Beach Kids

We want to tell you about our first day in Jacmel!  This morning, we went to the beach and played with the "beach kids."  Most of these "kids" don't have the opportunity to attend school because they cannot afford the fees that are required.  These children appeared when we got there and were ready to play! As the number of kids grew, starting with 5 and growing to around 40, we never saw any parents and some of the kids were running around in their underwear.  On the beach (which is littered and rocky) we played soccer, (big kid team and little kid team), football, and frisbee.   We were also able to introduce them to an American football.  They saw the football and attempted to bounce it because they didn't know how else it could be used.  The temperatures were around 90 degrees and as we sweated profusely on the beach we eyed the cool Caribbean Sea. In an effort to cool off, we started playing tag near the water's edge which eventually led into a game of the kids tackling us, tagging us, and asking for piggyback rides. We had a great time and once we were covered from head to toe in sand, we headed back to our hotel to shower and prep for VBS.  

As we were prepping, our leader received a phone call from the pastor at the church that our VBS was located within.  When asked how many kids were there, his response was, "You can't even imagine! I am entertaining them now by singing."  We got to the church and the kids filled the whole back section, numbering around 70. It was interesting to teach a lesson through translators.  Our translators Elmye and Meshak were really wonderful with leading the kids in songs and helping us to organize them.  Things turned out well and we already have a more active game plan for tomorrow's lesson.

Of the experiences we have had so far, the most striking difference can be seen in the kids' "survival mode."  In our debrief session tonight we discussed how the children aren't shy about asking for things such as our watches, sunglasses, etc., even such basic things as water.  We can see their desire for basic needs and wants and that they struggle to obtain the things that we more than take for granted.  How can these children's parents provide for their basic needs when they can't afford school and 85% of the country is unemployed? 

Elmye, our translator, said it best over lunch: "Some people see our country as so poor. We are poor and we might not have all the same opportunities as other countries but I know we really aren't poor.  In fact, because of Jesus, I am rich."

~ Megan and Molly