The Kids

After lunch we would pack up toys, hats, markers, soccer balls, bubbles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and head out to an orphanage or a school in the area. We did the same basic format of a Vacation Bible School each place we went. Using our translators we would do some songs in Creole, a play from a Bible story, then a craft where they would make hats that said "Jesus Loves Me." After we would get to play with the kids and depending on where we were that would look a little different each time!

Painting nails!

Getting my hair done

The first place we went was a school, so there were about 75 kids! The boys took some of the older over to a soccer field and started a game. With the younger kids we played with some other balls, bubbles and then the little girls wanted to do our hair! They loved that they could over and over again, but I think I lost a lot of hair that day!

The second place we went was Father Abraham's orphanages, they were divided boys and girl. With the girls we painted their nails, even the boys in our group painted nails! Played with bubbles, beach balls and jump ropes. Then with the boys we played with soccer balls and frisbees in their little courtyard.

More nail polish

Wednesday was the hardest, we went to the Sister's of Charity orphanage. They take people of all ages that no one else will take, older people with dementia, people with developmental challenges, AIDS, tuberculoses, and sick little babies. Some of the older kids (4-8) would play with us, the teenagers didn't want much to do with us, and the adult were hard to interact with due to the language barrier. But the hardest part for me was the babies and the toddlers. They would just let you hold them, they didn't seem to care and they really didn't have any facial expression. They weren't excited by bubbles, they weren't ticklish, it was heartbreaking. These little children had been through more in their few years that I would ever know. It was hard to leave there knowing that those children needed so much love.

This girls was too cute!

The last place we went was another orphanage that was split boys and girls, but they brought the girls over this time. These kids were older and some of the older boys knew English pretty well. It was fun finally getting to have a full conversation with someone and hearing about their lives.

Before we would leave we would give each child a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a goody bag. In the goody bag was the Bible story in Creole, a picture to color, a few crayons, a few pieces of candy, and a stuffed animal.

The sandwiches and goody bags

Joy!

I loved playing with the children, their smiles just warmed my heart! One day a little girl was teaching me different words in Creole (butterfly, flower, pink, etc.) and I asked if I was doing well, and with a shy grin she laughed and said no! Oh the honesty of children. I miss them greatly and I wish I could have done more for them, but I know God is watching out for them. American or Haitian God has a plan for each one of his children.

*Joy of the day: being able to make a child smile and let them know the they are loved!