Sunday, August 7, 2011
Poverty
The big question is how can we break the cycle? Simple, educate the people, dont just provide the daily meal. Give man a fish and you will feed him a while , Teach him how to fish and he will fend himself .
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Managing Abundance
As a kid growing up on the shores of Lake Victoria, I learnt a lot
at the very tender age of nine. I would go out to look after the
cattle and at the same time fetch fire wood for my grandmother.
On the occasions when Mother Nature was in a foul mood - rain,
hail storm, wind - I would plan ahead and devise a way to ensure
I was under some sort of makeshift shelter. Despite all the
shortcomings, I would manage to guide the goats and cows safely
back home. On the sunny days I would "animal pool" (all the
village animals) taking turns with the other herders. Teamwork.
My dad had about ten herds of cows and two dozen goats, plus
a few sheep here and there. These animals were not the easiest
to herd, but I learnt the trick: large quantities of green vegetation
for feeding, a salt tablet to lick, and lots of water. As long as they
were full there was peace.
In his book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose,
Eckhart Tolle refers to this as "making peace with the present
moment." The present moment is "the field upon which the game
of life happens." But how could I take care of the goats with their
immediate needs and tend to the much larger animals, the cows,
who required a lot of grass and copious amounts of water? How
does a kid deal with such competing priorities and come out on
top? According to Tolle, it is in the "power of NOW."
Managing this abundance required a strategy - quick thinking and
acting, which every herdsman eventually masters. First, I had to be
fast in order to deal with the goats, which required finding an
enclosed thicket with the greenery they loved. Then, I needed to locate
a grassy green pasture for the (slow-eating) cattle...
Little did I know the same strategies would be required of me at a
later stage in life from a different position. Not that of a herds-
man; but of a provider and a leader. A lot has happened since then
with seemingly recurring similarities. For the purpose of this post,
I will revisit the year 2008.
2008 held many opportunities and lofty goals. There were many
breakthroughs. It was the year "Project Yongo" (the blog) was born,
midwifed by my friend Venetia. She is a true blessing, as this was a
huge endeavor. We created the blog to raise awareness about the
plight of the Agok community children, and Africa at large. I am proud
of the progress we have made. As we transition into 2009, my goal is
to reach a broader audience in order to help more kids realize their
dreams, and become what God has ordained them to be.
One of the major opportunities of 2008 came disguised as a hurdle.
I was laid off. For three-and-a-half months, I was on the constant
hunt for a job. Emails, phone calls, networking... I sent 720 emails;
only forty of those had my resume attached, which yielded twelve
interviews. No one appeared to be hiring due to the economic slump
in the U.S. and the subsequent collapse of the world economy. Even
though these were very unique circumstances worldwide, I did not lose
hope. Through this experience I found one thing to be true: when all
appears to be failing, there is one source which will never fail - God.
This was indeed a transition, and like any change of season, there was
a long spell of waiting, doubt, and frustration. I had my doubts about
whether a prospective employer would find it beneficial to hire a name
like "Yongo" and my frustrations about how long it would take.
I engaged in interview after interview, with each perceived rejection
leaving me to wonder (more frustration) why this particular employer
was not interested in me and what could I have done differently in
order to "pass with flying colors"? Amidst all of this, I kept deep faith
in God. I reflected on all he has done for me, from Korogocho to
America, from a 10 x 10 mud walled, sewer less shanty to a house in
Brunswick, Georgia, from Alkala (1000 miler) to Adidas. Not only
did he send an angel to guide me, but also to show me how successful
I could be in what I did. God is a Source of abundance.
I knew there was a reason for all of this, but I did not understand why.
I began asking "Why?" Then I remembered I am a "creation" like any
other and I will never be alone. I have angels guiding my path. The
soul-searching process began. As the social psychologist Stanley Milgram
describes in his book Obedience to Authority, "Often it is not so much
the kind of person a man is as the kind of situation in which he finds himself
that determines how he will act."
To a certain degree, I reacted to the situation. I almost let my ego take
control over my soul, wanting to know the cause. As the "herdsman"
I made a very conscious decision not to keep asking, and to guide myself
through this "drought." I had seen animals die and I have seen human
beings degrade mentally in situations such as this.
