Blessing #5:
I AM HEALTHY & I AM WHOLE. MY BODY IS HEALTHY. MY MIND IS HEALTHY. MY EMOTIONAL SELF IS HEALTHY. I AM WHOLE & COMPLETE. I CHOOSE TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF MYSELF EVERY DAY. I CHOOSE TO MOVE MY BODY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, BECAUSE IT FEELS GOOD! I LIKE TO EAT, SO I CHOOSE NOURISHING MEALS THAT SATISFY ME. I ENJOY RESTING AND I GIVE MYSELF PLENTY OF SLEEP. I AM COMPLETELY IN CHARGE OF MY OWN HEALTH AND PERSONAL CARE. I AM HEALTHY & I AM WHOLE.
~The Blessings Butterfly
On Monday this week, I introduced you to Caro (Carol) a lovely little girl who lives in Masii, Kenya – East Africa. I met her several years ago on my first of many visits to Kenya when I was working with the humanitarian missionary organization Tumaini International. Little Caro was not sponsored at that time, nor were her siblings, and her mother Zipporah was really, realllllly struggling just to get through a day- let alone take care of 4 children by herself.
Caro was born with a birth defect that caused non-communicating hydrocephalus, resulting in an enlarged, deformed head. Her ability to use her legs was also affected, and when I met her all she could do was scoot around on her bare bottom, in the dirt.
It was heart breaking.
But, there was something special in her eyes- a bright, beautiful spirit that would NOT be crushed or quieted. Despite the obvious health issues on the outside, she was and is one of the strongest, sweetest, and most healthy little girls I’ve ever met. Her little friends and siblings played and giggled as small children do, and when I came over to sit next to her on the concrete stoop, she didn’t hesitate to take my hand in hers and crawl up for a soft seat on my lap.
It was heart warming!
In the next few visits, I was able to bring over an awesome little off-road wheelchair donated to us by a dear friend. Presenting it to Caro and her mom was one of the best days ever. In my time with Tumaini, I was able to bring over 3 more chairs and deliver them to children in need.
Caro and her eligible siblings have since been sponsored, and are attending school, receiving school uniforms & shoes, meal and emergency food assistance, medical care and so much more. Caro is one of the top students in her class and able to attend a (rare) school for children with disabilities. Her mom is also now in an amazing support group, active in her church and community, and receiving the medical care and ARV medicine that she needs.
A few years before leaving my work at Tumaini, I helped to launch a women’s empowerment project there in Masii called WE Care that trains widows in the art of paper bead jewelry making, which the ladies sell to help support themselves and their children. It was an opportunity to create a healthy & supportive community, skills training, and work with dignity. Caro’s mom was one of the inaugural group of Artisans, and she’s totally thriving. Here she is!
Healthy and Whole has less to do with the body that we live in, and more to do with the beautiful, amazing, incredible souls that we are. After all, our bodies aren’t designed to last forever- but our essence, now that’s forever. <3
If you would like to purchase any of the paper bead jewelry that Zippy and the other ladies have created, please let me know. Just send me a private message through The Blessings Butterfly Facebook page with your email address, and I’ll be in touch.
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