Monday, August 5th. I'm writing this entry a day after the events of day 2, and will do my best to recall the details of all we did.
This was our first day with the kids. We were at the church from 9 to 3 working on the church and ministering to the kids. Jon had gotten a wireless speaker to donate to the kitchen so the ladies preparing the food can listen to music while cooking. We had the speaker going as we drove through town to the church, and received many funny looks. Like yesterday, I rode in the truck bed. It gave a great 360 degree view of the town and let us greet all the people you see as you drive past. Plus, that left more seats and room for the ladies in the cab.
After arriving, someone (i think Jon) inadvertently started a dance circle while we waited for the kids. Since his phone was the only device attached via bluetooth, we plumbed the depths of Jon's music library. He/ we chose all upbeat songs and as lead on the circle passed between people, we all soon broke out in sweat. The kids that arrived early to see it were extremely entertained.
Once the staff were ready for us, we split up into work areas, like food prep and painting crew. The roof could not be worked on due to the continued heavy rain. If I haven't mentioned it yet, it rained a lot. Shireen likened it to monsoon season in India. Tons of rain.
The kids took a little while to arrive, so we didn't get started with them until 10:30 or so. We had developed some Vacation Bible School and hygiene lessons ahead of time, but the delay made us shorten our morning plan. We did get to play some games before lunch and do a quick David and Goliath talk. We served food to the kids and drinks, then more playing. Liza and i took the plunge and played soccer in the monsoons with some kids. I had some white ankle socks that started out white and ended up brown from the mud. I have never been happier to ruin a pair of socks! The kids were rambunctious, energetic, and wonderful.
After lunch, we conducted our programs. We had 3 sessions: David and Goliath, Jesus and Zaccheus, and hygiene/ tooth-brushing. May, Shireen, and I were on the Jesus and Zaccheus one. I would play Jesus (my beard was better) and May would climb a stack of chairs to play Zaccheus. Shireen narrated (with some help from Logan). After playing out the scene, we would do a craft to make puppets out of paper bags. Each group of children did all three sessions, so the kids could do all the crafts and lessons.
We ended the day around 4, after helping clean up (or trying to help and being told I wasn't mopping right). It was such a neat time to work with the kids and introduce ourselves. That was the end of the day, for the most part. With the running, jumping, and playing, as well as travel weariness, we all headed back to nap and rest.
Hindsight View: This was our first real time with the kids. We had attended church the previous day, but the kids don't come for the feeding program on weekends. Staff members told us that the kids had been asking for a few days "when are the gringos coming??" We were so happy to see them, and were overwhelmed by how happy they were to see us. I was probably the most awkward of the group, as I didn't feel as comfortable just grabbing a kid and playing with him or her. Given the climate of mistrust in the US, and our litigious society, I think most adult males are very sensitive to the perception of others / don't want to come across as 'creepy'. I found that it took a day or so (with the kids cajoling me) before I started swinging them around, carrying them places, etc. I wish I had started doing it sooner!
At this point, I should point out that we all owe a great deal of thanks to one team member, Carrie. In her professional career, she is a teacher, and boy did it show as we prepared for this trip. She was such a great resource and tool of God on this trip. Without her, we would have had a much harder time figuring out what to say or what to do. The kids had a much better time because she was involved. Thank you for all you did, Carrie!!
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