Reflections on the children:
Today we went back to Tumaini Children’s Home. It was so good to see the kiddos again, after being gone for two days. The kids we’ve met at all three places are very content with very little. There is maybe one toy inside the orphanage that we’ve seen. Today one little girl played with a small plastic bag batting it around and trying to keep it off the ground like a balloon for a very long time.
They also have so much self-control. At one of the feeding centers we were at this week, the kids came in to sit down for lunch according to age; littlest first. In the end there were 190 children from ages 3 to 10 sitting at tables completely quiet. We served them all food, starting with the little ones. They all sat and waited patiently until everyone had been served; then they prayed and started to eat. All of the kids everywhere we’ve been get quite a large bowlful of whatever they’re eating, and they all eat every single bite.
The kids at the orphanage absolutely LOVE the babies! Whenever they see the babies, they all want to love on them; pretty much to the point where it hurts. All of the little kids seem to have an older child that they go to when they need something. The oldest girl at the orphanage, 13 year old Lydia, is the favorite big sister for sure.
Meshach (in the grey and orange shirt) has a great smile. He originally tested positive for HIV, and now is testing negative a couple years later. He is the ring leader of the preschoolers. He can be a bit of a bully, but can also be very loving and lots of fun.
Hope (wearing the floral pink/yellow/etc shirt) is a feisty little girl who almost always has a huge smile on her face too. She will love on you from the moment you walk in the door until you leave. She’s got a whole lot of energy - so she’ll keep you on your toes. Although we think Hope is 4 years or so, she has a language of her own, and is incredibly thin. Today she was wearing 18 month size pants (as capris).
Stephen (in the superman shirt, which fits him well!), has the best laugh of them all. He’ll ask you to tickle him over and over again. He likes to climb the furniture and jump off. He’s not the most obedient, but he’ll capture your heart anyway.
Salma (the baby), is 14 months and learning to walk. We all have taken lots of “walks” with her holding onto our fingers, all around the orphanage. She doesn’t like to simply hang out in the “day room”, but likes to explore and see what’s going on all over the house. She’s definitely a cutie pie, and her smile will light up a room.
Tomorrow we’re going to help with “Super Saturday” which is a VBS type deal at Crossroad’s Fellowship. Tonight, we hope for a good dinner and some rest.