As a parent, a husband, and a leader there were several people leaning
on me for spiritual and moral guidance. A lot was at stake. I have
inspired a lot of young men and if I caved, then the entire "herd"
would be lost... I created a network of "spiritual warriors" like Laquita
King, Charles, Susan, Ms. Poole, Venetia, Pastor Rice of Mt. Orum
Baptist Church, Pastor Chris of Family Life Church, and Natalyne,
not to mention Julie and Pastor Scott who invited me for a prayer
vigil in Brantley County. I refused wilt and wither away, and went
back to where it all began. I knew God created me for a purpose and
did not bring me this far for his amusement, so the situation did
not change me. It made me stronger. As Pastor Rick Warren wrote
in his book Purpose Driven Life, "If you can worry, you can meditate."
My preference for meditation was born of the desire to know God
and to have a deeper understanding of my purpose on this plane
called "earth." How best could I be of service to God and his
creation - humanity? How could I be his friend? After all, in times
of turmoil you reach out for your friends. I had reached out for
all of my earthly friends, but where was my heavenly Father?
In John, chapter 15:15 Jesus calls us his "friends." Instead of
worry, I chose to connect with him through meditation and prayer
as these are the two avenues upon which he travels. I wanted
clarity and needed intervention not only from the loss of my job
but also for spiritual renewal. I needed to re energize my
archetypes in order to find meaning, if not a symbol in all of this.
In October, the funds started to dry out. I knew if I did not have
a job by November things might not be good. I started thinking of
things that could go wrong. I would lose my home, my truck, and
all the earthly "necessities." There was the risk of my kids going
without food and all that nice stuff. Several interviews along
the line, but nothing juicy, my faith did not change. I kept on
tithing, meditating, and praying. One Sunday afternoon a van
pulled-up in front of my driveway, as I was working in the yard.
Out came three well-dressed ladies. I recognized them. They
belonged to a church where I was a guest speaker back in
February. They said they heard I had been jobless for quite
some time and the Lord had sent them with some goodies.
They had a check for $500.00 and boxes of supplies ranging
from rice to chicken. Talk about God answering prayers! Here
I was thinking about how I will make payments and the three
ladies came in with a rescuing hand.
With each day, the economic news became more and more bleak.
Every employer I contacted gave me the same "doom and gloom"
story. My faith grew steadfast and my spirits were at their
highest. I made a call to my friends Paul and Kappy. I had not
been in touch with them since July, and though I did not reach
them, I left a message. Paul called me back that same evening
and we scheduled a lunch get together at a local restaurant.
During this time, we exchanged notes on which resorts to contact.
One week later we met again. At this juncture he stepped-in big
time, from taking me to stock up at Sam's Club to paying bills.
May the almighty God continue to Bless him. As Oprah Winfrey
puts it: Every one of us gets through the tough times because
somebody is there, standing in the gap to close it for us.
Paul and Kappy have been the bridge to help get me through
the transition. A transition of abundance - born out of love
and service to humanity.
On October 20th I got a lead from Jeff Newcomb. This is a guy
who was not in my database. It was a posting through Hcareers.
At the same time I received an email from a former colleague
inquiring if I had seen the job posting. This was around 9 a.m.
By 4 p.m. on the same day I was on the phone with this company
setting up an interview. On the 4th of November, I was in North
Carolina for a three-day interview. On the 14th, I received a verbal
offer. On the 17th, I received a written offer. On the 25th, I was
employed.
I had wanted to do it "my way" but the supernatural has its ways
of making things happen. There is a reason why things happen.
All we have to do is look for the symbolic meaning. Caroline Myss
describes the life interruption in her book Sacred Contracts, this
way, "When your life plans are suddenly interrupted you can choose
to view that event as a 'contract intervention' rather than a crisis."
Surely this was not a crisis but a an intervention.
Back to my friend Paul who has been very instrumental in this
changeover. When I was heading north he instructed my family
not to worry, and sure enough, when the Kia had a fatal knock,
he gave us his Chevrolet Suburban to help until such time when
I am able to buy another car. Webster's Dictionary defines a
friend as a "favored companion." I have been favored by my
friends God, Paul, V, Kappy, and La Quita, and the rest of you
who have been there for me. Lots of love to you all.
Ruwan Silva, you were a God sent angel who appears whenever
there is need. Think about the above events - how else can you
explain them? God's favor and love. In 1 John 4:16 John says
this about God's love "and we have known and believed the
love that God has for us. God is love; and he that dwells in
love dwells in God, and God in him."
