Making the World's Best to Make the World Better

The Covid restrictions of this past year have been limiting for all of us, but I believe they are even more difficult for our children. For many children in Mozambique, school is the only highlight of their day. Children from every economic background put on their uniform and escape to a place where everyone is on a level playing ground. A place where they can leave their life of poverty and struggle behind. A place where they are valued as a student. A place where they are given the hope of a better life through education. Very few things have grieved my heart these past months than to see children sitting around with sad faces and no purpose to their lives. There is no opportunity for remote, online learning in a poor, developing nation like Mozambique. There is little to no chance that our public schools will even open this year- they lack bathrooms, running water, and space to provide the required social distancing. It appears that our already disadvantaged children will simply get a “free pass” to the next grade after having completed only 1 ½ months of study in their current grade. Thankfully the children in our Sunshine Houses have had more opportunity than their public school colleagues. 

Our Sunshine children have done a stellar job in coping with the isolation these past 6 months. In the beginning, we didn’t let them out of the gate. They had to stay home and play. I recall arriving at our first house to find our Antonio sitting on one side of their 6 foot high protective cement wall talking and laughing with his friend, Ziadi, who was sitting on the other side of the wall. This was their only way to connect. As time passed, we gave our children permission to go play with the children in our other Sunshine Houses. This has melded them together into one big extended family. It is very common to arrive at one house and find children from another house there playing. They are flourishing and happy to have this interaction. Also, we had the foresight to hire a teacher who comes three times a week to tutor them. We are thankful to be able to provide for their academic growth during these times of restriction that are setting so many lives back. So three times a week, they come together for lessons. When they meet up together, they joke, laugh, and tease each other just like a family, but then they always settle down quite nicely when Professor Daniel calls them to class. 

There are not many recreational places to take them to get away from it all, so I have had to be creative. I recently came up with an idea that proved to be a huge, unexpected winner. I brought them out to our Sunshine Nut Co factory for a day. My first objective was to simply get them out of the house and neighborhood for a bit of a respite. My second objective was that they should know how they are being supported. The mission of Sunshine Nut Co and Sunshine Approach Foundation are one mission. I wanted the children to meet the workers who go to work every day and process the cashews sold to support them. I wanted them to see their faces, interact with them, and know them. I also wanted our Sunshine Nut Co workers to meet our children. The children are their reason for working. These two groups of people are also intertwined and inseparable. Our visit to the factory only achieved these objectives and so much more! 

I divided our children into 2 groups so as to make them more manageable…and to fit them into my car! When I arrived to fetch each group, they were ready to go in their best clothes. We arrived at the factory and headed to Papa Don’s office for a Power Point presentation on the company and its purpose. Proud smiles appeared on their faces as they saw their photos interspersed in the slides that Papa Don uses in his talks all of the world.

We then headed into the factory. As with any visitors, we asked them to suit up with a hair net and their masks. The hair nets brought out lots of giggles. 

Our Safety and Health Manager gave them a tour of the factory…starting at the beginning where the cashews arrive, all the way through to the end where they are boxed and taken out to be stored in containers outside. The children were very curious and hung on his every word. 

We assigned them to work alongside our employees in various roles. Our employees went above and beyond my expectations of teaching them a job and coaching them through performing it. They were so kind and encouraging with the children. My heart was encouraged to see these two groups of people come together. We were led here to meet their needs to have opportunity, dignity and a better life. Seeing them come together was an experience for which no words can do justice. 

Our children took their roles very seriously. Whether it was checking the bar codes on the packaging…

Packing our new shippers…

Helping to haul the packed boxes to be wrapped...

Labeling the boxes for shipping…

Or filling the bags…

Each child rose to the occasion and outperformed my expectations…all under the watchful eye and encouragement of our employees.

In fact, when the bell rang for lunch, our children refused to stop their job until it was finished.

We then headed out to the outdoor lapa to enjoy a catered lunch of grilled chicken and fries. 

 

As the day ended, each child received two individual packages of cashews to take home, as well as two packages for their mothers. As you can see by their smiles, they were proud and happy to have had a part in this day. 

Not long after our field trip to the factory, Antonio, one of our children, accompanied me in the car as we took a plumber to get parts to make a repair on the pipes in his house. As we drove to the market, the plumber asked Antonio what he wants to be when he grows up. Without hesitation, Antonio responded, “A worker at Papa Don’s factory.” The plumber looked at him and said, “Oh no! Don’t you want to be a doctor? Or a lawyer? Or an accountant?” Antonio looked at him and calmly responded, “No. I want to be a Sunshine Nut Company worker for Papa Don.” Antonio, it will be our pleasure one day to see you working alongside Papa Don making the world's best cashews to make the world better. You make us proud. 

