Today was a different day for us, unexpectedly.
Haitian election results were released last night, causing some disruptions in the daily Haitian life.
We did not go to our 6 AM church service, at a neighborhood church, with the Haitians.
It was advised that we not go to the General Hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince today, so we went to an orphanage about 15 minutes away from the guest house.
We brought games and activities and enjoyed about 19 kids playing, soccer, hopscotch, marbles, coloring, face painting and chalk art on the cement. We brought the Boom Boom Balloons game, which was new to everyone, was the big hit!
We involved the kids in the "Chicken Dance", the Hokey-Pokey song and dance, London Bridge is Falling Down and Ring Around the Rosy. We all had a blast with these kids! We can't forget to mention the 3 legged races.
When it was time to leave, they sang beautifully to us. We all lined up for hugs from all the children.
The name of this orphanage was LaPherre. It is run by a pastor and his wife, along with their 6 children. They are very fortunate to have a water well so they don't have to walk to a public water supply with buckets and pails, as is the practice most everywhere we have visited. This is a very high quality orphanage.
Normally, the kids would be at school today, but with the political unrest, schools were closed. It was like a "snow day" in Minnesota for the kids. The Haitian adults were more than happy to have us come play with the kids so they could get some of their work accomplished.
Tonight, as each evening, we enjoy a meal and fellowship together. Tonight, we had "pumpkin stew". After the meal, before clearing and washing dishes, we have "word of the day". A wonderful opportunity to reflect individually their highlight of the day. Tasks for dish duty, breakfast help and blogger are decided, followed by the planned events for the following day.
Once these tasks are accomplished, we gather in devotion and singing praise, read the bible and discuss the passages, ending with a closing prayer.
- Mark Eggen, Dick Trapp
No comments:
Post a Comment