Our team had three different nights of giving for the 270+ kids at Fiwagoh Mission Orphanage and School. The evenings at Fiwagoh are concluded with a worship service, usually beginning at 6:00 and ending around 7:00. It is always pitch dark at that time and after worship the kids go to their respective dorms for bedtime. This is the time our team chose to give out a gift, thus post-poning bedtime. So on three separate evenings we were blessed to stand in front of the beautiful, cheerful faces and handout out gifts: toothbrushes, loofas, and underwear. I have to laugh when I call them gifts, because recently I visited my three grandsons in Memphis for the birthday month celebration and my husband kept telling the boys they were getting socks and underwear for their birthday present. On the day of the party the soon to be four year old questioned us, “Are we really getting socks and underwear?” I don't think those boys would have been very happy if that was their gift, however the kids at the orphanage were extremely happy.
On the first night of giving we handed out toothbrushes. It was soooooo challenging for many of the kids to choose their toothbrush. They shopped and investigated all of our hands, which held the toothbrushes of many colors. The kids were making sure the chosen toothbrush was perfect: just the right color, just the right size, just the right whatever… The same happened on a second night of giving when the loofa sponges were handed out, so many colors to choose from and one tough decision, “Which color is the best for me?” Perhaps it was a bit crazier than the toothbrush night. We had many extra loofas to be handed out later in the year as needed, so we eventually just had to shut the container of loofas to stop the trading.
On the first night of giving we handed out toothbrushes. It was soooooo challenging for many of the kids to choose their toothbrush. They shopped and investigated all of our hands, which held the toothbrushes of many colors. The kids were making sure the chosen toothbrush was perfect: just the right color, just the right size, just the right whatever… The same happened on a second night of giving when the loofa sponges were handed out, so many colors to choose from and one tough decision, “Which color is the best for me?” Perhaps it was a bit crazier than the toothbrush night. We had many extra loofas to be handed out later in the year as needed, so we eventually just had to shut the container of loofas to stop the trading.
Tooth Brush Distribution
Loofas Presented and Leftover
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Finally, on the third night of giving, the night of receiving their one pair of underwear (older teens received two pair), the kids went wild. It was over the top crazy. The guys on the team handed out the underwear for the boys at a separate location from the girls. I cannot speak as to how their distribution of underwear went, but I can describe my experience in one word, insane. It all started out very organized and calm as we lined up the girls by size. This took a bit of time and the excitement escalated. After most had received and traded underwear once or twice, the tsunami began... I had a handful of undies grouped by size. Soon little girls were swarming around me wanting to trade up, swap colors, and/or change size. I became trapped in a whirlwind of girls. Imani, one of our high school team members, came to my rescue. She grabbed the extra undies from my hand and took them away to be stored for later in time as needed. The young bees dispersed.
The Underwear Distribution
It all looks so innocent at first.
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| The line for the juniors, the youngest at the orphanage. |
Honestly, can you imagine only having one pair of underwear or one toothbrush to last you for as long as it holds together or until another mission team comes bringing you a new one, which could be a couple of years? I have it so easy here in the United States. Every time I travel to Africa I realize that and try to keep it in perspective when I return home, which is not easy. It is such a blessing to be a part of this experience and these evenings of giving are so much fun.
Peace and Joy,
Krees (Kris)
I’m smiling ear to ear just recalling those precious moments and realizing how blessed we are to have the opportunity to love and become family with these children. So glad I get to share this with you and our team!
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