Almost Doesn't Count

Kendal always used to tell me "Anna, the road to hell is paved with good intentions", and its so very true. All too often we have a good intention and then we forget it, find it too difficult to carry out or just don't care enough to follow through with it, thus it goes no where, the good intention has been in vane. Thus, almost doesn't count. This isn't a new concept to anyone nor is it something that is brilliant; however, it is something that we need to be reminded of each day, at least I do. In the past few days Bridget and Becki arrived. Bridget is a fabulous woman from Ireland who comes often and spreads the love with Nyumbani, Leo Toto and Dagoretti 4 Kids. Becki is the volunteer coordinator and just a joy to be with in any situation. The two go hand in hand because these amazing women have helped me to realize the aforementioned point, almost doesn't count. Today Bridget invited me to Dagoretti for Kids (D4K) with her, a play I thought about volunteering at, but it didn't work out. About 20 boys live there, but it is a home to over a hundred boys. They work on getting kids off the street and dealing with street kids drug additions. Bridget had brought a little girl she had gotten close with to Nyumbani yesterday and then I later realized that the point was for more than a good meal and play time, it was so that she could see her brother who stays at D4K. Because D4K only houses boys and because there was mistreatment in her living situation she stays somewhere else, creating a broken, yet oddly enough healthy family. Her brother was not there he was with his grandma and so we walked there, well no one was home so one of the boys looked a little further in the village, and he was still no where to be found, in a bit of disappointment we walked home. The little girl looked down at the ground and decided it would be ok, as she had always been before and we began to walk back, just then one of the older boys began yelling and sure enough there he was, the smiling face of her brother who she hadn't seen in quiet some time. Bridget brought them toys, candy, bubbles, sports equipment and was sure to ask for shoe sizes, clothing, and what else was needed around; she is truly their angel. The facility wasn't much but everything was kept up and Bridget made sure that everything was in line and that they had everything that they needed. She knew that a missing bucket from the well, no school shoes, no football and other things may hinder these kids turning from boys to men. All of it made me realize that the choices I make everyday may not affect the lives of others, but that if I make a conscious effort my choices could make the world of a difference for many. Its a hard thing to attempt to analyze. It's hard when I keep telling myself "someday" yet so many need it today. It is this reason that I really would like to find a job working on human rights and African policy, as I believe in my heart that I can make a difference. I suppose the idea that I am not able to afford sponsoring building a well, flying back, etc will get me on the plane and give me motivation to work harder so that I may in time reach for a higher goal and see myself much like I see all of the other volunteers here, the ones who have been here 5, 10, 15 times. I will be back and I will make a difference.