Cifa Update

Things with Cifa are taking longer than I had hoped. All the rain (see blog Rain, Rain and Then a Little More Rain) made it impossible for her to get here. The rain also caused one of her dirt walls to crumble. So she has been a little distracted, rightfully so.

This wall thing has been a big challenge for me too. As she called our Administrator asking for money to help with the wall and then sent her daughter to ask about it as well. I want to help, every ounce of my body is like just figure out how to give her the money, BUT that creates a dependency. Or rather it encourages the one that already exists. We tell her we will have to come see the damage and see if we can raise the money. She seems a little frazzled, but we also have word from another child that a portion of his family's roof has fallen.

Nunu and I talk about it and come up with jobs for her. The biggest need, is our ever growing pile of laundry, as you can't dry clothes outside when it's pouring rain... not to mention all the towels and things we have used to soak up water. So we have 2 days of wash for her and we also pay her to help us clean up from the rain. Our house doesn't have a stoop or step or anything, you just walk from sand/dirt to tile floor. So with the rain and wet floors, sweeping has been next to impossible.

Our entrance. Some of the kids are
inside on this rainy day painting.

As for her little craft circles, she did bring me some back. She tried to show her son how to make them too. Half the circles are okay and the other half need a bit of work, but both are an improvement from what Cifa made on her first day. She doesn't seem very interested in making these things, but I try to push it out of my head, as culture plays largely into body movements and facial expression NOT to mention that things are getting translated from Cifa's tribal language... and things definitely get lost.

I ask Cifa if she has time to learn how to make bigger circles, and she says no (this is part of what made me feel she wasn't interested). Determined, I still showed her. =) I just did a quicker version that what I was planning and I sent her on her way with more materials.

I went to Cifa's house to see the damage to her wall. And was pleased to see they had fixed half the wall. She even had the insight to move the walls in a foot, so that the roof overhangs. Which is funny because I was just telling Nunu that I thought it was so strange that houses only have an overhang on one side (not the sides that are on an angle). The portion of wall that is still missing is inside of her fence, so I actually thought it was an improvement... as they have no windows in the house and this wall now provides a nice breeze =) I'm sure she thinks it's freezing in her house at night! While she has my attention, she shows me that her latrine wall is leaning and tells me she would like some new sheet... hey at least she communicates =)

Damaged wall from outside. You can see there is
virtually no overhang on the angled side.

Damaged wall from inside.

New wall on right has been moved
in over a foot, so rain doesn't come in.

One of our staff trying to understand
just what Cifa's plans are.

This is the other side of the house, where she already
moved the walls in. They used to come out closer to the
edge of the Bamboo.

I left her house feeling good. I didn't think her family was in danger and I was happy to see she had already made some improvements on her own.

A few days later Cifa returned to my door with some really great circles! The tops of her circles are great, she just smashes the backside somehow. And the most exciting part was the worst one in the pile she picked up, laughed and said her son made it. I say it's exciting because I didn't know if he was doing the good ones and she was struggling... so I'm really happy and proud that Cifa is learning how to make these weird little circles.

Column L to R are Cifa's progress by week.
Bottom rowis the back side of circles.
 The far Right my circle for comparison.

Cifa's work top is front, bottom is back.

I sent her home with more paper and some (well deserved) encouraging words. And I think next time I'll be able to show her how to sew them together! We've also talked what I will pay her, and I asked if that was fair. She said that she is just happy to make these and she would gladly take whatever I will pay her. 

Here are some pictures from the walk to Cifa's house, which I have done before but not just after a record rainfall. And never before with Cifa who at about 5 feet tall navigated this "path" as if she was off to meet the president!

Coming up on one of my favorite views, I love
seeing all the roof tops!

It would be an understatement to say
that the rain has messed up the path.

I did lots of jumping, as you never
know just what is in the water?!

This wasn't the only "bridge" we had to cross.
Good thing I'm always working on ninja skills. 

Prayer Request:
- That Cifa would continue to improve her craftsmanship. That she would grasp the idea that if she makes enough of these each month, she would be able to provide for her family.