I hadn't heard from Barbara in awhile, so I was pleasantly surprised to receive a card from her recently. She was just checking in with me to tell me that she is still following my journey, and to let me know that she thinks of me and cheers me on in my efforts to make the world a little better place "One Good Deed" at a time. I hope she knows how much her support means to me. I hope she also knows what a contribution she makes herself. Barbara has sponsored Jean-Claude for several years, enabling him to attend school and corresponding with him regularly so that he, too, knows there is someone out there who appreciates him and wants the very best for him. She also hand knitted some hats for us to take on one of our trips. The hats were given to the children in the pediatric ward of the district hospital in Gisenyi, and were a great hit with both the children and their mamas! Here are a few of their happy little faces:
I treasure Barbara's support, and also her heart for people she has never met. Jean-Claude's life is better for having come in contact with her, perhaps in ways Barbara will never know. And so it is with me as well--so thanks, Barbara, for your support and compassion. You make a difference to me, too, and my life is better for having met you!
This week I also received an email from a nurse in Canada named Cathleen who just last week became a master trainer in the Helping Babies Breathe Program at the class in Denver. She found my website when she was browsing for the Helping Babies Breathe Program in Rwanda. She noticed that we will be training healthcare workers and birth attendants there in March, which is coincidentally during the time she and her group will be there to assess ways they might begin training as well. She inquired as to whether we might join up so her group could get an idea of how we are going about our training. I am hoping they will be able to join us for the training in Gisenyi--both to see how we are arranging our training and also, if they choose, to help out with the learners in Gisenyi! I have been working on a response to her, and am wondering if there might be a way we could join forces in order to train more Rwandans each time.
I read a book a couple of years ago when I was trying to learn about non-profit work and trying to find my niche in this new world of mine. One thing that has stayed with me from that book (the title is Give a Little, by the way) is an example of how grass roots works like mine impact the world. The author likened it to tossing a stone into a pond and making ripples. Each time we "cast a stone" by doing something to make the world a better place, there are ripples that spread out and touch others who also cast a stone.
Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. ~Scott Adams
So, Barbara, you may think your contributions don't amount to much in the grand scheme of things, but the ripple they create have touched many lives! I have been fortunate to see the "ripple effect" through the contacts I meet on a regular basis--some that Michael has introduced me to, and some, like Barbara and Cathleen, who found me by chance. It's an amazing world out there, and there is a lot to do--so come on, let's get busy!
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