Little Fingers, Big Smiles
We have had a busy couple of days. On Monday, we took a 16 hour train ride from to our destination, arriving at our hotel at 6 am on Tuesday. After resting for a few hours, we went to the Pastor’s home for a great breakfast. Then we went to his orphanage, which now has 7 children. Six of the boys were there for us to play with, while the only girl was back at the house to help prepare lunch and dinner for us with the Pastor’s wife, mother and grandmother. We noticed right away that there were no toys on hand for us to play with, just one flat soccer ball. So, Mike, Herb and the pastors headed out for some sports equipment while Mat and I came up with some silly games. The boys now know how to limbo, play musical chairs, and (of course) play slaps. When the rest of the team returned, there were soccer balls everywhere and a cricket game began. Adam also played some indoor badmitton with a boy for at least an hour.
I have had so much fun with the kids over the past days… The girls I’ve met have been teaching me Indian dance moves, we’ve been spinning til we’re dizzy in the yard, they’ve been braiding my hair and pinning in flowers, playing Simon Says and collapsing on the grass in laughter. It’s been a blast. So, at the Pastor’s orphanage, I found myself looking out for the little girls again. And then there they were, on their knees peeking into the orphanage hall where the guys were playing with the boys with their faces and fingers pressed against the entryway steps and stoop. They were the extended family of the orphanage’s watchman, and lived in the run down “house” adjacent to the orphan hall. This was just what I needed!
I spent the rest of my time on the front porch with these 13 people, 6 of which were little girls ages 1 to 6. I got to paint their tiny fingernails pink. Their hands were so small that only 2 light touches of the brush covered their entire nail. It was so sweet to sit with each of them, and then to watch them move into the shade afterwards, with their fingers spread wide apart, and sit still for the polish to dry. It was fun to see their mothers pushing the babies toward me and to have them help hold the little ones still. It was very special to hold the girls’ little hands, see the dirt caked under their nails, and see their smiles as they felt they were becoming more beautiful with each brush stroke. I’ll never forget it. 
Now we are going to check out of the hotel, have breakfast at the Pastor’s home again (our 4th meal there - excellent food!), and ride 4 hours or so, where at 4:30 this afternoon we catch a flight. Tomorrow we are visiting our last orphanage before boarding the plane back to the States. This was not a planned stop, but will be amazing, I’m sure. It is an orphanage with 130 children run, almost single-handedly, by a woman.
We will blog more tomorrow! We love you, miss you and can’t wait to see you next week! Oh, also today is Mike Clowe’s birthday! Send him an email or post a Comment - he is turning 22!!!
Love, Allison