And then there were 3, well and the 21

We headed to Chayah this morning to find 18 shiny clean and dressed children ready to attend  church as a family.  The oldest, Sharon, had gone to Kakira to teach Sunday school.  Another first... we piled them all in their van, added Mary, the cook, Mommy Janet, Kristen, the Deeds, me and Chris the driver. Yep, you counted right, 24 people in a van with 7 seats.  Like the US, a special license is required to drive a van that seats more than 7 people.  Now that is not at all the same a driving a van which seats 7, and piling in 17 more.  The number of people is not regulated; it’s the number of seats that count.  So…when in Uganda… We all went to the church just in front of Good Shepherd’s school.  And can I say that watching everyone exit, was hysterical.  Chris was checking under seats to make sure everyone was out.  Then the Mama, walked her tribe into church all together for the very first time. With the exception of Shakira, who needed to step outside for a bit, the Chayah family sat through at least an hour of introductions and music, before they were dismissed, without issue.  They are already the best behaved and yes I am biased, but it is still the truth!  Once all of the kids left for Sunday school, we sat through great teaching by a pastor from Alabama.  I know… but it was really great to listen to a Southern accent and Swahili translation.  Every tribe, tongue and nation…seems pretty close to heaven. 

After church, we walked a short cut home, finally giving Chris our driver a day off.  It was something seeing this group stretching on and on down the red dirt with cornfields lining the path.  We were at the caboose and arrived home to all the children standing just inside the door of the gate, saying with a dramatic tone and hand motions, “Welcome to Chayah, Welcome to Chayah” as each of the rest of us stepped through.  They are delightful children, acting like children.  If they are struggling on the inside, I don’t see it yet, except Shakira, who is kind of wanting Janet all to herself. 

This afternoon, with fewer of us, the pace was slower, and the children seemed to feel a great sense of freedom and were carefree enough to play and play and play.  Janet and I sat in the yard discussing the monthly budget, but laughed so much at their joy.  We pulled out a bag of match box cars today and everyone took one.  Janet was giggling at two of the 6 year old girls, translating their conversation.  “Well, my truck is stuck in the mud, so please let me go get it out” then turned on a dime and strutted over to retrieve the tiny car from the dirt in the planter.  There was chasing and laughing on the stone walkway which circles the home.  We heard singing and left over water bottles were filled with the outdoor faucet, a board with a nail making just the perfect size whole in the top and water squirted out was called “fireworks”.  I’m not sure where that description came from, but they were squealing and dancing and pouring it on themselves. 

Kristen worked with them on writing to their sponsors, with one of the older girls translating their thoughts and answers.  I worked on more mosquito nets and taught Janet how to scan receipts and email them.  We had a class on taking care of their own things, keeping order in the house, respecting their individual property and the common areas.  Talked to them about the house owner expecting the walls to be free from crayons (should have had this talk yesterday), eating on the tile floor, not the carpet to keep it clean and nice, picking up their trash, and keeping their shoes in the right place etc…

They want to know when we are coming back…and promised that if we spent the night with them, we could have their beds, while they sleep on the sitting room floor.  I’m pretty sure that’s going to happen, complete with a dance party.

Tomorrow night is our first birthday…Jesca.  I think there might be a party in the works, but with 19, we have to set a pretty reasonable standard to follow.  I believe from here on out, there will be one party a month and all birthdays will be celebrated together.  Candles have always been too expensive, even if some sort of treat was possible, but if we can find a box to keep on hand, there will be a candle in the first ice cream some have ever had. 

We were ushered out tonight with a couple of songs that Olivia and Sharon have already taught them.  So laying down our heads tonight with the memories of children sounding like children.  You couldn’t sing me to sleep with anything more beautiful.