Tales From the Township - All We Have is Love #charity

Today I had a bit of a shock, receiving a message from Liezel that Stacey’s husband, who was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier in the year, just got the news that it has spread to his bones and liver. I just stared at the screen, wondering what life is all about?

Sometimes I feel bad about blogging about Little Angels when I tell bad news, because Little Angels gave me more than I can put into words – the love and dedication to bringing a change to lives at that center is more than I’ve ever seen anywhere. I became a new person thanks to my experience working there. The love the teachers and children have given me and the feeling of being appreciated for what I do, so if it is just loving the kids, has completely transformed my life.

Little Angels was set up years ago by Liezel when her sister, whose kids were drug addicts, died in cancer and her own children found crystal meth (“tik”) in the streets. She promised her sister to do something and the day her kids found the drugs the answerr was obvious – keep kids off the streets. Liezel didn’t have money and till this day none of the teachers are paid and the center struggles to look after the kids with the little donations given. Yet, the teachers show up every day, working long hours. To topple it off everyone comes to Liezel with their problems – from HIV and poverty to abuse. These teachers are making a difference. Yet they aren’t paid.

Stacey and her husband as well as their two kids live in a shack. Last night Stacey and Nickla were bitten by a rat, which they are now trying to catch. It’s cold, damp and, well, not very nice. I managed to get one of my friends to donate hot water bottles to give to Tony as he can’t sleep at night due to pain in his lungs and cold. He used to be a mechanic, but due to his lungs giving in he can’t work. He did smoke, but he lives in a township – most people are high on drugs and many are criminals. Smoking seems like a small sin in that town and people just aren’t educated about health.

Many times since I found out Tony is sick I’ve felt desperate. Many times in general when I know the kids are showing up in flip-flops and t-shirts when it’s a hail storm I feel helpless. We are in need of help. Desperately.

I researched everything I could about alternative therapies for cancer when I heard about Tony, but the joke is, we can’t pay for them. One woman cured herself of lung cancer using carrot juice and I gave Liezel a juicer for her birthday as when she was using mine she felt better from her thyroid problems (she almost died from them when she was pregnant years ago and lost one of her twins). The joke? We can’t afford carrots.

I had RSI in the beginning of the year and for a while I could hardly work and spent all my money on therapies until I came across John E. Sarno’s book and the TMS Wiki, which sorted me out. I am also in the US trying to launch my social enterprise to support Little Angels, but as a result I have no money. And I feel like I’m begging.

When I was hit with RSI I felt helpless. I had to learn to ask for help – watch other people type for me. It was hard. Likewise, I sometimes hate asking for help for Little Angels, because, well, in time we should figure it out ourselves right? We should be self-sufficient. But right now we aren’t and both the kids (coming from families that can’t pay for regular childcare) and the teachers are suffering.

I want to share the joy and happiness, the hope Little Angels provide to the township of Hangberg. I want to show what it feels like when kids who are often abused at home have a haven to go to where they get loved, cared for and fed. That’s what I love about it. Yet, it feels like I’m always telling sad stories, because a lot of things happen at Little Angels and right now, we can’t always cope with it. And i get angry – how can these people who are doing so much have so little? How is that possible? How can life be so cruel? We are working on setting up a stand selling things, I’m working on an online crowd funding campaign and launching my social enterprise, we will soon look for other charities/foundations to support us. We are doing what we can, yet I feel so utterly helpless sometimes. And I have to ask for help. It’s the only thing I can do.

I believe this work is making me more and more humble. I'm also slowly, slowly learning to let go. I got upsettoday. I have been upset many times since I came to America. I have felt helpless and stressed. I've been angry and sad. But I know it won't help. All that does help is breathing, loving and putting one foot after the other. It's the best strategy. And instead of despairing about what hurts in life, embrace what doesn't and the incredible love there is at Little Angels. Because if it is one thing we do have, it's love.

I know Stacey and her family are having a hard time now, but all the teachers are helping them. That’s what I love with Little Angels. You are never alone there. There is always love.

Maria Montgomery is a writer, social entrepreneur and foster mommy to a pair or twins from the township. You can reach her via LinkedIn, Twitter: @OhMyMontgomery @LittleAngelsCT, or Google+

Check out the Little Angels' Website where you can find out more about our vision, as well as donations, volunteering opportunities and just life in general at Little Angels.

Kita by the tap, Nickla and Tyreke and, uhm, me with the two of them... :)