Bangladesh, The Final Thoughts

Today things got real. It’s going to take me awhile to fully process the thoughts and emotions but let’s talk this out. 

PC: Jaron Horrocks 

This morning we got together and assembled hot food kits. Styrofoam container, (yes, my inner environmentalist freaked out but I held it together) white rice, a piece of chicken and slice of potato. Assembling was actually quite fun as I was in the rice room which consisted of a bedroom with a massive tarp filled with rice. If your a tactile person like me you would have enjoyed this too. I was really tempted to climb in and have me an adult rice sand box but I maintained control. ;)
Once we finished one thousand boxes we loaded the truck and headed to the camp. Little did I know the chaos that would ensue.

PC: Jaron

Upon arrival we discussed our “plan”. We moved a van into place to create a tunnel and help with crowd control. After making sure everyone was lined up and each volunteer had a job we began to let the little children come through to pick up a meal. As they grabbed their food we marked their hand with a marker to attempt to keep order and a system where we knew who was already given food. Within minutes the crowd began to intensify. Emotions grew. Bodies pushed forward. Hands began to grab. Kids began to cry. Adults pushed kids out of the way. Volunteers immediately tried to get order but were being swarmed by people m. With the help of the locals they were able to literally push back the people and attempt to regain control. Men with sticks whacked the ground in an effort to scare people back and at times hit people. Kids still cried. Adults still pushed. Volunteers still used their bodies as barricades. Once again they let a few through at a time and we continued to hand out food and the crowd continued to grow in desperation.
I cannot fully explain to you the situation as people swarmed, begging, pushing, grabbing, doing everything they could to get food. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was quite and emotional experience.

PC: Jaron 

How do you tell the child wearing only a ripped and tattered shirt that he can’t have a second meal?
How do you turn away the girl barely old enough to walk wearing pants held up with rope and no shoes that she can’t have another meal for her mom at home?
How do you tell the crippled old man he has to wait until the children have come through?
Do you not give out hot food? Is there a better way to maintain order and organization? Is there something else that would be more helpful to spend money on?
There has to be a better system. I’m not sure what it is but I know there is a better way.

When this emotional whirlpool ended we headed to a living structure to hear the stories of four women. The women each told us their account of fleeing as we sat on a mat in a dark room, lit with only a small window light. The women told of the military coming in the early morning and shooting into the village. They talked of watching babies be shot while people ran for their lives. They talked of hiding in the rice fields while the military took away the men and put them in prison and beat them. They talked of their homes being burned to the ground as they fled for their lives. They shared of their river crossing and selling their rings and gold to pay the men to take them across the river. They shared of their hunger pains as they made the journey. They shared their tears with us as they shared their stories.

These deeply dark and emotional moments were overcome by the times spewing forth with joy. Each time we entered the camp and the children ran to us will huge smiles greeting us with the little English they knew. Each time a bubble was popped or a balloon tossed and their laughter filled the room. Each time the locals peered out of their huts and a shy smile spread across their face. Each interaction a little more hope and a little more love that spread.

One of my favorite moments was a very intimate prayer session with Becky, one of the volunteers. Becky herself is a light and Inspiration  to the world and I hope to be a little more like her each day. She is capturing stories of the Rohingya in the camps, learning of their faith and devotion, their stories, and turning them into a book. The session I sat in with her  had us with one woman in her humble structure. Bare bamboo walls and a single mat on the floor welcomed us as we sat together. She taught us the movements of prayer and together we prayed. She then told us of her love for God and how God watches over and helps us. She shared her story of loss and death as she fled her country and how her faith has helped her. Sitting in that room we were all overcome by the spirit as tears escaped our eyes. It was the most spiritual experience and such a tender time.

It was in that moment that I realized that religion ties us together. It unites even the most different of faiths and people. Bringing us together not in our differences of beliefs but in our united belief that there is a higher being watching over all of us in all parts of the world.

In my final reflections on this trip I think what also stands out to me the most is the special journey this was as I did it not for myself but for my kids, for the entire fifth grade class. One hundred kids were able to experience the refugee camps from afar and to lean the stories of the survivors. They were able to learn about another culture and open their eyes to a different part of the world. Talking with them each day and showing them an entirely different way of life was a special experience.
Why do we serve? Sometimes it may not have the greatest impact but the impact it has on ourselves is truly great. We can take that impact and spread it to our families, communities, work places, and more.
There will always be sorrow, hate, and sadness in this world but we can combat it with charity and love. No matter the darkness there is always a light and I’m glad I was able to spread just a small bit of it this week.