I was born poor, but am rich in mind

This was written on a door in one of the homes in Old Naledi, the village where we are volunteering. Today, Champ, the coordinator of the Tlamelo Project, took us around the village to get a firsthand look. I have been here two and a half weeks, but yet this week by volunteering in the classroom and walking around the village, I feel that I have opened my eyes to see beyond just the beautiful scenery.

Old Naledi is full of beautiful and kind-hearted people, but sadly it's also full of poverty and sickness. Old Naledi is one of the most over-populated and poverty-stricken villages around Gaborone. Today, on our walk around the village, Champ introduced us to some incredible people that have faced many challenges in this village.

One very special woman welcomed us into her home to visit. She had become paralyzed about 2 years ago. On top of this very limiting disability, she is HIV positive, has 4 children and a mentally ill sister to support, and her husband left her when she became paralyzed. She is struggling to make a means for her family and her children receive much-needed nurishment from the feeding project each day. She is currently living in a government provided house, which is one room, approximately 7'x10', but will be kicked out, regardless of her circumstances, in 6 months time. She has indeed been through much suffering, but during our entire visit, she had a beautiful smile on her face. So many struggles that she has, and will continue to face, and yet she still has a strong faith about her, which struck something deep within me.

We ventured on and visited with a man who has been very sick for quite some time, but is feeling much better lately. His smile indeed captured his recovery. Champ pointed out along our walk where some of the children that we are getting to know live. Since many of the childrens' parents have died, they live with extended family or older siblings, those not nearly old enough to be the head of a household by any means.

"I was born poor, but am rich in mind." Seems to sum up the life for many in Old Naledi, but leaves me on a hopeful note after a very naive girl saw firsthand a real view of poverty and sickness.