Green Group!

I love my younger girls to death. I think they’re adorable and all kinds of lovable. However, trying to corral 5-year-olds and make them pay attention in science and English class can be exhausting. That’s why I’m so overjoyed to get to spend the foreseeable future with green group! They are 10 to 12-year-old boys, and their rambunctious energy is exactly what I’ve been missing.

I have special favorites in green group just like I have special favorites in every group at camp. Whenshelove is the most deceptive troublemaker you’ll ever see. He is the picture of innocence, which he uses to pull off all kinds of mischief. He has enough facial expressions and sound effects to open his own movie studio. Obed only has one arm, but he is the most joyful, kind human being I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He readily throws himself into games in P.E., eagerly places his hands on the shoulders of the boy in front of him when it’s time to form a line, and speaks freely about how God has blessed him. I envy and admire his attitude and spirit. Dimitri lived in the States for 8 months, and knows a great deal of English, but never uses that as proof he’s any better than the other boys. He spent the past week making a beautiful blue and red bracelet, which he gave to me today after camp.

Every single one of them amazes me with their intelligence, spirit, and heart. I observed today as they worked together in groups to name every major bone in the body (in English) in science class. I watched as they learned about different professions, and drew breathtaking pictures of what they want to be when they grow up. I smile when they ask to sing silly songs, and when they sit completely attentive and enraptured when reading Clifford books.

This update is shorter than usual because city power keeps flickering, but I just wanted to give you a look into what I’m doing this week! We had another family and a few other volunteers come in for the week, so there are more hands than normal which is great.

In other news, I still love Coussi so much. I walked her and Garensley home after camp today, and when we got to their house, Coussi handed me back a bobby pin she’d taken out so that she could play with my hair. Instead of taking it (knowing that I’d probably lose it within 10 minutes like I do so many other bobby pins), I told her to keep it. Judging by her reaction, you would’ve thought I’d given her a million dollars. Her thankfulness and shock that I would think to give her a “present” both warmed my heart and also broke it.

It’s just a reminder of how very much I still have to learn from these children, and how they completely, unchangeably, and firmly hold my heart.