After a much-needed nap, we went outside and were immediately engulfed by children. Each child greeted us with so much love and each child picked a college student and continuously held our hands or wanted to be held. It was so beautiful. And it is beautiful to see how the family community is built around the idea and fruition of a family life. The older kids take care of the younger kids and vice versa.
In the mashup vespers we had, the children lead the service and did not let Father cut the service since he couldn't find the book. One of the boys, who is 15 years old but looks much younger, was the leader at the chant stand and encouraged the child chorus to sing louder when they were not chanting and reminded others who were talking to keep silent. Even the Prayer of Thanksgiving during dinner, this boy Raresh, reminded the older boys and some of the younger ones that a prayer was going on and lead the prayers.
In between vespers, we each hung out with the children in different ways. Yiana and I got to spend a lot of time together. I'm not sure how young she is but most likely between 8 and 11 and I would twirl her around on my back until I was dizzy and she kept clapping with joy and asking to do it again. Every child loves our cell phones and cameras. They each had a turn taking photos and then looking at the photos with such awe.
We couldn't understand each other, just "da" (yes) and hand motions. Yiana brought me around the areas near the closest homes and showed me the little, dirty river at the bottom of a small hill. We then played on the playground and she loved to take off my glasses and put them on, though they are so strong, along with my scarf (check out the picture).
It was amazing at one point a thought entered my mind about the math packet I had to still do. But looking at Yiana and seeing her joy in the moment we were spending together, I was reminded that all that was trivial and truly the present moment is the most important. God will provide the rest that we worry about and we have to strive to be fully in the present moment because this is where we encounter Christ. What really reminded me of being present was when Yiana began singing as I was carrying her around and it was so amazing to see her joy because in the present moment we were together, enjoying our time.
In the evening, Raresh kept making us all make passwords to get through the door to where we were staying and eventually we decided to taser him to get into the house, which was so funny, he's so ticklish. He is one of the kids that loves to say my full name after dinner we had a debrief session where we learned a lot more about the orphanage and how the communist regime effected this nation, which is shown through the piety and love of Christ the people have here. Glory be to God for all things!
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