So, because of having guests this weekend we ended Orphan Week a little early! We didn't let the kids know until the last minute that it was our plan all along...
Below you see Trae drinking a bowl of milk. The orphans don't have cups so the kids used their bowls to drink the water. They were required to wash and dry their bowl beforehand.
Each day the orphans get something with their rice so today the kids got two meatballs and a little corn for one meal. The night before they got a class/bowl of milk after their meal!
They spent a lot of time 'detailing' our vehicle! Every child had a specific job at the direction of our eldest orphan (Nate M.)
After four days of:
Eating nothing but rice and once a day a piece of broccoli or meatball or a little milk...
Sleeping on the boards of their beds with no pillow and a little blanket that they learned to use VERY creatively...
Not wearing shoes, even when needing to take their pollywogs to the creek through the pricklies...
Only playing with what they could find off of the land. i.e. sticks, rocks, old bike tire, plastic bag and some string and the occasional coloring book...
Sharing one bike and a scooter...
No Trampoline...
Not even a little kiddie swimming pool...
Two changes of clothes and washing the dirty ones outside by hand...
Using one dish the whole time and washing it after eating so they could have a drink of water...
Sitting only on the hard floors and/or concrete because Orphans probably don't have plush couches and folding chairs or even much grass sometimes...
...we sat them all down in the livingroom (on the floor) and asked them what they thought we were trying to teach them, or what it is that they learned through all of this 'change'!
There was a very WIDE variety of opinions and thoughts that we listened to very carefully. However NONE of which was the POINT of these last few days. There were things like, we need to love God more...and...We have to do what is right so we don't have orphan week again...
Nate explained to them AGAIN what the whole reason was that we were helping them through this: "It is to show you several things. ONE, that there are so many children/people in the world who live perfectly happy lives without 'stuff', without toys, without variety in their food.
TWO, is to learn hands on to be grateful for what we have, ALL of what we have. Not only physically but spiritually and our heritage as well. I realize that this can't be taught in a few days, but it's a start. God has given us a godly heritage, one that loves us and supports us...
...
We told them we were going to end Orphan Week with a little barBque and be able to jump on the trampolines and play in the kiddie pools...
Just as we said the kiddie pool (because I think there was an expectation of things bigger, not sure) there was a little gumbling from two of the kids. Nate and I stood up and said, "Okay, that is what we are talking about, you are NOT grateful for even things that you think are small, Orphans don't even EVER get a kiddie pool, THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT for them. So, Orphan Week is BACK ON... We gave them chores and sent them sobbing to do their work.
We don't care if it takes moving, giving all the toys away, eating rice for a year or more and only having one change of clothes... honestly it is right now more important to us that our kids grasp (even a little) the concept of GRATEFULNESS! We don't know the best way to do that but we are trying something out here.
...
We sent them to their room after some time to 'chat' among each other and come up with a plan or something that would help them. Something that would give us a hint that they were ready and understand...
It was probably a half hour or so that they were discussing what they could do. We listened by the door and it was interesting to see the different ways each child approached the subject.
One was TRULY hurt and sorry but didn't know how to 'fix' the way they were thinking.
One was trying to figure out how he could get around the system and get the things that they wanted.
One waited until all the ideas were talked through and then politely said, "YOU GUYS DON"T GET IT, we don't NEED ANYTHING to be happy and live. ALL WE REALLY NEED IS BREAD, WATER, AND GOD."
They came bursting out with a totally different look on their faces saying that they truly don't need anything and that they are happy with more Orphan Week and what can they do to help us out!
THEY GOT IT!!!! We were thrilled!!!!
....
Knowing that they understood the concept even slightly we celebrated, Nate and I, with a hug and a small cry, awed and excited that the Lord showed them a piece of what it means to be grateful....
KIDDIE POOL was never as much fun as that night!!!!!
TRAMPOLINES were treated like a treat!!!!!!
Fresh watermelon was eaten WITHOUT the usual, "I can't eat this because of all those seeds."
SUN TEA!!!
And these Hot Dogs never tasted so good!!
REAL plastic plates that were brought to the sink without me even asking!
A fun fire to create a very cheery atmosphere!
Thank you Jesus for EVERYTHING!!!!!! For we have the most precious of all gifts and that is SALVATION, your Son...A relationship with the Creator of the Universe! We are Humbled.