Now I am managing a new "abundance" relocating the family,
settling into the new job, finding a new home and school for
the Kenyans, and finding a tenant to rent my old house.
at the very tender age of nine. I would go out to look after the
cattle and at the same time fetch fire wood for my grandmother.
On the occasions when Mother Nature was in a foul mood - rain,
hail storm, wind - I would plan ahead and devise a way to ensure
I was under some sort of makeshift shelter. Despite all the
shortcomings, I would manage to guide the goats and cows safely
back home. On the sunny days I would "animal pool" (all the
village animals) taking turns with the other herders. Teamwork.
My dad had about ten herds of cows and two dozen goats, plus
a few sheep here and there. These animals were not the easiest
to herd, but I learnt the trick: large quantities of green vegetation
for feeding, a salt tablet to lick, and lots of water. As long as they
were full there was peace.
In his book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose,
Eckhart Tolle refers to this as "making peace with the present
moment." The present moment is "the field upon which the game
of life happens." But how could I take care of the goats with their
immediate needs and tend to the much larger animals, the cows,
who required a lot of grass and copious amounts of water? How
does a kid deal with such competing priorities and come out on
top? According to Tolle, it is in the "power of NOW."
Managing this abundance required a strategy - quick thinking and
acting, which every herdsman eventually masters. First, I had to be
fast in order to deal with the goats, which required finding an
enclosed thicket with the greenery they loved. Then, I needed to locate
a grassy green pasture for the (slow-eating) cattle...
Little did I know the same strategies would be required of me at a
later stage in life from a different position. Not that of a herds-
man; but of a provider and a leader. A lot has happened since then
with seemingly recurring similarities. For the purpose of this post,
I will revisit the year 2008.
2008 held many opportunities and lofty goals. There were many
breakthroughs. It was the year "Project Yongo" (the blog) was born,
midwifed by my friend Venetia. She is a true blessing, as this was a
huge endeavor. We created the blog to raise awareness about the
plight of the Agok community children, and Africa at large. I am proud
of the progress we have made. As we transition into 2009, my goal is
to reach a broader audience in order to help more kids realize their
dreams, and become what God has ordained them to be.
One of the major opportunities of 2008 came disguised as a hurdle.
I was laid off. For three-and-a-half months, I was on the constant
hunt for a job. Emails, phone calls, networking... I sent 720 emails;
only forty of those had my resume attached, which yielded twelve
interviews. No one appeared to be hiring due to the economic slump
in the U.S. and the subsequent collapse of the world economy. Even
though these were very unique circumstances worldwide, I did not lose
hope. Through this experience I found one thing to be true: when all
appears to be failing, there is one source which will never fail - God.
This was indeed a transition, and like any change of season, there was
a long spell of waiting, doubt, and frustration. I had my doubts about
whether a prospective employer would find it beneficial to hire a name
like "Yongo" and my frustrations about how long it would take.
I engaged in interview after interview, with each perceived rejection
leaving me to wonder (more frustration) why this particular employer
was not interested in me and what could I have done differently in
order to "pass with flying colors"? Amidst all of this, I kept deep faith
in God. I reflected on all he has done for me, from Korogocho to
America, from a 10 x 10 mud walled, sewer less shanty to a house in
Brunswick, Georgia, from Alkala (1000 miler) to Adidas. Not only
did he send an angel to guide me, but also to show me how successful
I could be in what I did. God is a Source of abundance.
I knew there was a reason for all of this, but I did not understand why.
I began asking "Why?" Then I remembered I am a "creation" like any
other and I will never be alone. I have angels guiding my path. The
soul-searching process began. As the social psychologist Stanley Milgram
describes in his book Obedience to Authority, "Often it is not so much
the kind of person a man is as the kind of situation in which he finds himself
that determines how he will act."
To a certain degree, I reacted to the situation. I almost let my ego take
control over my soul, wanting to know the cause. As the "herdsman"
I made a very conscious decision not to keep asking, and to guide myself
through this "drought." I had seen animals die and I have seen human
beings degrade mentally in situations such as this.
