What a fun day!! Started off with a pizza party and ended with playing with kids...
We began the day getting ready for a pizza party at the local pizza hall for the handicap kids at one of the orphanages. We had prepared for a Luau theme... so we had Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts, games, and gift bags. At the pizza hall we placed visors at each place for the kids to decorate while they waited for their friends to be bused down to the party (it took several van loads to get a little over 50 kids there). We gave them leis when they walked in, as well as pineapple shaped sunglasses, stickers, and a banana (a fruit they really like). When everyone had arrived, we cranked up the music and danced our feet off... the Chicken Dance (which was requested again later), Cupid Shuffle, Surfin' USA, and some other great classic American music that made us jump, twirl, and sweat, provided by the DJ. We then ate about 50 pizzas and the kids got juice. They sang some songs and we gave them treat bags that included an apple, a pen, and a mini beach ball. OH MY!!! We had sooo much fun!!! It was good to reunite with these kids and to have a fun time... putting a smile on each of their faces. It was a highlight to see how excited these kids got. I (Rachel) traced a cross on one of the girl's stickers on her hand and she smiled and pointed to the cross around my neck - recognizing that they were the same symbol and that we were there for that. Leanne and Ian broke it down on the dance floor with the kids - especially noted was the song that goes "jump, jump around" and the kids knew the words (at least how to say them and not what they meant). Haley and Debbie spent some time with a special friend of our group who cannot stand without help and who cannot see very well - Haley helped him make a visor and they both danced with him. Skip spent some time with one of the young men who is blind - he also helped him with his visor and danced with him. Jane, Midge and Jim danced all around and loved on the kids... and Tom stood on the chairs doing the chicken dance! I'm sure we were a sight!
After this we drove to a city in the north on the Danube River. We saw the river and Ian, Haley, and Tom skipped rocks. It was fun. Then, in that city, we went to an orphanage for school-aged children (ranging from first grade to high school). We put shoes on these kids feet and then played and played with them - jumping rope, braiding hair, talking, laughing, and just spending quality time. The kids had a choice to be there or not - it was a time they could go out and do their own thing, but they ALL chose to stay and wait for our group and to get new shoes. There were about 50 kids at this home (not including the younger kids who were in a different building). Especially noted were the older young men - about 15, 16, 17, & 18 years old - who stuck around and wanted interaction with our group. They talked and showed off and were a joy to have around.
Please pray for the children we reunited with today and those that we met for the first time. Oh how our Father cares! May they see His joy and His delight in each of them - they are each so unique and special in His heart. And they are so special and such a joy to us. Pray for their protection and for their health... and that they know they are not fatherless - oh how HE loves them!
Love to you all at home!
