Passing the torch....



So it's one of those rare days that I actually feel happy and for-filled even though I had a stressful week full of chaos , miscommunications,  trails and triumphs . 

Yesterday I was paid the nicest compliment from a boy named Anu in my leadership class here in Sri Lanka. 
I was teaching the concept of being proactive. I said who can give me an example of being "proactive". Anu raises his hand enthusiastically and says... "Sister Sunny (apparently thats me) , just now when you arrive at the boys home you saw the dogs eye was with injury & right away you look how to help make a plan and wash the dogs eye and put the cream."

I was so impressed that Anu put both this life event and our workshop lesson together ! Way to go buddy:)

At the end of the workshop I took the boys with me and taught them how to make the saline  solution to flush out the dogs eye and how to apply the antibiotic cream. 

I said  "ok , now you all can be proactive too, this is your 1st project ".

They all seemed happy to be given some responsibility ... And I was happy the dog would be cared for. 

(Poor doggen)

Perhaps the moral of this small story is ; sometimes leading by example makes the most impact, you never know who is watching and learning from you. As my week was tense with the overwhelm of saying yes to to many projects all at once.....sometimes  it's important to remember to give responsibility to someone else and not think you have to do it all yourself. 



*(I know my past volunteers and friends are having a big laugh at my last comment as they know I'll still try and do it myself anyway.... I'm working in it!)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

But someone else will fix it

Image
The children start to bring each other... The line grows and grows with children. They know their friends are sick or hurt in some way so they get in my first aid line with their friends to see if someone can help.  We were told at the start of the day well working here at a small community project (Freshstart) in Smutsville, South Africa that Meningitis was running through the community; but they choose to stay open for the children anyway. I agreed. An hour in, with many children attended to, I finish bandaging one boy with two big gashes on his legs.  I looked up and I now find a sea of kids waiting . I was so focused on what I was doing and trying to pay authentic attention to each child that I did not notice the growing line. Today is hot, very hot, and sweat is just pouring down my face. As I put on yet another pair of plastic gloves, I ask if there is another volunteer to help as well. No, everyone is busy. There are not enough volunteers today,
Read more

Annie’s Gift – Finding the children

Image
Annie’s Gift  Finding the children from Annie’s foster home in South Africa By Sunyata Choyce “Are these all your kids?” the woman at the sales checkout asked.  I looked at the five foster kids with me that I just picked up from their new home.  They were all staring at me with big smiles on their faces as the lady asked her question.   What was I supposed to say?  These kids just suddenly lost the only mom they ever knew a few months ago.  Her name was Annie. I called her Auntie Annie. I winked at the kids and said to the teller, "Yes these are my kids, all Annie’s kids are like my kids”. Tears welled up in everyone's eyes.It was then the woman in the shop realized she hit a nerve with us all. Perhaps I should have somehow given her a heads up that these were children with no parents, whose foster mom just died. I mean what was I supposed to say “No these are not my children, there nobody’s children” ? You see, I made it a mi
Read more

“I appreciate you because you help heal us” When a child in a foreign country tells you this, it is not something you easily forget.

Image
Here in Mexico, I work at a small kids project in the jungle. Often I bring a big 1st aid kit with me and see to the kids wounds, burns, abysses, dog bits …and yes bugs and fungus….but they look at me bight eyed and happy for the attention. I tell them how brave they are and give them some colorful pipe-cleaners to play with while I fix and clean them up. In South Africa toddlers would literally run after my car, and when I would stop they would be quick to show me and the other COLORS volunteers any of their cuts, ringworm or infections. Soon there would be a line-up of kids outside the car. So much of what we do just feels like common sense (…but alas sometimes common sense is not so common.) Today is World Health Day…I know I know…its another one of “those days” marked on the calendar that we are supposed to have some awareness or take action. But when I hear this, I think of all the children I’ve worked with all over the world who just need some basic TLC
Read more