Week 20 - Another Family, Another Story

This week began with lots of organising and sorting for the rest of this school term. It’s crazy how after being out of the classroom for two weeks, losing track of things really put you out of swing. Things haven’t been going quite as smoothly as I would have hoped after the holiday with school; my organisation and patterns of doing things differ to that of the person who was watching my classroom (not saying a bad job was done at all!), but when your systems aren’t followed it can slightly disrupt things.

After finally being back in school for over a week, and having resettled back into life here, I began bulk planning my ESL lessons, so I could have some relaxation time as well as some spare time to get organised and sorted for the next academic term.

As the weeks draw to an end, I become stricter with the children; handing out detentions, demerits and rewarding only EXTRA good behaviour! I am sure sometime the students see me coming and take cover! With most students coming from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, and broken families, school is the one place they have the opportunity to learn the correct behaviours, as well as the chance to radically improve their lives. This is something I am so passionate about, and so my stern face and strict methods are to drill the importance of this into them. Don’t get me wrong, Miss Charlotte can have fun, and is usually fought over during break time to join the teams in ‘Dog and Meat’.

During this week, I completed my final paperwork needed for my visa to be renewed. Most had already been submitted, but some additional passport pictures were required, as well as some extra forms. I managed to do most of it during school time, and then headed into Jaffna town centre with Angel and Sweette to run some additional errands. As well as this, we had the opportunity to go to Ranjini’s house, which is now being erected. She has been on my heart since my first visit to Sri Lanka in 2016 – the transition and impact this building will have on her life is indescribable. Two years ago, herself and four children, plus a drunk husband were living in a make-shift saree tent. An addition of a few sheets of corrugated iron and cardboard, made this a ‘home’. After fundraising and petitioning to build her a TRUE home, it is finally going up. When myself, Angel and Sweette visited, we were able to see it with the brick work completed (yes! – REAL BRICKS), holes for the windows and doors and a proper roof on the top, to keep out the rain during monsoon season! As well as this, there was a clean and carefully laid concrete floor, perfect for her daughter to practice dancing and for her boys to enjoy playing with their toy cars.

This was the family, before I came to Sri Lanka you guys; my family and friends raised funds to provide them with a well for clean drinking water. The well will be started once the house has been completed.

Looking back, the week held a lot of travelling around and checking things out! At the weekend, I also headed into Jaffna Town with Sweette and Angel, to do some Dust Project work; checking out hotels and prices for the September trip, which has become full very quickly! We have a team of 10 joining us from one of the major insurance companies in the UK, plus our usual team of willing volunteers, found through family and friends. We are SO excited for these teams, and everything they will achieve. We have two massive house builds to conquer, and I am overly confident it will be achieved, and more!

Myself and Angel went on a hunt for school equipment, stationary and storage facilities; with the new ‘hall’ being ready soon for us, we are beginning to try and organise the cupboards etc. we will have to relocate. This includes sorting, throwing and cleaning a lot of things. All us teachers definitely have our work cut out during the school holidays. After our errands, I was lucky enough to be invited for Nandu Curry (CRAB) at Sweette’s house. It was the best I’ve EVER eaten (although, please don’t tell Kormatha). The spice was just right, the vegetables were a perfect addition, and I didn’t feel rushed to finish. Just what you want for a Saturday afternoon. Myself and Angel chilled for a bit, and then headed with Sweette to buy a food parcel for a new family who have just begun to come to church.

Their story is so sad, and it was a privilege to be able to meet them and bless them with such a small act of kindness. They were passing through a narrow alley one evening a couple of weeks ago, and came across one of the NLM house group meetings. The first week they ignored it, but felt compelled to attend the following week. Within the space of one week, the two parents had been diagnosed as HIV Positive, despite neither having been unfaithful. The husband lost his job as his employer discovered the diagnosis, the wife is unable to work as she has 5 children to look after. They attended NLM church on the Sunday, and the following week, things had got very bad. The husband had been attacked in their neighbourhood, the children were beginning to become aware of the shift in attitudes of the local people, who had once been their friends, and there had been no food to eat. Sadly, the father/husband on the Friday attempted to commit suicide, by taking an overdose of Panadol, leaving the wife and children venerable. For almost two weeks, the father had been applying for jobs, but wherever he went, news of his HIV spread. Luckily he was found in time by his wife, who rushed him to a government hospital (free of charge), where his stomach was pumped and he was making a good recovery. Myself, Sweette, Angel and Daniel headed to the hospital after visiting the family to pray for the him, and Sweette has given him a promise of work as a day labourer, once he is fully recovered. The five children are aged as follows: Girls; 12 years old, 6 years old, 3 years old, 6 months. Boy; 9 years old.

The remaining part of the week included lots of hanging out on Sweette’s land, where building work has just begun, for her house, as well as spending time with Angel. It is so great to have her around and just be able to hang out with someone a similar age to me, who also speaks great English. I’m savouring every moment with her, and really thankful she is here in Jaffna now Sapthika is in England. I am sure however, a time will come soon when she must return to Colombo!