HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-05-27, Page 6NOME Of TEI1'5 TIMTU TIMIRTOES
Where Wonderful Ideas & Plants Grow r Goii;t7c7-1 --
77688 Orchard Line, R.R.#1 Bayfield, ON
482-3020
Monday - Friday 8 8,
Saturday & Sunday 9 - 6
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2004.
Letter to the editor
Youth learns valuable life lessons with TLC
DEAR EDITOR,
Today is a hot sun-shiny Canadian
spring day. The laiindry is out on the
line. the front garden is completely
yellow in blooming dandelions and
the temperature is a humid 27°C,
How I love Canadian spring times.
To say that I am in TLC
withdrawal would be an
understatement. I don't quite know
what to do with myself, as there is
nobody in my house needing a
nappy change or requiring help to
get dressed in the morning or having
to be chased about the garden for a
bath before dinner. I don't need to,
shout at supper to be heard, no one
is desperate to sit on my lap at meal
times — and no one, no one, has sung
me any love songs or talked to me
about vomit or weeing in their
trousers or suggested that they are
going to go tell Mommy on Paully
or Thabong or Kieren or Precious or
Jesse or Erin for being ugly.
I am happy to be back here, yes —
sleeping in my own bed is lovely
and having Tim Horton's donuts
today with my mum was definitely a
grand experience,• but I dreadfully
miss the babies and those pre-school
monkeys.
Stephanie — who will be at TLC
until the beginning of June — tells
me that bath time today with the
toddlers was an especially great
Letter
THE EDITOR,
It is the eve of a federal election
call and I and millions of other
Canadian voters ask the bitter
question. "Will my vote make a
difference?"
Voter turnout in the past few
elections is down and our young
people are disillusioned with the
voting • process. The media
constantly portrays elections as two-
way horse races, and predict swing
votes before the fact, leading those
who are inclined to vote for
experience.
Favian discovered how to splash
for the first time — and everyone got
completely drenched in the process.
Bliss!
My time at TLC has been one of
the most defining experiences in my
life. Living and working in South
Africa has made me realize just how
much ridiculous stuff I own, how
many privileges I have simply
because I've grown up with the right
skin colour, and how lucky I am to
be able to "afford" the time to
volunteer at a place, like the TLC
farm of Love.
Warren. the volunteer co-
ordinator at TLC always asks
departing volunteers what they have
learned from their time at the farm.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
From two-year-old Beniah — a
little man with HIV, TB. heart
problems and requiring constant
oxygen assistance - I've learned
about compassion. This toddler has
show n me that patting baby Theresa
or Ramona's tummy when they are
crying or kissing a miserable Favian
is the first step in making any
situation better.
From 10-year-old Tommy I've
learned patience. It was he who
taught me that bathing 16 wiggling
pre-schoolers is indeed manageable
and that - there is never any need to
conscience parties to not vote at all
or at least vote so they can say they
backed a winner.
The result? Relative autocracies
which can pretty much run the
government as they like until the
next election when the goodies come
out again. Regionalized politics
which make it hard for any federal
government to keep the country
together. And a turned-off electorate
whose views are not being
represented in Parliament except by
a token few.
get cross or ugly — regardless of the
situation.
From four-year-old Jesse — I've
learned that we should always be
singing. Even if those songs are
about belly buttons, or feeling lopa
(he really means feeling lonely)
music is one of the best gifts we can
share with each other
From 26-year-old Martha, my
beautiful friend who is struggling to
put herself through college while
earning perhaps a dollar an hour,
I've learned about real
determination to succeed and how
important a good education is.
From Minah, a gentle lady with a
kind, kind spirit who cooks all the
meals in the house, I've learned how
tough it is to be a working parent
who must live many hours away
from her child in order to earn a
living - and how important it is to
take pride, in your work.
From Dinah, the nursery cleaning
lady, I've learned how important the
little jobs are and how it is often the
tasks in life that seem so
insignificant — like doing the
laundry or taking out the garbage —
that are the most important.
