Last Tuesday evening after a long day of doing a whole lot of nothing, Cyndi and I began our short trek home. As we walked, I noticed two small children, a girl and boy, on the path in front of us. Being that we were still on campus, I was a little confused as we don’t really see many children within the compound. As we walked passed them I heard a small voice softly call “Mzungu…” This is a common occurrence for any white person in Uganda, so I decided to turn smile, wave, and just keep walking. But as I went to turn back around after flashing my pearly whites, I heard the little girl say a simple phrase that shook me to the core.
What were those immortal words? “I need a sponsor…” I’m going to try to recount a portion of the conversation following her simple phrase as best I can. As my brain was going one hundred miles a minute, I didn’t really speak to the girl….Cyndi did almost all the talking, but it still continues to dumbfound me even today.
Little Girl: I need a sponsor.
Cyndi: Well…keep praying that you get one.
Little Girl: Will you find me one?
Cyndi: No…I can’t.
Little Girl: Why not?
Cyndi: Well…we don’t do that. What’s your name?
Little Girl: (I can’t actually remember her name, being that is was very African)
Cyndi: What’s his name? *motioning to the boy*
Little Girl: He is (I don’t remember his name either)
Cyndi: Is he your brother?
Little Girl: No…he’s my uncle.
Cyndi: How old are you?
Little Girl: I’m 10.
Cyndi: How old is he?
Little Girl: He’s five. We don’t have very much money.
Cyndi: We don’t have very much money either.
Little Girl: *giggles*
Cyndi: Why is that funny?
Little Girl: *hesitates* You’re white and all white people have money.
Cyndi: Some don’t have money.
Little Girl: *stares at Cyndi like she’s crazy*
Cyndi: Do you know of some Africans that have lots of money?
Little Girl: Yes
Cyndi: Well…just like there are some Africans that have lots of money, there are some white people who don’t have any money.
Little Girl: *giggles again* You do too have money. All white people are rich.
First off, I was just so surprised by the fact that this tiny girl (who looked about five, not ten) just walked up to us and asked us to get her a sponsor. For a very long time, I have loved the idea of sponsorship programs for African children. My own sister, Kevin, was sponsored last year. Her education depended completely on that sponsorship. In fact, we still aren’t sure if she’s going back to school this year for without a sponsorship my family cannot afford to send her.
However, a battle is waged within me. As I am definitely not a supporter of dependence on federal programs, I have a hard time with the issue of African dependence on foreign aid. If African children are taught from a young age that all they need is a sponsor, what are we teaching them? Like this little girl… She approached Cyndi and me only because we are white. If we had been two Ugandan women, she would have ignored us. This is because she has learned that mzungus give out free money that help pay school fees.
Her plight broke my heart that day…and continues to do so as I keep reliving this experience time and time again. Yet I want to be able to truly help her. Simply handing her a check would definitely be helpful…but it’s like that age old saying “give a man a fish…” You know how it goes.
I don’t know. I’m just really struggling with this. We are so wealthy in America in comparison. What’s couple few hundred dollars to us? To them…it could redefine their entire future. I could do so much for the people here with the miniscule amount found within my own bank account…yet would it really be helping them? Is it really plausible for Africa to live off foreign aid forever?
I would love some of your opinions on this fact. Let me know what you think.
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That is so powerful. In fact, the radio station I often listen to just had a drive to sponser Ugandan children. I don't remember what city, but it was in Uganda and all I could think about was you. What a wake up call if everyone was given that encounter... We stay in our homes and think about what extra money we have and battle within ourselves to give to them or save that money for a new car, or even just to go out to eat every week.
ReplyDeleteI understand your inner turmoil about feeding them vs. feeding them the spirit of God. There is an issue of meeting their physical needs first though. While we act so independent as American Mzungu's we really are only born into this kind of arragent view that people should be independent on their own too. While I believe people should pick up and live without help, I was born with loving parents, water just steps away, food whenever I wanted it, and support by friends and family. They didn't always have that and we take it for granted even as we see them starving in their huts.
Bills pile up on my daily, but when I aquire the money to do so (when I'm no longer relying on someone else for food weekly) I'll be sponsoring a kid... maybe two if I can handle it. It was never about just giving them something so they'd think white people were rich, but giving them a chance to see otherwise and being more thankful of the wonderful gift God has given them.
I hope you remeber this moment when you come back to the states... it would be a powerful message to people here.