"A Day of Fun..."

Compared to my last entry, today was a day of fun. While the Academy kids, were up on Deck 6 were having "Twin Day" (The first Spirit Day of the year.)... We on the hospital deck (deck 3) had story and craft time with some of the younger patients. The story of "Daniel and the Lions Den" was told in English and then translated into Fon. The kids (and some of the adults) sat their mesmerized as the story unfolded. Then we did a craft with the kids of lion masks to remind them that even though we face trials in our lives (sickness or bad times) that the one True God is always there to help. Then we took their pictures with the Lion Mask on and one without. They love to have their pictures taken and then see it on the back of the camera. Often they will laugh and laugh and laugh at their picture.
One of the things I have grown to love about the Africa kids, is the joy they have. You can see it in their smiles (when they do smile) and in the sparkle of their eyes. They have nothing, but that does not stop them from grinning ear to ear.
Then Sally and I went into the cargo hold, where they have all the outpatients waiting. We really were looking for some of the outpatients, but they did not show up. Somehow we unintentionally ended up dancing. Sally showed them how we dance in the west. (I was quite content at first to take pictures).

And they showed us how they dance in Africa. It's a bit blury because you move a lot...especially your shoulders and your hips. And you kind of wave your arms like a chicken. The people waiting laughed more at Sally and me (us Yovo's/white people) trying to dance African...our bodies just don't move that way! Yes, in the end I did give into peer pressure and attempt to dance. Fortunately there is no proof...sorry Sally =)

We had fun and laughed at ourselves and they laughed at us. Hey...we brought joy to some very downcast faces. Once again...the simple things in life bring joy.