Friday: First Day in the Village

As first-timers on this trip, this day has turned out better than anything we ever imagined. For the VBS people, what started as a small game of futbol with a few energetic boys, soon became a crowd of near sixty kids.
We enjoyed quite a drive to the village, lasting almost two hours. We arrived around 10:45 and the building crew got to work right away. As the VBS group walked around to scout things out, we soon heard giggles coming from right near us. We looked over, and smiling goofily back at us were three young boys, in a tree right next to us. Juan asked their mother for ideas of a good, level spot to play. At her direction, we found the perfect area down the road a ways, at the bottom of a large hill. It was an ideal spot, with a flat clearing next to a pasture, plenty of shade, and enough room for plenty of fun. We started playing with the boys, and little by little, more kids wandered toward us. We blew up some balloons for them and we all had fun with some bubbles. Needless to say, our morning passed quickly and energetically.
At lunch, the children were asked to go back home and return at two. We sat down in the shade for our sack lunch, then went up the hill near the building sites to refill our water bottles and check up on the houses. The six houses were coming together well. Everyone was a bit tired, but seemed to be having a good experience.
The kids returned very soon, eager for more play time with us. We enjoyed a full afternoon of fun with the village children. Our day with the kids was concluded with a mass tickle-fight. A few children started poking us, tickling us, and giggling at our reactions, and soon, the entire mob of them was attacking us with tickles and laughter. At the end of the day, our faces hurt from smiling and laughing so much.
Too soon, it was time to leave, and we enjoyed a delicious spaghetti dinner back at the house. We are all weary after our day, and many of us will probably hit the hay soon.

Claire Jafri and Leah DeVries