Hi-
Can't believe I got to use a computer two days in a row!!!!
Valentine's Day in Kunming
Yup--red roses are here too & lots of couples were enjoying each other & dinner out tonight. We spent the afternoon packing up bags with soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, towels and 6 pairs of undies in ziplocks so we'd be ready to pass them out to the woman in the villages many of which have none of the above. We then boxed up things so we'd be ready to take off tomorrow. Jenny was off with Meizi shopping for sewing machines which they found and had 15 shipped to one of the villages. The Yuan took Jenny & us to the Nationalities Museum where we got to see many of the area nationalities native clothing & housing. Finally, we were ready to celebrate our last night in Kunming. Yuan & his wife & young son, Meizi & her husband, Li, Jenny, Roger and I went out for a Dai dinner complete with 12 dishes and another enjoyable evening with our new found friends.
The Gangs All Here
Renay, founder of Eco Village of Hope & Steve who has worked with Water4 arrived late last night. We all met up for a meeting to get everyone on the same page this a.m. and then packed the truck to the gills, sent Rog, Steve & two others who will help with translation & whatever else we need (haven't got the spelling of their names yet) off to the bus station and with trusty Yuan at the wheel, the rest of us piled in the truck & headed for the nearest large city about two hours from the first village we'll be visiting: Jui Dao Ma Lu. We enjoyed another bountiful meal and are staying in a pretty nice hotel...that allows us to use the internet!! Life is good.
Can't believe I got to use a computer two days in a row!!!!
Valentine's Day in Kunming
Yup--red roses are here too & lots of couples were enjoying each other & dinner out tonight. We spent the afternoon packing up bags with soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, towels and 6 pairs of undies in ziplocks so we'd be ready to pass them out to the woman in the villages many of which have none of the above. We then boxed up things so we'd be ready to take off tomorrow. Jenny was off with Meizi shopping for sewing machines which they found and had 15 shipped to one of the villages. The Yuan took Jenny & us to the Nationalities Museum where we got to see many of the area nationalities native clothing & housing. Finally, we were ready to celebrate our last night in Kunming. Yuan & his wife & young son, Meizi & her husband, Li, Jenny, Roger and I went out for a Dai dinner complete with 12 dishes and another enjoyable evening with our new found friends.
The Gangs All Here
Renay, founder of Eco Village of Hope & Steve who has worked with Water4 arrived late last night. We all met up for a meeting to get everyone on the same page this a.m. and then packed the truck to the gills, sent Rog, Steve & two others who will help with translation & whatever else we need (haven't got the spelling of their names yet) off to the bus station and with trusty Yuan at the wheel, the rest of us piled in the truck & headed for the nearest large city about two hours from the first village we'll be visiting: Jui Dao Ma Lu. We enjoyed another bountiful meal and are staying in a pretty nice hotel...that allows us to use the internet!! Life is good.
Renay: 
Unofficial Meeting Minutes:
Renay warmly welcomed everyone to the team by passing out Valentine candy boxes. She then introduced each of us noting what area we'd be heading up. Renay was clear in tellin us the key words to all our projects was "We'll try." We don't want to raise expectations and then have the villagers lose faith in us...and themselves. Steve (who has spent much time in third world countries) called it "Poverty Fatigue": when people work & work & things don't get better pretty soon they quit & don't have any hope that things will ever improve. If we go in there saying we are going to do this or that and it doesn't work...we add to the poverty fatigue. Renay also made it clear that nothing is to be done without the approval of the village head with Yuan or Meizi doing the communiction. Steve told a story that made that point clear: A man standing next to a dog was asked by another man if his dog bites. The man said "No." So the second man bent down to pet the dog and it bit his hand off. He shouted at the first man, "I thought you said your dog did not bite!" The first man said, "My dog doesn't. That dog isn't my dog." Morale of the story: Make sure the villagers (and us) totally understand what we've come to do. We are here to teach & supply tools and give HANDA support. HANDA is here for the long run & makes frequent visits to each village providing them with essential needs. EVHS is here to enhance a little at a time, the life of the villagers. But foremost we must remember, it is their village and we must respect their wishes. If we can encourage a more hopeful & positive mind set of the villagers just a bit, progress will happen over time.
Until I get another chance to write....take care & keep in touch
Unofficial Meeting Minutes:
Renay warmly welcomed everyone to the team by passing out Valentine candy boxes. She then introduced each of us noting what area we'd be heading up. Renay was clear in tellin us the key words to all our projects was "We'll try." We don't want to raise expectations and then have the villagers lose faith in us...and themselves. Steve (who has spent much time in third world countries) called it "Poverty Fatigue": when people work & work & things don't get better pretty soon they quit & don't have any hope that things will ever improve. If we go in there saying we are going to do this or that and it doesn't work...we add to the poverty fatigue. Renay also made it clear that nothing is to be done without the approval of the village head with Yuan or Meizi doing the communiction. Steve told a story that made that point clear: A man standing next to a dog was asked by another man if his dog bites. The man said "No." So the second man bent down to pet the dog and it bit his hand off. He shouted at the first man, "I thought you said your dog did not bite!" The first man said, "My dog doesn't. That dog isn't my dog." Morale of the story: Make sure the villagers (and us) totally understand what we've come to do. We are here to teach & supply tools and give HANDA support. HANDA is here for the long run & makes frequent visits to each village providing them with essential needs. EVHS is here to enhance a little at a time, the life of the villagers. But foremost we must remember, it is their village and we must respect their wishes. If we can encourage a more hopeful & positive mind set of the villagers just a bit, progress will happen over time.
Until I get another chance to write....take care & keep in touch
