June 23rd

The Moment in Time

As happens often, the electricity shut off in the office. I had lots of work but no way to do it. So I joined the ladies from the Trampled Rose outside. We have a shelter with a concrete base where the ladies gather to drink coffee, tea, work on crafts, study, or all the things we women do together.

They have become so accustomed to my being around that they just continued what they were doing. I enjoyed my own cup of coffee - it takes about three hours to prepare. First they wash the coffee, then they roast it over a kerosene burner, then they grind it by placing it in a small cylinder and pounding it with a metal stick, finally they boil the water and simmer the coffee. In the end everyone enjoys a small, sweet cup of coffee. The coffee is re brewed three times and guest are expected to stay for all three rounds- Sure makes Starbucks seem easy?

As I was sitting there I had the moment when I realized that these women are so much more than Fistula victims, so much more than our patients, they are my true friends. In that instant all the worry, money, pain, frustration, missing of home and friends was worth it. That payment was more than enough.