As a parent, a husband, and a leader there were several people leaning
on me for spiritual and moral guidance. A lot was at stake. I have
inspired a lot of young men and if I caved, then the entire "herd"
would be lost... I created a network of "spiritual warriors" like Laquita
King, Charles, Susan, Ms. Poole, Venetia, Pastor Rice of Mt. Orum
Baptist Church, Pastor Chris of Family Life Church, and Natalyne,
not to mention Julie and Pastor Scott who invited me for a prayer
vigil in Brantley County. I refused wilt and wither away, and went
back to where it all began. I knew God created me for a purpose and
did not bring me this far for his amusement, so the situation did
not change me. It made me stronger. As Pastor Rick Warren wrote
in his book Purpose Driven Life, "If you can worry, you can meditate."
My preference for meditation was born of the desire to know God
and to have a deeper understanding of my purpose on this plane
called "earth." How best could I be of service to God and his
creation - humanity? How could I be his friend? After all, in times
of turmoil you reach out for your friends. I had reached out for
all of my earthly friends, but where was my heavenly Father?
In John, chapter 15:15 Jesus calls us his "friends." Instead of
worry, I chose to connect with him through meditation and prayer
as these are the two avenues upon which he travels. I wanted
clarity and needed intervention not only from the loss of my job
but also for spiritual renewal. I needed to re energize my
archetypes in order to find meaning, if not a symbol in all of this.
In October, the funds started to dry out. I knew if I did not have
a job by November things might not be good. I started thinking of
things that could go wrong. I would lose my home, my truck, and
all the earthly "necessities." There was the risk of my kids going
without food and all that nice stuff. Several interviews along
the line, but nothing juicy, my faith did not change. I kept on
tithing, meditating, and praying. One Sunday afternoon a van
pulled-up in front of my driveway, as I was working in the yard.
Out came three well-dressed ladies. I recognized them. They
belonged to a church where I was a guest speaker back in
February. They said they heard I had been jobless for quite
some time and the Lord had sent them with some goodies.
They had a check for $500.00 and boxes of supplies ranging
from rice to chicken. Talk about God answering prayers! Here
I was thinking about how I will make payments and the three
ladies came in with a rescuing hand.
With each day, the economic news became more and more bleak.
Every employer I contacted gave me the same "doom and gloom"
story. My faith grew steadfast and my spirits were at their
highest. I made a call to my friends Paul and Kappy. I had not
been in touch with them since July, and though I did not reach
them, I left a message. Paul called me back that same evening
and we scheduled a lunch get together at a local restaurant.
During this time, we exchanged notes on which resorts to contact.
One week later we met again. At this juncture he stepped-in big
time, from taking me to stock up at Sam's Club to paying bills.
May the almighty God continue to Bless him. As Oprah Winfrey
puts it: Every one of us gets through the tough times because
somebody is there, standing in the gap to close it for us.
Paul and Kappy have been the bridge to help get me through
the transition. A transition of abundance - born out of love
and service to humanity.
On October 20th I got a lead from Jeff Newcomb. This is a guy
who was not in my database. It was a posting through Hcareers.
At the same time I received an email from a former colleague
inquiring if I had seen the job posting. This was around 9 a.m.
By 4 p.m. on the same day I was on the phone with this company
setting up an interview. On the 4th of November, I was in North
Carolina for a three-day interview. On the 14th, I received a verbal
offer. On the 17th, I received a written offer. On the 25th, I was
employed.
I had wanted to do it "my way" but the supernatural has its ways
of making things happen. There is a reason why things happen.
All we have to do is look for the symbolic meaning. Caroline Myss
describes the life interruption in her book Sacred Contracts, this
way, "When your life plans are suddenly interrupted you can choose
to view that event as a 'contract intervention' rather than a crisis."
Surely this was not a crisis but a an intervention.
Back to my friend Paul who has been very instrumental in this
changeover. When I was heading north he instructed my family
not to worry, and sure enough, when the Kia had a fatal knock,
he gave us his Chevrolet Suburban to help until such time when
I am able to buy another car. Webster's Dictionary defines a
friend as a "favored companion." I have been favored by my
friends God, Paul, V, Kappy, and La Quita, and the rest of you
who have been there for me. Lots of love to you all.
Ruwan Silva, you were a God sent angel who appears whenever
there is need. Think about the above events - how else can you
explain them? God's favor and love. In 1 John 4:16 John says
this about God's love "and we have known and believed the
love that God has for us. God is love; and he that dwells in
love dwells in God, and God in him."
Now I am managing a new "abundance" relocating the family,
settling into the new job, finding a new home and school for
the Kenyans, and finding a tenant to rent my old house.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Religion
"This is my simple religion. There is no need
for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.
