The past three months have, in
different proportions, been wonderful, painful, joyous and sad. Trying to care
for the education, medical health and welfare of children who find themselves
in critical need has been a task.
I have worked with some fantastic
and selfless adults who have given and continue to give all of themselves to
the care of children.
Also, I have had to steer a path
past those who have shown themselves to be greedy, corrupt and with a sense of
entitlement. Those who feel that anyone coming from ‘the west’ is rich and is
willing to finance anyone who asks.
It really is not simple, as all
who live in this region are suffering in some way from the situation in which
they find themselves. A psychologist friend in Bethlehem told me that there is
a collective suffering of depression. It is not an easy place in which to live,
with so many pressures on daily life. Violence and violent death are daily
occurrences, restrictions on movement, religious tensions, endemic poverty in
certain areas and just trying to lead and live a ‘normal’ life all contribute
to this sense of despair.
However, and it is big however,
the vast majority of those I meet, smile, show great welcome and have such a
great inner strength, a strength that I have witnessed in very few other places
around the world. I am met by warmth and cheerfulness by children who live in
such difficult situations. And it is for these children in such terrible
critical need that we created Abraham’s Children in Crisis. Throughout the
world there is corruption and greed and so it is with the greatest care that we
work hard to ensure that every penny/shekel is used to try to help lift young
people out of their crises. We listen, we consult professionals and we monitor
and if at any time we feel that the child is not receiving the help he or she
needs then we again work hard to find a solution.
We thank the children for
allowing us to try and help them. We thank the parents, advisors, schools,
hospitals, doctors and other professionals who give of their time so generously
and freely. We thank those, who so selflessly financially support these
youngsters. There are so many people to thank for enabling the children to
receive a good education and live a healthier life in the hope, the very
sincere hope, that it might make a difference.
