Thursday night at the PCYC gym...had roughly the same group of kids (down to about 30 in number) but a lot more friendly now that they knew us a little better. Played a couple of relay races, bull-rushes (a favorite), Here Comes the Captain...and an unofficial game called "Trying- to- keep- some- of- the- more- cheeky- boys- from- breaking- into- the- kitchen- and- devouring- some- chocolate- cake-that-had-been-left-over-from-the- celebration- of- the millenium-new-year." (Fortunately I did get a piece before we were finally nabbed. Must be something really special to be taken right out of the kitchen of the Police Citizens Youth Club!)
Closed shop at 9 and back to the Headquarters for coffee in about 10 minutes--no traffic in Moree at 9:00 pm.
Into Friday morning with the usual 8:00 am bus pickup of the kids for breakfast. A few new faces but about the same number. This could have been influenced by a torrential downpour at the same time we were picking up the kids. The breakfast crew meanwhile was literally "bailing out" the back up venue of a large covered area in the centre of the school ground. The drains had been located close to a large sandpit and had filled with sand, mud, and leaves. Didn't exactly allow for smooth run-off and the water started creeping up under the shelter consuming more and more of the dry space. It was all hands on deck with brooms and buckets...but was more or less dry (or at least only damp) by the time the kids showed up.
It was really worthwhile when one of the kids from Wednesday walked over to see me (soaking wet down on my knees) digging mud out of the drain. Brodie appeared a little suspicious at first and then looked (way) up at me with a big white grin and pronounced, "Tha's a lil betta!"
After breakfast, we had a great time with games in the shed (instead of softball). Titanic was a big hit and helped tremendously by a number of different size and shape paintings on the (damp) concrete that provided some ready made rescue islands...the coaches served as ferocious "crocs" to make things a little more exciting. Couple of more relays and a "Rob the nest" folllowed by a vigourous game of dodge ball until Tyrique (one of the five year olds) got "beaned"...he was ready for more but fortunately it was time for lunch. Not sure what we will do tonight--running rapidly through our list of games. Possibly indoor cricket...which seems to be in big demand.
Just before lunch we had another "Bible study". Actually, the kids had remembered every word of yesterday's lesson--"God is love." Today's was a little longer--"God loves everyone--and that means you". Great to hear the kids repeating these timeless truths at the top of their lungs.
Spent the last couple of afternoons on the blog after recuperating from the AM in one of the natural hot mineral spring pools around the city. Like a giant hot turbo bath in very comfortable swimming pool type surroundings. A great asset to this outreach!
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