Give and let Take

The next best thing in life to do is to give, the first is to love – Amaka Nwosisi

When you give, you feel light and every little thing makes you happy

When you give you can almost feel nature applauding you, the sun shines brighter and the air smells so good. It feels good to know that a little child will have a decent meal and a mother will not struggle to look for what to cook for her family.

The innocence on the faces of the little ones makes you want to cry out in sorrow, the living conditions are awful and unbelievable. No one deserves to live the way that they do. These children did absolutely nothing wrong and it makes you wonder how God decides who goes where. If they had the opportunity to make their choices, these children will never choose to be born in a place where humans dwell with the rats.

A former slum dweller told me of his experiences in Ajegunle, it was norm to sleep with the feet and the hands wrapped in layers of socks and water proof bags. This is to prevent the rats from eating the skin of the fingers or the feet.

In this place, mosquitoes are persona non grata, they simply do not exist, they are co habitants and no special attention is paid to them except the mounting of nets which most homes have.

The gutters are several shades of dirty, thick black and smelly just like the mosquitoes love it but the bodies are so immune to the bites that nothing really happens. If it was possible, the mosquitoes would be killed, cooked and eaten.

It is always amazing to see how happy these people are, they can laugh and dance for Africa, the dancing competitions are always off the hook! A little girl held everyone spellbound for hours, with the right training and mentoring, this young girl could be one of the world’s best choreographers.

At this party, it is fun all the way, we dance, eat our delicious jollof rice and then Santa presents the Christmas gifts to the children.

This year was quite difficult, the funds were so low even with the fundraising drive, it was just tough. It is not exactly easy to throw a good party for over three hundred children and also provide food stuff for eight two mothers.

Telling the coordinator that there may be no Santa this year was a very difficult task, her voice was low; I knew that she wouldn’t be able to break the sad news to the children and all I could do was pray. While on our way we got our miracle, we were able to get hold of Santa, Santa in Ajegunle wouldn’t be the same without  Santa for sure.

The cheering of the children when our big bellied British Santa Claus appeared with his copious behind was a happy one to behold. I was afraid that the pillow he stuffed his bum with would fall off which would have demystified the whole Santa thing. Lol!

While we await Christ this period, please look around you for He might just be close to you, He may be the blind beggar that you hushed out of your car window in traffic or the orphan hoping to go to the University. He may be your jobless cousin or even the person who walks home from church every day while he prays for a decent ride back home.

Love Angels Foundation “Santa in Ajegunle” 9^th edition was quite successful and all I’ve been trying to say is this, “GIVE AND LET TAKE”

A mighty big "THANK YOU" to all who contributed. You made it happen. May your lives be beautiful!

Here are a few pictures of the event.