What a Little Change Can Do

Having been a teacher and a mother, I know first-hand the importance of reading, books, and storytelling in the development of children. Being read to and reading independently develop a multitude of skills in young children; skills they will carry with them into adulthood. Reading stimulates their imagination. It expands their understanding of the world. It improves their concentration and memory, boosts their critical thinking skills, develops their empathy, and develops and expands their language skills. In my classroom, I created an inviting, comfortable area for my students to sit and read. I filled the shelves with row upon row of books for all reading levels and varied interests. I made sure that my students had time to read every day, and I read to them every day. At home, our children's rooms were filled with books as well. Each day ended with a bedtime story. My world has been filled with reading and books all of my life. 

Until...I moved to Mozambique.

There is an alarming absence of children's literature in Mozambique. There are no reading books in the homes. There are no reading books in the classrooms. There are no children's libraries where children can go and borrow books. There are very few stores that even carry reading books for children, and when they do, the prices are exorbitant. How can our children be leaders if they do not have the opportunity to be readers? For years, I have wanted to create a library of books for our children who live in our Sunshine Houses. I want them to be surrounded by books that stimulate their imagination, take them to far away places, and inspire them to dream. I want them to develop the reading skills that will advance them academically. Yet as with most families anywhere in the world, one must decide where to allocate their funds. I was concerned about the cost of a library and the ability to grow it. 

Until...Mrs. Judith Adamec's second grade class from the Saint John the Evangelist School in Warrenton, Virginia. 

For many years, Saint John's the Evangelist School has partnered with our foundation. This partnership began when my sister, Jill, taught there. She invited me to speak to the student body about our work in Mozambique. They then had a Vitamin Drive. Students who brought in a bottle of vitamins were given a Dress Down Day (when they did not have to wear their uniform to school). These children were beyond generous. They did not bring in one jar; many brought in two! They didn't bring in just the small jars; they brought the large ones! We ended up with boxes and boxes of vitamins to bring back and distribute to orphanages in our area. The following year, students in the sewing club made dresses for the little girls in the orphanages and donated bags of underwear for the children. We then began a partnership where the students hold fundraisers to raise money to pay the school tuition for 3 of our girls at our second Sunshine House. I try to get to the school to share with the students as often as I can, usually at the beginning and ending of each school year. When I was there two years ago, Mrs. Adamec invited me to her classroom after I spoke, saying her students had something for me. They presented me with a box of cards for the children and a monetary gift to bless them. They had raised the money by donating their pocket change. That year we used the money to provide a nice Children's Day celebration on June 1st. As I was leaving her classroom that day, a little boy asked me if he could speak to me privately. After the other children went outside for recess, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a few coins. He told me to use the money to help the children. Whoa! I was speechless and teary eyed. Clearly, the students at Saint John's have been taught to selflessly care for others. Their hearts are beautiful. Going there to share with the student body is always a highlight of my trips back to the US. 

This past year, Mrs. Adamec again challenged her class to bring in change to change children's lives in Mozambique. Even though they were not able to complete the school year due to the COVID restrictions. they still were able to make a beautiful donation to our foundation this past month. As soon as I received her email, I knew what to do with the money. What better way to use these student donated funds than to start a Sunshine House Library! I purchased a good number of books and a bookshelf to store them on. We made plans to house them in our third Sunshine House and arranged with Virginia, the oldest child in this house to be our librarian. Virginia is perfect for the job...mature, responsible, and organized. 

We arranged for all the children to meet with me to introduce them to the books and to the check-out system. As I arrived at the house this morning, they were all inside and waiting anxiously for me. My colleague, Delcio, helped me carry in the books. We set them on the veranda where we would meet. We then went into the house to put the special snack we brought for them in a shaded, cool area. When we came back outside, we saw that the children were already eagerly looking through the books and sharing them with each other.  They were so enthralled that they didn't even notice we had returned. 

We asked them to put the books back down in the pile so that we could talk with them. We shared with them the story of how we were able to provide these books for them. We talked about the importance of reading, as well as the importance of borrowing and returning the books. We reinforced to them that our trusted librarian, Virginia, would not give them a new book until they returned the one they borrowed. 

Finally, I wanted them to experience the joy of being read to. My favorite part of being a classroom teacher was to read to my class. So I chose a delightful book about a zebra who didn't want his stripes anymore.  I had a blast reading the story to them. They hung on every word and laughed along with the funny events. After listening to the story, they were motivated to choose one of their own to take home to read. 

While they chose their books and signed them out with Virginia, they enjoyed a special snack of cup cakes and juice. This is a rare treat for them. And to be honest, I love spoiling them like this on occasion. As you can see, these treats were a hit!

