The Lost Boys

The first thought that came to my mind when I met these boys and watched them play was like the boys from Peter Pan, or The Little Rascals... They look out for each other, laugh much, are always dirty, are creative and silly in their play, make their own bows and arrows, wrestle, have holes in their clothes, climb trees, give piggyback rides, jump on the back of moving vehicles to get a ride down the road, etc. They are precious. They call me "Mam" which sounds like "Mom" with their accent.

Clay, Emma, and I have worked with them in the fields now for two days. I talk with them while we pick weeds. I ask them about their lives, what they want to be when they grow up, how they like life here at the children's home, etc. They smile and don't complain. Clay has picked up on that and has noticed that they have no toys but they're always happy. They also work very hard--two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. 15-year-old Jai told me yesterday that he has learned so much by living here (how to irrigate a field, plant crops, make food) and knows it will help him as he moves on from here. (I should note here-this is a mostly self-sustaining farm, so the boys grow much of their own food that we eat.) It's "organic" too, I noticed as today we picked weeds. Clay said, "Mom, we should tell them about how we do it in America and spray weedkiller." :)

Emma is often surrounded by about 5-10 boys (see above picture). This morning I laughed as I watched her in the middle of the group, with all eyes on her. She was singing a silly song and making everyone laugh. They told me she looks like a doll. I'm sure she loves all the attention. Clay and Em seem to be adjusting well. I love to watch them run around with the kids, get dirty, and hold the children's hands. One of Em's favorite buddies, 11 year old Nanda, was a doorstep baby. His parents didn't want him and just abandoned him. He has been so kind to her.

I feel like we're in a different world. It's very slow paced here. There are few, if any cell phones, briefcases, computers, Blackberrys, etc. Everything is poverty stricken, with trash lining the streets, monkeys running on the roads, people carrying large loads of straw on their heads, 4 people on a moped, crowded buses, etc. America seems like another planet away from here. We eat a mixture of curry, rice, and chipati (kind of like tortillas) at every meal. The other day Emma said, "What do you think we'll have for dinner tonight?" I laughed out loud.

Thank you for praying for us. My luggage came three days later and arrived all in one piece! I was so thankful for my slippers especially! We know this is exactly where God wants us to be, even if it's hard at times.