Week 8

I think today I'll tell you about one of the most fun parts of being here at Adullam Orphanage -- WORSHIP! I really miss Lutheran liturgy, but when I leave I will also miss seeing kids DANCE during worship! I wish this blog had video capability, because I've gotten some great footage. It's like a cross between MTV and a revival, if you can imagine. And no, I haven't really joined in. I kind of do a white girl sway . . . I stand out enough the way it is, so I don't think I need to draw any more attention to myself! The first night I was there I laughed because it seemed some of the older boys were really praising God with their dancing, but some of the younger ones were leading with their butts and purposely bumping into other dancers. I guess the behavior of middle school boys is universal!

And the singing! These kids love to sing. Sometimes at worship they'll sing four or five songs, and sometimes they'll keep singing for an hour. They tend to start off low key and then rev up into the dancing songs and then wind down into reverential worship songs. I can sing along to "Sanctuary" and "Here I Am to Worship," the two songs I know, and sing a few words here and there during other songs I've kind of gotten used to.

Friday night we sat outside under the full moon. It was a lot like church camp, for those of you who have experienced that. I couldn't stop looking at the little boy in front of me, who had his eyes squeezed shut and was singing his heart out to a song called "Count Your Blessings One by One." In a couple of hours he would crawl into his bunk bed with no blanket, no pillow, and no one to tuck him in and say good-night, and you could just tell by the look on his face that he was thanking God for everything he had. If only we could all have that attitude instead of always asking for more and more!

So, they may not have much, but they have faith.

Since I only have videos of worship and no pictures, I'll post some random pictures today. The first is of cuddlebug David who cries every day when I leave, the second is of Alfred and Isaac, two nice little ten year olds, and the third

is of Priscilla and Raymond, who aren't old enough for school but were obviously old enough to find the chalk and have a little fun. :)