Change Your Perspective

So I don't have much time to post...the coffee shop I like writing at is closed on Mondays. As I was reading my first blog I feel like I idolized Africa....probably because I was still in awe of the fact I was here.
Africa is hot. Sometimes I just want to sit in a cold shower all day. Sometimes drinking something cold doesn't help because it just makes you realize how hot you actually are. I feel sorry for those babies wrapped in blankets and long sleeves and winter beanies...
Today I visited a lady named Betty. Betty's husband works in Kampala only to come home every few weekends. Betty has a son named Emmanuel (she calls him Emma). He's 3 months old. She calls him her miracle baby because she thought she couldn't get pregnant. She says in her culture if a women has not conceived a year after being married it is shameful. She has been married 6 years. But Betty got pregnant last year. 3 months into her pregnancy she almost miscarried. She was on bedrest after that. When she went into labor something was blocking the birth canal and so the doctors did an emergency c-section. Betty called it "a ceaser." She has a long vertical incision down her belly that is still healing 3 months after the surgery. She has trouble moving and bending over because of it.
Betty takes care of 2 girls who aren't hers: Linda and Monday. Linda is a bright, energetic young girl who is missing her childhood because she helps Betty with cooking, cleaning, taking care of Emma and making Suubi necklaces. Monday has some type of tumor or disease growing inside her nose. She needs surgery her parents can't afford. Actually her parents can't even afford to feed her hence she lives with Betty. The tumor is growing. You can see it inside one of her nostrils. Its painful and is starting to give her brain damage. And you want to know how much this surgery is? This life saving surgery? 300,000 shilling. About 150 dollars. That's all. Sometimes the poverty...the needs Africa has make me cry...make my stomach ache.
But even though on days like today when all I can see is the negitive, God changes my perspective. Betty considers herself blessed because God gave her a baby. Because she is able to take care of Linda and Monday better than their parents can. She has 3 chickens. Well only 2 now because we ate one today. She's thankful for the tree in her yard that gives her shade and the fact that she has a good solid front door. God's teaching me to be thankful for the small things. I am thankful that I have enough clothes to wear something clean everyday. I'm thankful that the house I live in has running water and electricity. I'm thankful that even thought the boda drivers rip me off I can afford to pay them. I'm thankful.

...And I think I'm only starting to scratch the surface at what I'm going to learn in the next 2 months.