Saturday, December 20, 2003

 

Sharing Joys with Toys

 

As I laid my head on my pillow at the close of another day, my mind fast forwarding through the events of the day, I said to my self this was definitely a journal entry worthy day. It was one of those days where things just all seemed to fall into place, one thing after another.

 

Aside from the usual meetings and phone calls it was a day of special events. Events planned ahead of time but I never expect things to go as planned, in a place where the unexpected is the expected. We always make plans but fully expect things to never end up like they were planned. We live in a constant state of flux, with flexible thoughts and expectations.

 

I was scheduled to meet up with the team from CNN at 1000, but I had a lot to do before that. I grabbed a quick bite to eat knowing I would need the energy later on. I jumped in the bus for a quick jaunt over to the warehouse to load up the toys for the day¡¯s activities.

 

We were planning on going to Mother Teresa¡¯s Home of Love, for the handicapped kids and then off to an unfinished mosque where around 40 homeless families had settled in. We were planning on spending a couple of hours with the CNN crew, who wanted to film a toy drop.

 

With the bus half full of toys, the team ready in the parking lot, our source in his truck (this guy always goes out on these toy drops with us and has been doing so from the very beginning), a female Iraqi doctor who was going to show us the way, and 4 people with CNN, we were ready. I did the usual brief as far as order of vehicles and where we were going, and then we were off.

 

We made our way through the back streets of Baghdad, our four vehicles clinging to each other as if hooked together like cars of a train, making every effort not to allow another vehicle to slide in between our caravan. Even though it is hard to lose sight of a bus we didn¡¯t want to take any chances.

 

The great thing about driving over here is that there are no traffic laws; it is every car fending for itself. It is totally amazing how well it works with no traffic lights, no lanes, no rules or regulations and no one to enforce them if there were any. Anything goes out on the road you just let it rip, driving anywhere and anyway you want. It is survival of the largest, so the bus fairs quite well. You just keep your nose ahead of those around you, with passengers directing traffic from inside the car with synchronized hand gestures, with our locked and loaded automatic weapons held tightly on our laps just in case.

 

It is a strange feeling to always have a 9mm pistol or an MP5 slung over one shoulder wherever I go; whether visiting a friend or buying ice cream or pizza. I always take a weapon with me everywhere I go, no matter what. I never want to be caught outside with out a weapon to add some firepower to any situation. We have to always assume the worst is going to happen.

 

I was just thinking the other day that it would be a strange site to have an automatic weapon slung over one shoulder when at church or school back home. In Iraq it is common to see an Ak-47 or a pistol on a variety of people, in a variety of situations. Sometimes we don¡¯t make any effort to hide our weapons in order to persuade any would-be-assailants to give up any evil intentions.

 

I am going to feel naked with out a weapon when I get home.

 

We zigged and zagged over to the Mother Teresa¡¯s Home of Love for the handicapped only to find out that camera crews weren¡¯t allowed inside and more importantly they had plenty of toys recently dropped off by another crew. So a change of plans was made taking us to the Mosque first.

 

The unfinished Grand Mosque now has become home to numerous families who have been kicked out of their homes or apartments due to lack of money to pay for living expenses. Some families live inside the actual unfinished structure but for the most part they live in cinder block shacks and shanties around the perimeter.

 

In preparation our team had been there the day before to count the number of families living around the Mosque (which is 42).

 

One man, head of his own household, stepped forward to be the leader of the group, writing down a list of each family so as not to forget anyone and to make for an orderly distribution of our bounty.

 

With a thousand dollars worth of stuff, donated by the British owner of a small clothing store inside the palace, we came loaded up with blankets and heaters (we purchased the day before) and of course the toys. 

 

No sooner had we pulled up then a large crowd started to form, obviously aware of our intentions, anticipating the free handouts. I exited my bus and quickly began shacking hands while offering the customary greetings of the morning. I made sure to extend my hand and offer up a smile to every man in the area. The women were all clustered together in their own group next to the men, with their customary long black dresses, which covered all but their faces.

 

Not wanting to offend the women I offered up a group ¡°good morning¡±.

 

The kids were all hanging out behind the legs of the adults, not sure what to think about the arrival of these Americans. But as expected they would warm up to us as the time went up.

 

In order to have an orderly distribution to every family, we instructed them all to return to their homes and wait for us to come around. One by one, with all of us toting imported Korean blankets and Kerosene heaters we visited each and every home, spoke with the father, the mother and many of the kids.

 

The families were obviously extremely poor, with their tethered clothes, their worn out shoes, their dirty appearance and terrible living conditions.  The kids were obviously lacking in so many things, shoes in most cases, choosing to run around with almost nothing on in what was a chilly day. The flies seemed to be the only thing thriving in this area.

 

The families were living in basically one-room mud huts, with no amenities or even electricity in some cases.

 

As my team of givers went house to house, several things about these families really impressed me; they were humble, gracious and patient, but not ashamed of how they were living, willing to offer us tea with some even asking me to stay for lunch.

 

In contrast to all of the other toy drops we have had, things went very orderly, with no one trying to get more than someone else.

 

After the parents received their blankets and heaters, we separated the kids into two groups, boys and girls, and then while the children were going round and round singing songs, I was in the middle handing toys to each and every child. We gave out stuffed animals, packages of toy cars, and many other things. The children we all so well behaved, with no exceptions and no pushing and shoving to get the best toys.

 

I was totally surprised that the whole thing went so well. Without exception the people were just so gracious and some thankful.

 

I was able to see how they cook the customary flat bread that is eaten everywhere. They use a cone shaped earthen oven, which sits up right with a fire inside on the bottom and an opening on top where they take the shaped pieces of dough and slap it hard against the side so it sticks and cooks. I am amazed that the bread doesn¡¯t fall off into the fire. 

 

It was a beautiful day all around; with perfect weather, great kids and plenty of things to give out, putting smiles on everyone. The CNN team seemed to have had a great time, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity.

 

From there we dashed off to a children¡¯s hospital to visit the oncology ward where all the leukemia patients are. We had just enough toys and stuffed animals for each child to get a couple of things, so pleased that we could offer up a small token of love for these suffering children.

 

I am sure the mothers, who were by their child¡¯s side, would have appreciated a cure but toys is all I have, hoping that a little soft fluffy stuffed dog might brighten up a small child¡¯s life in some way.

 

I had a hard time seeing some of the children¡¯s conditions, my emotions getting the better of me at times, finding it difficult to witness the suffering of an innocent child. Even so, it appeared that the children really enjoyed our visit, even if all we are offering was a toy and a smile. I stopped by each bed to chat with the mother and the child where possible. I asked their name, their age and the rest. I enjoyed their smiles and the brightness in their eyes.

 

The toys do make a difference in a small way bringing hope to a child that might not have any, or a ray of sunshine in a dark and gloomy world.

 

The CNN team took lots of footage and asked plenty of questions so I am anxious to find out when it will be aired. I will let you know asap.

 

Great stuff. See what you are all a part of.

Chief Wiggles