Our own brain; our own heart is our temple;
the philosophy is kindness."
-HH The Dalai Lama
for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.
Our own brain; our own heart is our temple;
the philosophy is kindness."
-HH The Dalai Lama
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Forgiveness
Can we forgive and not forget? Is it possible to forgive
and forget?
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, 11th edition,
the word forget is defined as: To treat with inattention or
disregard.
Therefore, if we are ready to forgive and not forget, then
we are saying we are forgiving; but will pay attention and
give regard to whatever the grievance was...
In his book Shining Through, Hugh Prather says this:
To forget does not mean that we become insensitive to
pain or underestimate the effects of tragedy on ourselves
or others. It simply means that we accept on faith that
peace can be brought into every situation and that God's
healing consciousness can sustain us through difficulties
and even personal devastation... Any form that fear takes
becomes less compelling when seen in the light of love.
and forget?
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, 11th edition,
the word forget is defined as: To treat with inattention or
disregard.
Therefore, if we are ready to forgive and not forget, then
we are saying we are forgiving; but will pay attention and
give regard to whatever the grievance was...
In his book Shining Through, Hugh Prather says this:
To forget does not mean that we become insensitive to
pain or underestimate the effects of tragedy on ourselves
or others. It simply means that we accept on faith that
peace can be brought into every situation and that God's
healing consciousness can sustain us through difficulties
and even personal devastation... Any form that fear takes
becomes less compelling when seen in the light of love.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Village Herbalist
Even though there was a major shift from traditional to
western medicine at the dawn of 19th century Africa,
to date, there are still several regions in which western
medicine remains inaccessible. These areas carried on
with the traditional methods of healing - some of which
have been incorporated into research for modern medicine.
It should not be lost that the majority of modern medicine
is deeply rooted in herbal extracts.
As culturally diverse as Africa is, the herbs used from
region to region are the same. You will find that one
healer treks for miles and miles to seek the advice of a
healer from another tribe. Healers are vast in classification,
ranging from gods/ancestor appeasers, to ghost exorcists,
to outright witches. This group does not believe in any other
religion but their own - the practice of witchcraft and the act
of bewitching.
Nevertheless, there is another category of healers which deals
purely in the school of thought that we get sick due to the
changes in environment and that what we eat can be supported
by the principles of equilibrium - which explains illness as an
imbalance of hot-cold, sweet–sour, wet-dry. It is typical to hear villagers
complain about malaria after the long "rain and dump" weather, as
mosquitoes multiply exponentially under such conditions. This category
of healer uses prayer to aid in the patients recovery, and will send the
patient in question to the hospital if the healing process is not met
with quick response.
Damar fell into this last category of traditional healers. She was a
devout Seventh Day Adventist. For the purpose of this blog I
will dwell on this group of healers - what they do, especially
what my grand mama did and which herbs she utilized.
*As a specialist in purging and emetic medicine, she had a very
strict routine. She could only see her patients in the morning,
with one condition: that you eat little or nothing the night before.
Anything after noon would only be dealt with if it was life
threatening. The emetic would make you vomit all the contents
of your stomach, (including all the rotten stuff) while the
purgatives would do the final cleansing of the body... talk about
natural laxatives...
Whenever the above mentioned would not work, only then
did she resort to ‘surgery’. By making three incisions just
below the diaphragm or wherever the pain was felt, she
would suction the disease by inserting a goat horn. I have
three scars in my own tummy as result of this procedure!
This rule did not apply to diseases such as colds and coughs,
which were treated in the evening using fumigants and
vaporizers. For a person suffering from chest congestion
Damar would boil eucalyptus tree leaves and bark , and cover
her patient with a blanket (water still boiling) so as to inhale
the steam.
For skin diseases resulting from a measles attack or scurvy,
she would prescribe the pungent 'bitter apple' (angw’e) while,
‘neem’ (arubaini) tree was left to deal with fever. For
bacterial infections and open wounds she would dispatch
the ‘Aspilia’ tree. If you had a stomach ache, you would not
escape the wrath of the very bitter, ‘bitter leaf’ (achak).
If you liked eating raw food (which was the norm in the fields)
and had worm infection, you surely had a date with a whole
cooked pumpkin plus the seeds. For those who could not
control their appetite and had constipation, Damar was more
than happy to dispatch a concoction of aloe plant mixed with
either senna (owinno) or mahogany bark.
