our full potential. Justice for the children of Gaza!
Brother and sister wait in the hope of more food
We head back to base and put our feet up and reflect on today’s party. I need to eat something myself and yet I find I cannot eat. I think of all the families sharing the little lunch this evening brought home by children from their party and of the waste at of food at home. Darkness falls quickly in Gaza at this time of year and I am aware we are not covering as much ground as our last visit to the strip in July. Back to work now and to visit a teenager who is close to my heart. Abd is 17 yrs old and lives with his family in Gaza city. I met him in July was was deeply moved by his story, one of the saddest cases I have come across here. You can read more about Abd on the blog from our last trip (day 13 »). He is paralysed as a result of a sniper attack, the bullet severing his spinal cord. He wasn’t expected to survive as the Red Cross were unable to access him and he almost bled to death. He was sent to Egypt and returned with pressure sores to the bone. Intravenous antibiotics prescribed for a life threatening infection were given in the wrong dose, the toxicity damaging his kidneys and his hearing. His deafness is irreversible, increasing his isolation and suffering. Since my last visit, he was finally transferred to Jerusalem for treatment. He was very seriously ill and had to have a kidney removed and a colostomy performed. He is now at home and his mood is not surprisingly very low.
When we call with Abd, he is outside in the porch wrapped up from the cold. An open fire is lit to give the family some heat. I sit down beside him and he gives me a smile and thanks me for the laptop. His parents talk to us and update us but he is not included. So I ask Sabah to translate and I chat to him directly. I tells me how he is doing and he asks about the visit. I tell him about the parties for children and show him all of the photos taken to date, he takes an interest and finally there are a few smiles. I also show him photos of other children and adults suffering from war injuries and some of who have lost limbs and whose lives have changed radically like his. His parents are very concerned as he as lost the little sparkle he had and doesn’t even try to eat. I ask him if he will me with one of my projects here for children and co-ordinate it from his lap-top. We discuss the project and he agrees. We shake hands on it. He smiles as we give little gifts and cash assistance to his family, all of whom love him dearly. I ask him if there is anything he would like and he points at my camera. I promise him the same camera, but the latest model instead of this one and his face breaks into the most beautiful smile. I tell him he will need the camera for the project. We sit with Abd and his family for some time and he kindly agrees to a photo for his family. Abd is incredibly brave. His has suffered too much and yet he never complains and still, despite, his personal tragedy manages to smile.
I show Abd the photo and he approves. Good camera he says. I tell him I look forward to seeing his photographs and working together on our project. We leave Abd and his family around their outdoor fire. I am acutely aware of the sheer pain in this home as we leave. I wonder about the person who pulled the trigger. Did they stop for even a flicker of a moment to think of what they were about to inflict on an innocent boy, fetching water for his mother. Even, now, does he realise the sheer trauma he has caused and the shattered life he has left in his wake. If you are in a position to help any of the families we met during our time in Gaza, please contact us at info@tuesdayschild.co.uk or donate online here » |
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Country Spotlight: Bosnia - Herzegovinia... Tuesday’s Child’s first project was building a safe playground for children with severe disabilities in a little school Sunce (sunshine) in Mostar, the front line of the Bosnian-Serbian war, which left 14 percent of children orphaned. On our first visit, we met an American lady Janet Leff. Janet has worked tirelessly throughout the region since the war and has touched the lives of so many. Tuesday’s Child is fundraising to sponsor a range of Janet’s projects for children and families…… educational materials, computers, dental treatment, wood for the winter, playgrounds, medical supplies and supporting severely ill children with specialist medical treatment. Find out more about the Countries we help... |
Tel: +44 (0)289 050 2725 | Mobile: +44 (0) 7545 452362 | Email: info@tuesdayschild.org.uk | Terms