Our days here are so full! Each day seems to pack in a week’s worth of activities and today was no exception. After getting fueled up with high octane coffee, we set out to one of the local fish markets. These dot the shore of the Rupsha River as fishermen bring their night’s catch upriver from the Bay if Bengal. These markets then distribute the fish to local markets. It is a bustling place, but not at all smelly as the fish are so fresh. Huge baskets and vats hold the day’s catch. (I want one of those fish baskets!)

On my previous trip here, five years ago, we had been to this fish market. It looked much the same but for one marked difference. I only saw one boy carrying a heavy fish basket on his head, delivering the fish from boat to distributor. On the earlier trip, there were boys everywhere! What a welcome transformation!

This job had an actual physical impact on the boys. They rose early, usually had no breakfast, and came and carried very heavy baskets on their heads for hours each day. Along with the malnutrition and the young age of the workers, often their growth was stunted. Thankfully, this is. Is becoming a tragedy of the past. But there is still a generation of boys impacted.

Then we got to hit the water – taking a small boat across the river for the rest of the day’s activities. Each place, we walk through narrow mean lanes and desperate poverty but still dotted with women and children in their bright, clean clothes and their incredibly beautiful faces. The contrast is so often jarring. A line from a song keeps running through my head – “Why such beauty in this place?”

We met with a Citizen Voices in Action committee – a group organized to help improve their community. They proudly shared their efforts in eliminating child labor. Each place, we go like this, we are welcomed with gifts – often flowers, real or beautifully crafted paper ones. Today, a darling young woman gave us bead crosses which she had made just for us. This is a Muslim country so the significance of that is huge and so very kind. That cross will be on my Christmas tree this year and always, with that young woman’s face before me. She had worked in the shrimp processing plant, peeling and deheading shrimp for long cold hours. She also avoided an early marriage planned by her parents. Today she is in school and excelling.

Each group we meet with seems so honored that we came. It is so very humbling. We listen to their stories, ask questions, exchange warm handshakes or hugs, (with the women only), take group pictures, and are on our way. But this meeting will be talked about by these folks and our pictures put up. To me, it feels like so very little to do – give a little time and great interest and that is enough. Wow!

Off to a Child Friendly Center to meet with more children – one girl and five boys. The girl, Akhi, is now 18 and had worked with the shrimp. As she was older when rescued, she was not able to return to school. For children for whom school is not an option, life skills and job training are given. Akhi was beautifully dressed and was wearing some fancy bead jewelry which she had made. With the sewing machine she was given, and her beadwork, she is able to earn well and help her family.

All the boys had worked in the fish market. Four of the five are short – forever marked by their hard work and meager diet. Most days, two meals were all they got and not plentiful or particularly nutritious. They are now aged 11-13 so were very young when they started working. We heard each one’s story. For most, the father had either left or died. One precious little guy couldn’t get through his story as his dad’s death was still so raw. He cried and most of us joined him. The lives these children live! But their resilience is also amazing. I see it in the faces. Children who are working are closed, serious, unsmiling, unresponsive. And then they leave. When they realize that there really is a reason for hope, that someone cares and wants to help, the light in them is relit. So we see smiles, get hugs, and hear about dreams for the future. They now have time to play, have friends (because they don’t now smell from fish or shrimp), and can go to school. We so take our education for granted! Here, it is highly prized – the road to a better future.

We shared a picnic lunch at the center with the children – an honor. After lunch, we headed out to a private all girls secondary school. We were greeted by about two hundred of the school’s over 1000 students. What a joyful sight they were in their red and white uniforms. We were greeted by the head mistress and then joined her and a few girls in her office. We heard about the school and its good work. A small choir sang for us – the national anthem and then “We Shall Overcome” in both Bengla and English. It’s not the first time we’ve head that song. A quartet of girls danced for us, clothed in their elaborate bright costumes. Long earrings, gold necklaces and cuffs, and black eye makeup complete the picture.

We then headed outside into the large field in front of the school and played a rousing game of Hot Potato with the girls. A blown whistle decided who got as we quickly passed the soccer ball. Well, the game was definitely rigged in our favor! Three of us were the last ones standing and even got rewarded prizes for first, second, and third place! Very fun.

Back into the van and back to the center. Throughout the day, we had also stopped at a few children’s homes. It is always such an honor to visit them. They proudly show us their shops, the place the child studies, their so very meager possessions. One family decorated an outdoor area for our visit! And George, the wonder man, has always arranged gifts for the family from us. We may pay for them, but George and the staff do all the work.

Our final event of the day was watching a family out their vision board together. This is a brilliant idea where a child and his or her family set out their vision for the future. Each dream is written on a smaller piece of paper and pasted onto a large poster sized paper. A picture is added to each vision. Then the family commits to these dreams. It is a wonderful idea and in every home we visited, the board held pride of place. This particular family has two little girls, the older of whom had worked as a housemaid. She is a tiny little person and it is so hard to think of her being responsible for the children of the house, hauling heavy water containers, and cleaning. Dad lost an eye in a work accident, the younger little one has some health issues, and mom works in shrimp processing. Grandma tends the girls. A “typical” story.

We didn’t get to stay for the entire process but I was pleased to see some of it. On our way out, as we were saying goodbye to them, the grandma grabbed me and hugged me. She started telling me her story with tears in her eyes. She is only 55 and looks 80. Of course, I couldn’t understand her words but I understood her meaning. I held her close for a few minutes, prayed, and reluctantly let go.

Another day – another crack – another joy. Asking why and still seeing God.