Damar was not only a respected healer in Kagwa village,
but in the entire west Uyoma and beyond. This was not
due to her marriage to a famous traditional wrestler
Amos Ochiyo aka "Mahanya", but due to her natural
attunement with the environment. Having been born in
bushy and shrub-covered Sakwa, grandy learned to use
the herbs at an early age - a craft she perfected with time.
People would come from different parts of the country to
pay her a visit with different ailments. She provided them
with both physical and psychological treatments. She was
very compassionate, and never used this gift solely for
her own enrichment, but to serve others. I recall on more
than three occasions women flocking to her home with
sick kids but no money. She was more than happy
to help. Her favorite words were “When this child grows
up let her know who saved her life, and let her send me a
quarter kilo of sugar, now go in peace”. This was humbling.
One day while sitting around the fireplace, I told her I
wanted to have as many cows as my grand used to have.
This was the answer:
"If you really want to buy a cow and you don’t have enough
money, what do you do? Do you put the money away, wait, and
generate more? If the money can buy you two goats (m&f), then
go ahead and buy. After a year you will have begun to realize
your dream - the goats shall have reproduced and you will be
able to sell goats and buy a cow."
*The above mentioned herbs and trees are currently used
in western medicine.
western medicine at the dawn of 19th century Africa,
to date, there are still several regions in which western
medicine remains inaccessible. These areas carried on
with the traditional methods of healing - some of which
have been incorporated into research for modern medicine.
It should not be lost that the majority of modern medicine
is deeply rooted in herbal extracts.
As culturally diverse as Africa is, the herbs used from
region to region are the same. You will find that one
healer treks for miles and miles to seek the advice of a
healer from another tribe. Healers are vast in classification,
ranging from gods/ancestor appeasers, to ghost exorcists,
to outright witches. This group does not believe in any other
religion but their own - the practice of witchcraft and the act
of bewitching.
Nevertheless, there is another category of healers which deals
purely in the school of thought that we get sick due to the
changes in environment and that what we eat can be supported
by the principles of equilibrium - which explains illness as an
imbalance of hot-cold, sweet–sour, wet-dry. It is typical to hear villagers
complain about malaria after the long "rain and dump" weather, as
mosquitoes multiply exponentially under such conditions. This category
of healer uses prayer to aid in the patients recovery, and will send the
patient in question to the hospital if the healing process is not met
with quick response.
Damar fell into this last category of traditional healers. She was a
devout Seventh Day Adventist. For the purpose of this blog I
will dwell on this group of healers - what they do, especially
what my grand mama did and which herbs she utilized.
*As a specialist in purging and emetic medicine, she had a very
strict routine. She could only see her patients in the morning,
with one condition: that you eat little or nothing the night before.
Anything after noon would only be dealt with if it was life
threatening. The emetic would make you vomit all the contents
of your stomach, (including all the rotten stuff) while the
purgatives would do the final cleansing of the body... talk about
natural laxatives...
Whenever the above mentioned would not work, only then
did she resort to ‘surgery’. By making three incisions just
below the diaphragm or wherever the pain was felt, she
would suction the disease by inserting a goat horn. I have
three scars in my own tummy as result of this procedure!
This rule did not apply to diseases such as colds and coughs,
which were treated in the evening using fumigants and
vaporizers. For a person suffering from chest congestion
Damar would boil eucalyptus tree leaves and bark , and cover
her patient with a blanket (water still boiling) so as to inhale
the steam.
For skin diseases resulting from a measles attack or scurvy,
she would prescribe the pungent 'bitter apple' (angw’e) while,
‘neem’ (arubaini) tree was left to deal with fever. For
bacterial infections and open wounds she would dispatch
the ‘Aspilia’ tree. If you had a stomach ache, you would not
escape the wrath of the very bitter, ‘bitter leaf’ (achak).
If you liked eating raw food (which was the norm in the fields)
and had worm infection, you surely had a date with a whole
cooked pumpkin plus the seeds. For those who could not
control their appetite and had constipation, Damar was more
than happy to dispatch a concoction of aloe plant mixed with
either senna (owinno) or mahogany bark.
Damar was not only a respected healer in Kagwa village,
but in the entire west Uyoma and beyond. This was not
due to her marriage to a famous traditional wrestler
Amos Ochiyo aka "Mahanya", but due to her natural
attunement with the environment. Having been born in
bushy and shrub-covered Sakwa, grandy learned to use
the herbs at an early age - a craft she perfected with time.
