Pissing Rain

08/15/05

It's pissing rain out. The city looks different wet. I'm yet to find my stride.

If I wasn't here with a mission, an objective, it would be a whole different story. I'm jealous of the travelers I've met that are just here to have a good time. I've got a hard road paved ahead of me. All these groups I had hoped to interview and learn from haven't been responding to me emails, so I'm going to have to start calling mobiles, banging down doors. It's not exactly how I envisioned it. But I'll do what I have to.

Some progress made, I've got a meeting tomorrow at Mulago Hospital and another on Wednesday at The Hunger Project. I'll keep going.

I was introduced to the Omiydor Network by a fellow I've been emailing with whom I hope to meet in Kenya. He's involved in a plethora of humanitarian activities in Africa, and I am very excited to hear what he has to say. He is also the one who introduced me to Ashoka. But I just about lost it today, surfing on Omiydor Net. It was like when I saw the Brad Pitt – Dateline – Africa documentary shortly before I left. At first I was completely discouraged. I thought, "If a doc that uses Brad Pitt's popularity, and all of NBC's resources and contacts, cant accomplish everything, then what the hell am I doing? Who do I think I am?" But later my inspiration came pouring back. I realized that what I am attempting is different, a doc about personal stories, not about the whole problem. And then this project shifted, and I got called to action by seeing the state of things here. That was when I realized I needed to put it all on the line and try to raise some money to help. So I've been working working working, and thinking thinking thinking, and meeting meeting meeting, and writing writing writing to collaborate with the village leaders on the proposals we came up with. And then today, I was stopped in my tracks. Reading the writing on the Omiydor Network I couldn't help but hear that now familiar voice, "what do you think you can do that hasn't already been attempted? Who do you think you are? Why don't you give up now and leave it to the professionals? The problem is too big, and you are too small." But then I realized, I am in a unique situation. I can try to help this village, these widows and orphans. And no one else is. No one has ever come to this village and tried to help. Maybe the future leader that is going to cause a significant shift in Kenya, in Africa, in the world, is an orphan there in Kanga. This sort of project has been done before, successfully and unsuccessfully, but never here, never with these people. And maybe by making a doc about it at the same time, a few eyes will see that one person can help make a significant impact. And that is what Omiydor is all about. Maybe five people inspired by this project will inspire 20 people, and those 20 will inspire 100. All I can do is try my best with the opportunity in front of me. I'm here. There is no reason to give up now. I do believe that my community in the USA will step up and help me help this village help themselves. That belief, coupled with my belief that even someone as small as me can make a difference, is what will have to help me through. I know I am blessed. I believe I can use my blessings to help make the world better. Even if only on a frightfully small scale. Every little bit helps. There is a real possibility that the next great leader is starving to death in Kanga, Kenya. And we can help them eat, grow, and learn. And we can't pass on that opportunity.

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