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AFRICA SLIDESHOW

7/20/08

SATURDAY, July 19:Rice and Beans distribution




On Saturday afternoon, our group went to the remote village of Mucatine which is where the medical team held their clinic on Friday. The medical team was greeted with hugs and cheers by "MAMA", the matriarch of the village and whose house we held the clinic in on Friday, as well as others who received care that day.

We distribute over 150 bags of rice and 150 bags of beans to the villagers there, as well as hundreds of bars of soap that were part of the 4000+ collected through our "GOT SOAP?" campaign. The group took turns distributing so that all could have the experience of how it feels to give something so simple that would make such an impact. Timothy witnessed a man who took some beans out of the bag and said that he was going to plant them so that they could grow more.

We also sang with the kids, and then in response to our gift of food and soap, Mama started singing and others joined in, dancing in their very tribal way, with tongue trills and howls that made us smile and laugh. Then they invited us to join them in their joyful tribute to us, which was a completely overwhelming and beautiful experience, bringing many of us to tears. We sang back to them, and then boarded our bus to go home (after getting stuck in the dirt a few times).

The experience was nothing that we expected, but everything we could have hoped for as we watched them joyfully thank us for a simple meal of rice and beans, and a bar of soap in their own special way. The videos, which we are unable to load until we get home due to file size, will show you what we mean. Can't wait to share it with you all!

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