The moment I sat back and laughed at the absolute chaos that exists here from children calling me and hanging on my leg and having no limits to people coming at me from all directions telling me what they are doing or ask what to do to finding a way to send 60 children to go visit family when there is no system and I know no names and all I have is a incomplete piece of paper that Didi gave me with some of the children approved to go…thank goodness for the Sisters that live here and have been here…it was either laugh or cry….I surrendered, let go, and was able to embrace the magic here
For Example:
Sunset talks with Maitree (I’m sure this is spelled wrong) from the Phillapenes and Sunrise talkes with Malec from Burhma. Both INCREDIBLE BEAUTIFUL women. We all come from such different worlds ne from danger of war and other from very close knit family who has never left and has been sick all her life. They are very wise, kind, patient, loving women who I feel so honored to have shared so much time with.
Problem solving, chatting, and eating watermelon in Didi’s office at night with Malec (Who has been here for 10 years) and Maitree…it was a great ritual for a while.
Walking around the village at sunset seeing children create a play area of a house with a stove, a bed, some food, and a table to prepare food and eat on all out of sticks, old cloth, plastic containers found on the ground, bamboo, leaves, and stones. They even had a space for the baby! These children’s play skills are magnificent…they have so little but create so much more than children in America with lots of toys.
Children flying a kite at sunset and getting a spinning wheel from the weaving center (made from an old bicycle tire frame) to wind the string on.
Having children roam into the volunteer house and out to say hi and play and be free. That’s where I stayed the firs night.
Having homemade icecream – located at the bottom of the road – MANY TIMES: the best ever – and bringing some children along here and there! Super cheap too
Taking one of the children out to the market and to eat and buy DVDs – he was very embarrassed to walk around with a falangJ
Seeing a child dress herself in leaves and call herself a forest princess
Visiting with mothers and babies in their bamboo hut homes
Taking a hike up to the meditation house and seeing the most beautiful sight I have ever seen….lakes, mountains, mist, farms, fishing docks, sky, green and magic.
Discovering that the children LOVE to draw and they sat out the office window everyday asking for materials.
Blowing bubbles at sunset with the children.
Taking a day off after several days of no sleep and trying children, being cared for by the volunteers and coming back and being missed by the children.
Having children sit around with me in the office listening to soft music, coloring and reading books together.
Making the children laugh.
Dance party in the “Baba Room” (meditation room) first time ever and perhaps against the rules. The children and volunteers loved it, the dancing was fantastic, the music was pumping and the children for thenext 3 days came up to me doing dance moves and asking me to join them and do more!
Getting decorated with flowers
Swimming in the lake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Getting my heart tickled
Just BEING with the children
Hearing the children sing their chants in the morning at the top of their lungs…chills down my spine
Sing Alongs
Sitting with the children at meal time
Having those momments when you know you share a special bond with a child
Seeing the Volunteers feel loved by the children and successful with their activities
Reaching the top of the hill and the children wiping my sweat off for me and fanning me
Hugs hugs hugs
Leading meditation
Seeing one of my boys give gentle love to a little child, a smile, a kiss, and a little food. He looked directly in his eyes with such genuine love – it was heart breaking. A side note is that I seem to have fallen for all the bad boys here; some things never change;) – I think they just need some love
Admiring their beautiful art work
Sharing moments of love with women who I can not speak words with
Giving tourist a tour of the place, seeing their hearts be moved, and wanting to offer help and support.
The weaving center is amazing! Lots of homemade looms that the adults and teens work on to make fabric. Then the sewers make clothing and such and then it gets sold at the bakery below for money.
Birthday party…absolutely hilarious…children lining up to get chocolate cake plopped in their hand, by me, and then a complete frenzy over a big bag of candy that I threw in the air
A child that wants to learn
An adult that wants to learn
Kittens and puppies
Feeling the energy and the high from motivated excited fresh volunteers
Cool breezes at sunset
Children randomly doing yoga poses and sitting in a meditation and prayer position
SMILES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remiding myself and others to focus on the positive and celebrate the children that are behaving: they were REALLY BAD the first several days after Didi left....and gearing away from if you dont do this you cant have that, i.e. no meditation no movie or swim. it reminded me of no church no going out dancing when i was growing up...(its ok mom and dad, lots of parents did that then)
The surrounding view..always changing with the sun and the mist and the day
Remembering at the end of the day no matter what or how the days go or if they go to their activities or not or if they come to meditation or not the children are happy and safe and that’s what is important.
Letting go…….
