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Two firstsMarianne Tomlinson — Phelpston, ON This was my first and, I hope, not my last distribution for Sleeping Children. Four thousand bedkits in six days sounded like and enormous task when I first heard of it. I thought it would take us from sunup to sundown every day. I was surprised at how smoothly and quickly we could hand out bedkits over the six days. It is difficult to put into words the feeling I experienced during my first distribution. To be part of the joyous day for so many needy children tugs at my heart. I saw so many smiling faces on the boys and girls as I handed them a bag which contained the items of their bedkit. The children would then meet up with their mothers or fathers at the exit point and the sincere gratitude was apparent. I heard muchas gracias (thank you very much) many times over. I had the chance to interview some of the mothers and fathers of the bedkit recipients. It brought tears to my eyes to hear how all the bedkit items would be so useful for their child. Items like the mosquito net, mattress, and towel they did not have, since they were too expensive. Now that they have received these items in the bedkit the family can have a bit more money to buy food for the family.
Having the chance to get out after a distribution to see some of the homes which the children who obtained a bedkit made me realize how much these children needed the items which were given to them in the bedkit. At one home that we visited the mom showed us their children's small mud floor bedroom. Here on a small wooden frame bed was the mattress which their child had received earlier that morning lying out on the bed and the mosquito netting hanging over the bed. Here three children would have a comfortable night's sleep protected from the mosquitos. At another home a mothers was sobbing with gratitude and thankfulness for what we had done for her children. This really tugs at the heart strings and brought tears to my eyes. This distribution to Nicaragua was a double for firsts: A first time for me to have the privilege to assist in handing out the bedkits and the first time that this country had had a bedkit distribution. I was so blessed to be part of both of these firsts. |