From one-year-old Favian I've
learned that you can never give or
get too many hugs or kisses — and
that it is completely possible to be
absolutely naughty and still
Canadians have been looking for
some form of representation by
population since 1837. Voters of all
political stripes need_ to be
represented in the House of
Commons. Canada is one of only
three countries in the world with a
population of overeight million that
does not employ some form of
proportional representation to elect
its legislators. The United States is
another, and we all know how things
turned out in their last election.
My challenge to the party that
irresistibly gorgeous at the same
time.
Seven-month-old Ramona has
taught me that sometimes the best
way to get attention is just to scream
and cry — because it's only then that
you REALLY get noticed
One-year-old Theresa and five-
year-old Benjamin (or gorgeous Ben
as 4 love to call that beautiful boy)
have both taught me how great it is
to greet people you love with
excitement and adoration — every
time you see them.
From the pre-schoolers I've
learned how great bathroom poo
parties are, and how much fun it is
to get supwises and how much more
fun it is to eat your meals whilst
sitting on top of someone else's lap
rather than on your own bottom.
From Thea, the mommy of the
TLC farm and founder of The Love
of Christ Ministries, I've learned all
about loving : unconditionally,
regardless of skin colour or
background or history, and how
much work being a parent is,
especially when you have a home
with 16 crazy preschoolers running
about.
From the Jones and Jarvis families
— I've learned what it means to
really live out your religion and that
God is indeed love.
From all of the babies and
forms the next government is to
rectify this major flaw in our
electoral system and return the voice
of the people to Parliament.
Wilhelmina Laurie.
children in my care, I've learned
that AIDS isn't a faceless disease or
a sickness that only happens to those
people, over there, but a harsh
reality and an everyday presence
that affects each one of those
beautiful, beautiful souls, all of
whom are children with names and
stories and who have left imprints
on my heart.
And from the other 12 volunteers
I had the privilege of working with,
men and women from all over the
world, I've realized how important
it is that. we always find the
happiness and hilarity in every day,
that we celebrate with each other the
successes of every child's progress,
whether that's a first smile or first
step or first word, and that we never
forget how important it is just to
spread love around this world.
Thank you all, so much, for
supporting Stephanie and me in this
adventure: for donating more than
$8,000, a huge sum of money, that
was used to buy' a much-needed car
for the farm; for sharing baby
clothes, and toys, and shoes and
coats with children who have been
orphaned and abandoned because of
a horrible thing called AIDS and for
sending your love and prayers and
for being so interested in what the
two of us have been doing. Thank
you for sharing this time with us.
I have truly loved every moment
of these last four months— even
those stinky, poopy, ugly, lack of
sleep, crazy chaos moments that
occurred every once in a while. I
have loved it. Given the chance I
would go back in a heartbeat.
Siyabonga.
With love and much gratitude,
Jessica Bokhout.
Writer challenges government for change
We have the Area's Largest Selection of
DISTINCTIVE PLANT MATERIAL
from Angelonia to Vinca & any Varieties in Between
Multistem Geraniums 1000's
to Choose from All in One Greenhouse
A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!
Deck, Patio and Balcony Planters
in All Shapes and Sizes
1000's of Hanging Baskets from 10" to 20"
Wave Petunias Now in Over 10 Colours!
Perennials for All Conditions
including Heritage Perennials Top 10 Perennials
EVERYTHING IN ONE ACRE OF GREENHOUSE SPACE
Nursery Stock and Water Plants. Asparagus is Now Ready.
Tam Farm
Walking to support
Neither wind nor rain was able to keep the excited staff and students from Central Huron
Secondary School in Clinton from participating in the 15.7 km walk-a-thon in support of the
Huron United Way. The organization presented funds raised in the 2003 campaign to
community agencies before the students began their walk. The walk commenced at the high
school and ended at the Stanley Complex, just west of Varna, where participants enjoyed an
afternoon of entertainment, food, games and activities. (Elyse DeBruyn photo)
West Nile virus: Fighting mosquitoes.
Fight the Bite!
Get rid of standing water around your house and drill holes in bottom of used containers
so water can't collect. At least once a week, change water in bird baths. Turn over compost
frequently and clean eavestroughs thoroughly. To learn more visit our Web site or call
for a brochure. 1-877-234-4343 TTY 1-800-387-5559 www.HealthyOntario.com
Protecting your health. . Ontario