As I was passing out the snacks, I spied our Helio. He had chosen a book to read and was already curled up on the sofa reading with his mother, who was helping him with the harder words. Yes!!! Our library is already a success and is already fulfilling my expectations. 

While they were eating, three of the girls near me asked me why I do such nice things for them. Taken aback, I responded that everything I do is because I love them and I'm just doing what God has called me to do. Giggling, they responded that I am an angel. I'm not so sure about that. But I am sure that Mrs. Adamec and her class of second graders are indeed angels, as are all of the kind people who generously give to our foundation. I have said it before and I'll now say it again (and I am sure this won't be the last time I say it), I only wish that our donors could be here to receive the thanks and appreciation I get to receive. If it was not for that second grade class, there would be no library. If it was not for the student body of St. John the Evangelist School, there would be no tuition payments made for Chelsea, Cristina, and Maura. If it was not for all of you, we could not give the needed support to uplift our Sunshine families and the other people we assist here. Thank you for giving me the privilege to bless, serve, and uplift these beautiful children.

Don't Forget to Stop and Smell the...Garbage???

We have all heard the saying, “Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.” I saw this played out before my very eyes today, and it left me feeling inspired to notice the little things, or in this case, the “little-noticed” people, all around me.

Today I received a life lesson that has greatly impacted me. It didn’t involve the smell of roses but the smell of garbage.  I learned that each day, we pass by people without noticing them. People who appear to be doing insignificant things, when in reality they are doing great works. People who are invisible to us as we go about our day. People who work to make our lives better, and they receive no recognition for it. People who need our encouragement. People who are not asking us to notice them, but when we do, they flourish because of it.

Our Sunshine houses are located in a community called Matola Santos. As I drive to them, there is a wall along the main road that separates the road from the primary school. It is along this wall, about 100 yards long, that the entire community deposits their trash. Imagine the build up of trash from hundreds of families daily dumping in the same area. The piles of garbage eventually spill out onto the road. When it rains, the currents wash the garbage down the road as children play in the water. It is a health problem and an eye sore.

About once a week, a crew of 4 women come to clean the area. Using their hands and one rake, they scoop the garbage onto an empty rice bag. Then they hoist the garbage onto a trailer brought in by a tractor. One cannot even begin to imagine how filthy this work is…the smell, the rats, the decaying garbage. It is disgusting. These women come week in and week out to earn a living. It is the lowest of low positions. Yet it provides a measly income for them to feed themselves and their families.

As I drove down the road today, I saw the ladies out laboring. I said a little prayer for them and asked God to bless them with a treasure, maybe something hidden in the pile of garbage that they might discover. At that very moment, the car in front of me swayed over to the opposite side of the road, directly towards where the ladies were working. As I wondered what the driver was doing, I saw him stretch his arm out the window. In his hand were several 100s (each 100 meticais bill is the value of about $1.40 USD). One of the ladies reached out and took the money, and he drove on.

I don’t know who was more excited…the ladies who had just received the money or me! I was so touched by this man, who took notice of the ladies’ toil and shared a token of his appreciation with them. My heart was leaping! I was so happy because of what this man did. I was deeply moved as I imagined how blessed the ladies were that someone took notice of them and their efforts. And I was humbled that I have never thought to do the same.

I drove on but could not keep going. I had to turn around and go back. Not necessarily to copycat the generosity of this anonymous donor, but to let those ladies know that I also see them!

To the surprise of the ladies, I parked and got out of the car. I was sooooo nervous! These gals are hard core! They always look so tough and resilient out there hauling the loads of garbage. Would they accept my impromptu visit… or would they chase me off? Would they be able to understand my American-accented Portuguese? They were very inquisitive as I approached them, navigating my way through the piles of garbage. I began to thank them for all their work. Because of them, the community where our Sunshine children live and play and go to school is kept clean and safe.  I shared with them how moved I was by the man who had just passed and given them money. I pulled all the money in my wallet out and handed it to them, apologizing that I wished it was more. To this they responded, “God will bless it and make it more!” Despite the masks that covered most of their faces, I was able to see them up close and personal. They were not “hard” or rough. They were kind, gentle, and appreciative. They were the kinds of ladies you would love to sit and drink tea and chat with. They looked like the grandmas that feed you cookies and love you well. Their eyes were smiling and their voices were kind.  

I asked them if I could take their photo. I told them about my blog…that I share stories about my life in Mozambique with people in America. I told them that I hoped to write a story about the kindness of that man that would inspire people to do kind things for others as well. They were happy to indulge me…if only we could see their smiles hiding behind those masks!

