Saying goodbye to absolute poverty


the grandmothers house where Ruth lived
Sylvia traveled to the village yesterday to pick up Ruth (her sisters daughter).  Last week the sister died of AIDS.  Sylvia bought Ruth some new clothes and a backpack.  And Ruth was very excited.  Of course her grandmother is sad.

Ruth saying goodbye
 But there was no hope for Ruth in this village.  She is already malnourished.  She would not attend school if she stayed.  There was a very good chance she would be exploited from a very young age.  But now she will have a mom and dad that love her and protect her.  She will go to school.  She will eat well, and receive so many opportunities.  It is a Cinderella story.  It is tragic Ruth’s mother died.  But yesterday Ruth got on a bus and moved away from absolute poverty. So many of the teen moms in our Suubi group had the same background as Ruth.  But they had no one to rescue them.  Instead, they stayed with their grandmothers.  No education, only work and exploitation became their story.  Until they ran to the city.  And found MOPS.  And we hope to help them write a new future for their kids.  Wouldn’t it be great if all you needed to do to escape poverty was get on a bus?   
on the way to a new life
  

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