People would come from different parts of the country to
pay her a visit with different ailments. She provided them
with both physical and psychological treatments. She was
very compassionate, and never used this gift solely for
her own enrichment, but to serve others. I recall on more
than three occasions women flocking to her home with
sick kids but no money. She was more than happy
to help. Her favorite words were “When this child grows
up let her know who saved her life, and let her send me a
quarter kilo of sugar, now go in peace”. This was humbling.
One day while sitting around the fireplace, I told her I
wanted to have as many cows as my grand used to have.
This was the answer:
"If you really want to buy a cow and you don’t have enough
money, what do you do? Do you put the money away, wait, and
generate more? If the money can buy you two goats (m&f), then
go ahead and buy. After a year you will have begun to realize
your dream - the goats shall have reproduced and you will be
able to sell goats and buy a cow."
*The above mentioned herbs and trees are currently used
in western medicine.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
When The Edges Crumble, Part II
Here is what I found out:
THE HIGHER SELF IS CONNECTED TO THAT OF OTHERS.
I love my life here in the Golden Isles, and can give many reasons
why. Among them (in my opinion), the teacher-to-child ratio in
the school system here is just right. Of course (as with any
“immigrant” family) there have been the related challenges. We
arrived in January, midway through the school year. My eldest
son Oscar (who was in the 10th grade in Kenya) was sent back to
the 9th grade… It was kind of demoralizing and many times,
regret started creeping in. Yet, something inside kept saying: it’s
just one year, let’s move on. This “setback” challenged Oscar to
set his eyes on the prize – to work hard, have fun and be the
best “Oscar” he could be. On May 30th of this year, we celebrated
his graduation from Glynn Academy – where he played soccer and
was in the ROTC as a second lieutenant. He is now a freshman
majoring in chemistry at Valdosta State University. I am very proud
of his achievements. The other two boys are also hustling. Allan
is playing soccer for Golden Isle Soccer Club U18, while his
younger sibling Brian is chasing the piece of dead leather at
Coastal Soccer Outreach. Brian is 12 and already playing with
U16… He is also learning fine arts at Glynn Middle School.
He plays the guitar… Way to, “Brayo”. Meanwhile, the two
princesses in the household give me a run for my time. Being
the father and nanny to Kate is a job I love, while Michelle will
always amaze me with her wit as I shuttle her to-and-from
school. Dealing with these two keeps me busier than a day’s
paying job.
The truth is: I love my life. Period.
Turning back to the center - it is here that I will not lose sight
of my purpose on this physical plane. Here, I realize it is best
not to focus on 'what I have lost; but on what I am becoming
due to the loss’. I have stayed away from the edges, as they
are too brittle. Turning to the center of my creation I seek
guidance and my archetype readily provides me with all the
help I need:
Venetia K. Hanratty-Saunders has been a key figure in helping
me realize my dream of serving others. She is the "editor in
chief" for Project Yongo, and has helped keep me in focus with
my life’s purpose… When my son Oscar was moving to Valdosta
to attend college, I went to hire a U-Haul. I became reacquainted
with Jim Bonds - it had been a year since we met. He asked what
I was up to, as he had heard about Sea Island laying-off 300 plus
employees. When I told him I was among them, he graciously
provided me with the keys to his 17-foot moving truck - free of
charge… Due to conflicting schedules and responsibilities,
shuttling Allan and Brian to-and-from soccer practice was
not something I could (realistically) do on my own every week.
When I shared this concern with Donna Johnson, she emailed
me right away saying she had instructed her son Stephen to
shuttle Allan. The Johnsons live 20miles from where we live.
The Saturday before last, there was a tournament in Jacksonville, FL.
Donna took Allan (along with some other kids) to the games. She is a
God sent Angel… what a phenomenal human being... Not to be left out
is my wife Susan. It is her paycheck we utilized for sending money to
Kenya to help with my Grand mamas Funeral. Susan, because of you
Damar had a decent burial. I am proud of you… And in the midst of
this, I am still looking for a job placement. My professional mentor
(and a man I am proud to call my friend) Charles Saunders has been
very instrumental in showing me how to find my way around the
“concrete jungle” using the good, old fashioned computer.
Next weeks posting will begin to uncover my grandma’s stories and
herbal/healing life.
