Agape Orphanage

We went out to the van and saw that Xiang Wei was our sub driver. He was Cecilia's first driver and he subbed for us before. At least someone was here. Loaded up the van with all Carassco's and Cameron and I. We were on the road for about 45 minutes when all of a sudden I looked in the mirror at my drivers eyes. They were closed. Back open. Watched some more and they were closing with head bobbing. I said "He is sleeping". I took out my phone to message Todd and told Ileana to watch his eyes. She was staring at him in the mirror. She said "He knows I'm watching now". We didn't care. His eyes continued to shut then open. I hit him and said "wake up." Ileana and I discussed what we should do. More eyes closing head bobbing going on. Finally we were both so nervous and my palms were sweating terribly that I called Carrie. She was in the lead van of the 5 van caravan. I told her we needed to pull over. We did. I told him he was sleeping and he laughed. Ileana gave Xiang Wei a Coke and told him to drink it and we told him to get out of the van. We were standing on the side of the interstate deciding our next move. We were only about 15 minutes from the orphanage so we thought about giving him a minute then continuing. As we were still discussing it Kerrie B. said "We can take all the kids and you can ride with him". Ileana and I started laughing and I said "We'll thanks Kerrie but we don't feel like dying either". Then she realized what she said and apologized saying she didn't mean it that way. We knew she didn't but it was funny. We unloaded my van. Some kids went in one van and the rest of us in another. We had a Chinese lady with us. I explained to her what happened and I needed Xiang Wei to go back, drop my van off, and go home. After she talked to him she said he told her he wasn't sleeping and he had been accused of sleeping before but that is his style of driving. WHAT? His style is eyes closed, head bobbing? I'm just very thankful Ileana was with me and saw it too. But, of course, I felt bad sending him back. I don't know why because our safety is way more important than hurting his feelings.

Standing on the interstate.

Finally the drama was over and we were at Agape Orphanage. There was 26 of us that went. Ileana and I pulled our kids out of school so they could help with the Christmas party. There were 12 kids we worked with. I was with the teen group. Cameron was with the 6 and under group. He said his girl loved glue and glitter. They made ornaments and a hand print wreath.

All of our kids waiting for instructions.

The teenage kids working hard.

My group made a wreath too. Ours was made out of toilet paper rolls that were cut and then each person got 5 pieces. They painted them then we hot glued them together to form a flower. We put all the flowers together to make the wreath. It turned out awesome. Ryley and I were in charge of hot gluing. We made a great team.

Ryley, Ileana, and I working hard on making the wreath.

The sweet little girl Cameron worked with.

Finally done.  It turned out great.

The kids also made ornaments and Pom pons for the tree. Carrie and Kerrie had great projects for the kids. At 11:30 it was time for all the kids to eat lunch and take a break. The little ones napped. Our group ate pizza that the bakery at the orphanage made...delicious. We also worked on the skit the kids were doing.

The tree decorated with all of the kids ornaments.

The kids are getting their instructions for the skit.

Dress rehearsal.

Lunch time.  Tobias was being goofy.

We were suppose to start activities again at 1:30 but we didn't end up starting until 2:30. Our kids all played outside which was great. They ran off some energy. The adults sang Christmas carols and talked. At 2:30 we walked down to the house where the little kids were. They were just getting up from naps and getting out of the bath. There were 6 little ones. They were so cute. The teen age kids were there too. Our kids performed the skit as one lady said the story in Chinese. The kids laughed when the donkey appeared (Ryley). A lady then read the story The Candy Cane to the kids. Candy canes were passed out too. Our last activity was to sing some Christmas songs. The kids seemed pretty happy when we were finished.

This friend was making edible animals for the Nativity scene.

Look at these sweet kids.

Our kids doing the skit while the others watch.

LOVE this picture.

We went back to the activity house, cleaned up, loaded vans, went to the bakery to get the meat we ordered, then drove home. Leo (Ileana's driver) drove to the orphanage to get us. He laughed when I acted out the driver sleeping story. He already knew who it was and what happened. Drivers and ayi's gossip and know everything almost before it happens.

There was a baby at the orphanage. They have never had a baby before.They said she was 2 months but there was no way. She was too alert and big. We all thought she had to be somewhere around 4-5 months. So sad that they don't even know when she was born. She had a cast on her little arm. All the kids have brittle bone disease. That is how the baby ended up at Agape. She was at another orphanage and they didn't have the skills to deal with her. They called Agape to see if they would take her. The poor little thing can't be held. She just lays in a play pen. She didn't fuss or anything. If you talked to her she would smile. Broke my heart. I was told OI isn't usually diagnosed in newborns. Her parents left her after she was born and diagnosed is what they think happened. That's how the first orphanage got her. So sad.

Poor baby.

The good news is the people that run the orphanage are fantastic people. We had the opportunity to talk more with Danny, he is in charge of the bakery. Just a young guy on a mission from God he said. He came to visit and stayed. He has been there for a year and said he is staying 15 years. He doesn't get paid. Talking with him you get an immediate sense that he cares deeply for the kids and is truly there to make a difference.

The other thing I observed today is ALL the kids seem very happy. They are well taken care of, they care about each other, and they really are a family. I wish there was a way to do more for these kids and the facility. Remarkable place.

Driving home Leo was flying. Ileana looked at me and said "are we in a hurry?". I said no and she asked why Leo was driving so fast? I didn't have an answer. Next thing there were two semis in each lane in front of us. Leo obviously didn't want to wait until one passed the other so he went on the shoulder and around them. I thought Ileana was going to die. I'm sure we both had funny looks on our faces. It must have been the day of crazy drivers.

Back home we stopped at the cold food wear house to buy hot chocolate. Then off to Jusco to buy coffee cups and then home. We needed Christmas presents for all the teachers and aides. Carrasco's leave for Mexico on Saturday so she had to get presents and I just decided to get mine done too.

The kids played and then we ordered Jacky's for dinner.  Cameron read on my bed and then slept with me.

He looks a little too comfy.