From now on, I am going to be on the lookout for the unnoticed people that are in my path every day…people that I take for granted. The people that I breeze right on by as I busily go through my day, never acknowledging that they are even there…like the traffic police who are completely ignored at intersections and the security guards who keep watch all day and night to provide safety for me. I will no longer pass them by…I will stop and take a moment to do whatever I can to let them know they are seen and appreciated.

Wouldn’t it be great if you were to do the same in your part of the world? What if we all began to look around us and notice…really notice those around us? Maybe…just maybe, our world would be a happier, more grateful place.

Community Built through Shared Tasks

My best days here in Mozambique are the ones that have been the most uneventful. Days where I pass time with people doing the simplest of things. I enjoy just sitting with people and visiting as they get their hair braided, sort beans, or  hand wash and hang their clothes to dry.  These common tasks can take a full day to complete. Hence they are more of a social event filled with conversation, laughter, and the sharing of the chores. Here we do not have the distraction of technology and the busyness of life. Life is more social and community oriented. People take the time to sit and visit with their neighbors, getting to know them and sharing their burdens with each other. 

 I recently spent a day with one of our Sunshine families making badjias. I adore badjias! They are a traditional Mozambican food- a small bean patty fried in oil that you put in pão (the Mozambican bread which sort of resembles a small loaf of Italian bread) and eat like a sandwich. As we all know, anything fried in oil is delicious. As the bread soaks in the oil from the badjias, it makes for a great grunge of a meal that is so satisfying...especially when enjoyed with a Mozambican Coke made with real sugar! People make the badjias at home and walk around the street selling them to passersby for only 2 meticais a piece. This is the equivalent of 3 cents. To make the perfect sandwich, you would use about 5 bajias for a half loaf of pão. I have enjoyed these sandwiches over the years, and now I was ready to learn how to make them. 

BUT...after seeing the work and time that goes into making badjias, it is most certain that I will continue to purchase them on the street! The labor that goes into making them is exceedingly great! In my opinion, they charge wayyyyy too little an amount for these delicacies! As we worked together all morning making the badjias, I took photos so I could remember the process. The photos illustrate the work that was done as well as the sense of community that is a part of the process. 

After the beans are purchased at market, one must sort through them and pull out any debris such as pieces of grass, small stones, etc. The beans are then poured into a pilão.
A pilão is a gift traditionally given to a daughter from her mother  when she gets married. 

The beans are then pounded with the long wooden pilador- which in my opinion weighs at least 10 pounds! Again and again and again the pilador is lifted and brought down upon the beans in the pilão. It is not a task for the weak!

Ilda was kind enough to let me have a try...I lasted only about 30 seconds until she took control of the pilador again stating that we would be working all night if I were to continue my feeble efforts!

All of this effort is required just to remove the red shells off the beans.

As you will see, most of the steps require several people to participate. Here, Ilda is using the pilador to smash the beans while Madalena holds the pilão steady and Virginia adds in more beans.

From time to time, the beans are taken out of the pilão and placed in a basket called a pimeira.

The pimeira basket is used to toss the beans into the air and cause the deshelled beans to separate from the skins. This is an art form to accomplish successfully. Virginia made it look easy. I thought to myself, "Finally...a task I can do!" But when I tried it, there were more beans on the ground than in the basket! Again, I was pushed to the side to allow those more experienced to complete the task. 

Ilda, Helio and Nina are removing the beans that still have shells on them. These are placed back into the pilão and pounded yet again.

After the beans have been deshelled, they will be ground using this bowl, called a moedeira, made from clay. Virginia scrubbed for a long time to get it all clean.                                               

  The deshelled beans are placed in water to soak and soften. 

While the beans soak, the garlic is peeled and crushed. 

The fuel for the cooking braai is prepared. Coconut shells are broken up and used as kindling. 

 The charcoal is placed in the braai with the coconut shells on top. A little plastic is added to make lighting it easier.

After the beans have softened, the water is drained.

The beans are placed in the clean moedeira. The pilador is now used to grind the beans into a pasty flour. This takes even more physical effort and stamina as you press the pilador in and rotate it around and around repeatedly. The moedeira does not have a flat bottom. It is all curved, so it is placed in a tire to help hold it steady. 

I can personally verify that this task takes a lot of muscle. So when the children and I get tired...

We call the "big guns" back in again. Ilda is very experienced and strong from years of doing such work. She made us all look like weaklings. 

 As the beans are ground, more water is added to make it into a paste.

As we worked, other women in the community who were passing by would stop to lend a hand and chat for a bit. 

 It was fun to experience the sense of support and community these women share.

 Once the beans are finally ground into a paste, the dough is scooped by the spoonful and fried in hot oil over the braai.

This is repeated again and again until the bowl is scraped clean.

 Finally, we have a bowl full of fresh, hot badjias!

And now for the best part of the day...sharing the fruit of our labor and eating them together!