Americans draw lots of kids. We have thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful children we have met here. They live in poverty, but are happy and seem well adjusted. The children in the video clip below wanted us to come see their home today. It was about a block away. They held our hands on our journey there and back and asked all sorts of questions we had no idea of. When we got to their home, a home that i'm sure would be the worst home in Sioux Falls, the mother and grandmother welcomed us in and brought chairs for us to sit on their "porch". The house was neat and clean. The mother spoke enough english to communicate and was welcoming and charming. Like having us in their home was a privilege. The people here continue to humble us with their courage and fortitude and graciousness.
It's funny, in this place of extreme poverty and oppression, the thing that brings me to tears is a little dog. He is inside the fenced (tin) area across from where we are building the parsonage. It is the home of some of the church people and where we store our tools and supplies at night. He has some sort of injury on his back hip that has gotten infected. At first he was more alert and watched us, but today he could barely raise his head. Every morning when I go in to get our supplies I don't know whether to wish my little friend was dead or wish to see him one more day. There are many dogs around and a lot of them are injured or starving. This one has eyes that are so sad I want to hold him one last time. Poverty sucks