I am pretty sure that I can’t actually leave. If it wasn’t for the fact that my visa is running out this month I might just stay with these kids forever. Their smiles alone are enough reason to fall in love with them. And getting to know each one of them has been the biggest gift. I can’t pinpoint what it is about these kids that makes them so INCREDIBLY lovable. Maybe its the amount of time and care we have put into our work and play with them, maybe it’s the constant compassion and care they have from the people who care for them, maybe it’s their resilience to go through hell and come out the other side strong, loving, and goofy, maybe it’s all of these things. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter, bottom line is they have completely stolen a piece of my heart and I don’t think I’ll ever get it back.
Whenever we aren’t having an art class, or doing some other activity we always bring out the jump ropes and frisbees and go play in the field behind the school. We tried to teach the kids double dutch a few weeks ago, it’s super tricky but some of them totally got the hang of it. Some of the older girls, Sediah, Grace, Halloisah, and Millicent always grab two jump ropes and have gotten pretty good at it. Little Naomi and Eunice are always swinging the rope for one another, they are both very headstrong and often it looks like they are arguing. They are the best of friends though and even after quickly scolding one another they will make a joke and laugh hysterically, arms wrapped around the others shoulders. The ropes are all long for two people to swing and one or more to jump in. But Joyce was holding both handles and swinging it as if it was a normal sized rope, slight confusion on her face each time it didn’t work. Peter is one of the youngest kids at the orphanage and he is constantly trying to keep up with the older boys. He is small and not as good at jumping over the rope, but every time it is his turn the BIGGEST smile breaks across his face and as soon as he messes up he doubles over with laughter. This particular time we brought out the frisbees we had a big circle of kids with three frisbees in circulation. Originally it was me and Kira, Alexander, Hesbon, Beckham, and Shem all throwing the frisbee around to each other. Hesbon had a smile on his face the entire time. He is often more reserved, but sometimes he just comes alive. He wasn’t even super active in the game the whole time, he just had so much fun watching everyone play. If a frisbee went far out of the circle he would run and grab it and hand it off for someone else to throw. Soon Shilley, Justine, Collins, and Patrick joined in. It was so sweet seeing Alexander coaching Justine with proper technique to help him throw the frisbee straight. Then little Eunice, Wilfrieda, Josephine, Brenda and Vanis all started to join in. Everyone was teaching each other the best tricks to throwing the frisbee. Often a wonky throw would hit someone in the knees and everyone would crack up, it was hard to keep track of where all three of the frisbees were. Shilley was really impressed with my one handed catches and he started standing super casually and reaching out his hand trying to not even look in an attempt to catch the frisbee. When he finally caught it with one hand he jumped up and down and did a little dance. Eunice’s laugh sounds like fairy bells and it could be heard all evening as she tried to get the hang of the frisbee. Derrick, Simon, Joash, Patrick, and Edwin are the group of older boys, and they were having so much fun trying to get as many people as possible jumping in the rope at once. Everyone has a different way of playing with the jump ropes, they get so creative.
I miss being a kid and playing hard all afternoon, it has been so much fun to revert to our carefree childhood selves and be able to get to know the kids on this level. There aren’t many better ways to get to know someone then playing in the dirt with the simplest of toys until you are completely beat. The days of watching the red earth explode into dust under each of the jumping feet, and seeing kids running after stray frisbees are coming to an end. I can’t even think about saying goodbye to all of my best buds. But it’s reassuring knowing how well they are taken care of and how much they love Samson, Jackline, and all the people that care for them. Gotta run and get ready to hop on the back of a motorcycle and head to hang with the kids again this afternoon. Kwa Heri!