Last week I experienced a presentation from Jane Mutatu of Zimbabwe. I say “experienced” because her story is not one merely to be heard. It is a tale to savor as you would final moments with a loved one, knowing that things will never be the same but different, empowered, better for the time spent together.
Jane nursed relatives dying from diseases related to the HIV epidemic in Africa. The protein she provided through animal products fueled the diseases that would ultimately cause her family to perish. Unable to abide by this pattern, Jane sought out physicians and scientists who guided her to experiment with soybean as a form of protein. Soybean, previously frowned upon in Africa as uncommon food for animals or the poor, provided the protein necessary to keep Jane’s family alive. Day by day, as her experience with soy grew, so did her influence as neighbors watched her family living longer. Since 1998, Jane influenced and trained 100 local women in her country, which ultimately spread to 10,000 women across the continent using the benefits of soy to buy more time with their loved ones.
Theme 1: Celebrate Small Wins with Perspective – Jane began working with soy when her sister became ill with HIV. Each day she would pray for “just one more day” for those soybeans to grow and her sister to live. Each day, her nieces and nephews would rush home from school, then quietly peek over their mother’s bed to see if she was yet breathing. Jane imitated the happy dance and grin those children did each day their mother lived. I can only imagine my kids’ happy dance when we decide on pizza for dinner or a new birthday present. Educators, parents, children…give yourself grace and celebrate those small wins as they occur each day. Things could be a lot worse.
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Theme 3: Just Talk to Each Other – Jane touched me with her story at a meeting designed to help teachers learn about cross-cultural education. Among the attendees were people from many different countries. When folks from China and Korea heard this story, they were amazed as their cultures have used the benefits of soy for ages. In fact, the exact processing machines Jane was looking to acquire are apparently a staple appliance in homes across Asia. That’s serendipity.
Listen deeply.