Funny and Thoughtful

Today was the first day of English classes in the daycare this year. There were a lot of us helping Bethea with her classes today as the two new interns, the teacher’s college-aged son, his friend, one of the other English teachers, and I were all in the classrooms together. In one of them, the kids were singing a song to learn about what each of their fingers is called.

To the tune of “Are you sleeping, Brother John” we would sing:

(with thumbs up, hands behind back)

Where is Thumbkin

Where is Thumbkin

Here he is (take out one hand)

Here he is (take out other hand)

And then the thumbs would talk to each other: “How are you?” “I’m fine.” “ blah, blah, blah” etc. And they would each in turn ‘run away’ behind your back again. Well, this would go on with the other fingers, using the correct name for the finger of course.

Well, we got past Thumbkin and Pointer easily enough, but when we got to Tall One and had to stick both our middle fingers in the air you can imagine what affect that had on all of us young American helpers. We all just looked at each other and burst out laughing and could hardly bring ourselves to use profanity in front of all these innocent children. Of course, the song and gesture were harmless enough because in Costa Rica ‘giving someone the finger’ doesn’t exist except where it’s been imported from Western culture such as in movies, but it sure cracked us up!

Working with kids provides some really funny situations sometimes, but there are also the touching moments as well. I've never thought of myself as someone who's really good with little kids, nor has it ever been my desire to work with them, but I do love kids. God is also teaching me, the more I work with the kids here in the Children's Homes and the daycare, how special little children are to him.

There's a girl here named Angelly, and she's 3 or 4 years old. She's a tiny thing with dark eyes, lots of dark curly hair, and a big smile missing her top front teeth. She came a few months ago with her older sister and brother. They are all orphans because their father, who wasn't living with their mother, came into the house one night and decapitated the mother...while the oldest daughter was sleeping in the same bed. Angelly is such a sweet thing and she just wants to be held. She's so smiley and happy all the time, and it's hard to remember that she lost her mother less than 6 months ago. Lately I've noticed that she's getting quieter when she's upset, and she doesn't want to tell me what's wrong, but I didn't really think about it.

Just the other night I was outside dancing with her and the other kids, and I put her down to dance with her sister. But a few minutes later I looked down and she's just standing there crying, and she wouldn't say why. I brought her over to another lady to see if that would make her happy, but she still just looked so sad. So I scooped her up and went somewhere where we could sit, away from the noise of the music and dancing. I realized she probably just needed someone to love her, so I just held her close and told her I loved her. Then I asked her if she missed her mommy, and she just nodded. I asked her if she needed more hugs, and she nodded, so I just hugged her and let her hold me. I asked if she needed more kisses, and she nodded, so I kissed her all over her face and each of her fingers until she laughed. Then we just sat there, she leaning her head on my shoulder, and me stroking her back and playing with her hair until I felt her relax and she fell asleep in my arms.

In that moment as I was simply holding her, not doing anything, not even saying anything, I asked God about it. He just said, "Whatever you do unto the least of these, you have done it unto me."

I often have doubts about whether what I'm doing is even making an impact, if it's a waste of time. I'm learning that it's about more than just the doing. It's about loving on these kids. They're often spoiled, inappropriate, loud, and rowdy, but they need love. The Children's Homes seem to have a perfect model, with comparatively few kids, a 'mom' and 'dad, a big beautiful house, and plenty of green yard to play in. But more and more I'm realizing it's not the same at all as having a real Mom and Dad and their own family who will love them. That's what they're missing, and sometimes they need a lot of extra love just to try to make up for it.