The Orphanage

Well, I'm experiencing my first time being sick while over here. Can't say it's super fun, but thankfully I was able to just chill out today and hoping to be fine tomorrow! Anyways! I had to write about last night.

Last night our team went to an orphanage started by Buddy and Stop Slavery several years ago. It is lead by Pastor Paul and his wife and his mom. There are 10 kids there, plus Pastor Paul's 2 kids. Pastor Paul picked us up around 4:30 and we headed over to the orphanage in their Tuk Tuk. The ride over was pretty fun, as Tuk Tuk's are awesome, and the team all in one just makes for an amusing trip. As we pulled into the alley where the orphanage is, it was lined with kids waiting for us and waving like crazy. Apparently they were greatly anticipating out night. I wasn't so sure about it to be honest, as I already wasn't feeling well at all and was worried I would be pretty lame as far as energy and being able to pour into the kids. However, I put on a smile and said a prayer and we all climbed out of the Tuk Tuk. As soon as we got there, Pastor Paul went and grabbed some fresh coconut(no, not like what you picture a coconut like in America, SUPER fresh). He had kept them in ice and cut a hole in the top of them and stuck a straw in. We all talked with the kids as we drank our coconut milk. Then we headed over to this field by the house. It was mid calf high in grass, and there was quite a bit of mud and water and a little stream and a cow. We set up sticks, kicked off our shoes and started a game of soccer. It was guys against girls plus guys with blue and pink shirts. The game got intense really quickly as everyone was really good and super aggressive about winning. Mud was going everywhere and bodies kept tumbling to the ground. We all ran our hearts out and the girls won!!!! (should be no surprise there though!) The kids hung onto us and we all walked back towards the house. We took a short detour to a water pump to try and get some of the mud off of us before heading to dinner. Pastor Paul's mom had prepared a wonderful meal. I'm not really sure what it was, but it was rice with meat and vegetables. After dinner, the kids got up and preformed several praise and worship songs they had been practicing and had dance moves for and everything. We attempted to join in and looked so silly doing it! Then our team did a skit we have. It's called the Bean Skit. It's a super simple skit, but you go back and do it over and over in different styles. Eventually, we gave the kids our roles and they did the skit too. It was so funny! Then Buddy shared the story of King Hezekiah in from the Bible as all the kids gathered around and listened. The night was interrupted by the pet pig getting out, but it was soon caught and all was well. We ended the night with sad goodbyes, and lots of pictures. They were some of the happiest kids I've met before even in the face of so much. Truly incredible!

Please keep the orphanage and the kids there and Pastor Paul and his family in your prayers!