Definition of Success

What is success?  I mentioned in an earlier post that I was hopeful for a successful trip.  But what does that look like?

I looked up the word success on Dictionary.com and although many of the definitions used the words wealth and position, the definition that spoke to me in this situation is this:

the accomplishment of one's goals

So what are my goals for this trip?  They are pretty simple and really there is only one: to continue feeding the children of the Virginia Home.  I had to peel back many layers to figure this out.  I get bogged down that these kids don't live like we do.  Their accommodations are pretty bad:

As an American "mom" and a crusader to save the world (ha!), I think to myself, they can't live like this!  Then I start to compare my/our goals to the goals of Family Legacy in Zambia who build houses, usually in honor of someone who has passed away, and bring children in to live in them.  How AWESOME is that?  Why can't we do something like that?  Or Naomi's Village right here in Kenya, started by a classmate of mine from Baylor and her husband.  The have an awesome facility and the children who live there are so well cared for! 

What is just some stupid food gonna do, when they live in a place like above?  Well, that stupid food has kept them alive and actually helped them thrive for the past 3 1/2 years.  I think food has to be good enough for now.  Feeding them so they can live is actually the best chance they have for something more!  This has been a hard concept for me to accept.  They have so many needs and we are only supplying one.  And, in some ways, my American pride says we have nothing to show for it!  I think I need to get over myself, and get over what I think others might think.  Food is basic to life.  It is pretty darned important.  Why do I look at tattered clothes, dirty feet and yucky accommodations instead of seeing these bright happy faces?

What good is a nice bed or a beautiful uniform when they are starving to death?  I've had the benefit of seeing these kids grow up, and seeing their dull faces turn bright.  So food is good enough, and continuing to see that they are fed is my goal for this trip.

I was able to have a lengthy meeting with Philip, the director, today.  He shared with me how the support for food had changed their outlook.  They are encouraged in so many ways.  He was not sure what he was going to do had we taken away the support, but he was forever grateful to have had it for a time anyway.  It really helped and motivated all of them in more ways than he could express.  When we talked of the support continuing, he showed me how he would account for and record where the money goes.  He said he understood my expectations, and at this time, ALL of the money is to go for food.  He said he knows trust is hard to come by and easy to lose.  I am very hopeful that this is going to be successful.  I am hopeful that we can expand the support to include school fees in the future, finding sponsors for some of the children.  

But for now, food is enough.