Lucy

March 13, 2010

When I first arrived in Morogoro, my host family called me "Lucy".  I thought maybe they were just mispronouncing "Ruthie".  After about 2 weeks, we both discovered our mistake and we all had a good laugh.  Now, I have met a real "Lucy" and she did not make me laugh.  In fact, she made me think once more about dreams, opportunity, and hope.

Lucy is about 21 years old, a second year university student, the first in her family to attend.  Her parents are both primary school teachers and struggle to pay her university fees and school fees for her younger siblings.  Lucy is studying accounting and finance.  Her dream is to someday become a CPA.  Now she is doing field work in our district offices.

Lucy stopped by my home to greet me as I sat on the porch with the neighbor children.  While we were chatting, she told me that her heart "pinches" for her country.  She said that sometimes she asks God why  she had to be born in Tanzania where dreams die.  Lucy is a beautiful girl, so intelligent, already in university, why would she say that in Tanzania, dreams die?  Then she told me why.

Lucy believes that in order for a developing country to advance, the leaders must think more of the people than they do of themselves, but the people in her country, she says, are very selfish.  Most people are poor, but the few that are rich get richer.  People in high positions in almost every sector misappropriate money for themselves and for their families.  Good jobs are given to those who are connected to money, even if the recipient is not qualified.  The government promises money to poor university students, but then the money never comes.  Some students are not able to attend university because of the cost, even though they have passed their exams and have been accepted.  There are some who sell their name (space) to rich kids who have not qualified.  Other students cut back on food (maybe eating only one or two pieces of fruit each day) and lodging.  Even in university, you are not free from struggles, especially the girls.  If a professor takes an interest in you, he may ask you for other favors.  To refuse usually results in failing marks, inability to obtain field work, or even after completing your studies, disqualification from obtaining your degree.  To agree may result in pregnancy, disease, even death from AIDS.  During her field work, the district treasurer gave her group his books and told them to make them balance.  How do you balance books when 100000s of shilingis are missing?  She hates selfishness, corruption, and deceit, but now she feels she is forced to be a part of it.  Who do you tell?  If you speak up, your dreams are dead.  Without an education, Lucy says you are worth nothing at all.  With an education, she fears who she might be.  Hope and opportunity.  What is life when hope dies?  Imagine a life with no open doors.

If I had had the money, I would have given Lucy the money for her tuition.  But I did not have it then, so all I could do was wipe my tears and say a prayer for her.  There is much pain and sadness here in Tanzania.

How blessed we are in America where our sons and daughters are able to dream dreams and believe that one day they may come true.  Maybe America is the land of hope and opportunity.  Please say a prayer for Lucy tonight.