Post Script: In 1992 I went my late grandma for advice about a
small business (like all “business people” I wanted to be a success).
Someone had told me, if you don’t have ‘JUJU’ power you will never
make it. So off I went with this to my secret keeper, and she giggled.
These were her words, and I will do the best I can to translate them
into English:
“There is no known medicine for business. The medicines I
have used for years are being truthful, being able to
accommodate my customers needs, and treating them
with respect - whether they are buying half or all my
merchandise; or just inquiring”.
-Damar Awino the Kagwa Village Herbalist 1906-2008
THE HIGHER SELF IS CONNECTED TO THAT OF OTHERS.
I love my life here in the Golden Isles, and can give many reasons
why. Among them (in my opinion), the teacher-to-child ratio in
the school system here is just right. Of course (as with any
“immigrant” family) there have been the related challenges. We
arrived in January, midway through the school year. My eldest
son Oscar (who was in the 10th grade in Kenya) was sent back to
the 9th grade… It was kind of demoralizing and many times,
regret started creeping in. Yet, something inside kept saying: it’s
just one year, let’s move on. This “setback” challenged Oscar to
set his eyes on the prize – to work hard, have fun and be the
best “Oscar” he could be. On May 30th of this year, we celebrated
his graduation from Glynn Academy – where he played soccer and
was in the ROTC as a second lieutenant. He is now a freshman
majoring in chemistry at Valdosta State University. I am very proud
of his achievements. The other two boys are also hustling. Allan
is playing soccer for Golden Isle Soccer Club U18, while his
younger sibling Brian is chasing the piece of dead leather at
Coastal Soccer Outreach. Brian is 12 and already playing with
U16… He is also learning fine arts at Glynn Middle School.
He plays the guitar… Way to, “Brayo”. Meanwhile, the two
princesses in the household give me a run for my time. Being
the father and nanny to Kate is a job I love, while Michelle will
always amaze me with her wit as I shuttle her to-and-from
school. Dealing with these two keeps me busier than a day’s
paying job.
The truth is: I love my life. Period.
Turning back to the center - it is here that I will not lose sight
of my purpose on this physical plane. Here, I realize it is best
not to focus on 'what I have lost; but on what I am becoming
due to the loss’. I have stayed away from the edges, as they
are too brittle. Turning to the center of my creation I seek
guidance and my archetype readily provides me with all the
help I need:
Venetia K. Hanratty-Saunders has been a key figure in helping
me realize my dream of serving others. She is the "editor in
chief" for Project Yongo, and has helped keep me in focus with
my life’s purpose… When my son Oscar was moving to Valdosta
to attend college, I went to hire a U-Haul. I became reacquainted
with Jim Bonds - it had been a year since we met. He asked what
I was up to, as he had heard about Sea Island laying-off 300 plus
employees. When I told him I was among them, he graciously
provided me with the keys to his 17-foot moving truck - free of
charge… Due to conflicting schedules and responsibilities,
shuttling Allan and Brian to-and-from soccer practice was
not something I could (realistically) do on my own every week.
When I shared this concern with Donna Johnson, she emailed
me right away saying she had instructed her son Stephen to
shuttle Allan. The Johnsons live 20miles from where we live.
The Saturday before last, there was a tournament in Jacksonville, FL.
Donna took Allan (along with some other kids) to the games. She is a
God sent Angel… what a phenomenal human being... Not to be left out
is my wife Susan. It is her paycheck we utilized for sending money to
Kenya to help with my Grand mamas Funeral. Susan, because of you
Damar had a decent burial. I am proud of you… And in the midst of
this, I am still looking for a job placement. My professional mentor
(and a man I am proud to call my friend) Charles Saunders has been
very instrumental in showing me how to find my way around the
“concrete jungle” using the good, old fashioned computer.
Next weeks posting will begin to uncover my grandma’s stories and
herbal/healing life.
Post Script: In 1992 I went my late grandma for advice about a
small business (like all “business people” I wanted to be a success).
Someone had told me, if you don’t have ‘JUJU’ power you will never
make it. So off I went with this to my secret keeper, and she giggled.
These were her words, and I will do the best I can to translate them
into English:
“There is no known medicine for business. The medicines I
have used for years are being truthful, being able to
accommodate my customers needs, and treating them
with respect - whether they are buying half or all my
merchandise; or just inquiring”.
-Damar Awino the Kagwa Village Herbalist 1906-2008
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