Boys, Balloons, and Fireside Dancing

When we left the house for the little orphanage and headed out, little children popped up. As we sat in the van the boys and Ray and Abebe blew up balloons. As little children walked by the windows the guys would hand them out.

One little boy was so surprised at the gift of a balloon that he just beamed. As soon as he had his balloon, another little boy, a little older, appeared. This child did not smile and barely made eye contact. He put his fingers to his mouth in the gesture of eating. He didn’t want a balloon. He wanted food. I gave him a balloon and a granola bar. He didn’t say a word – just turned and slid away and wandered between some cars. Such a hopeless, sad little face.

More children loved it when we left the little orphanage and I pulled out stickers and balloons. They all crowded us, so I showed them to wait patiently and they would each get one. They were so sweet – they mostly wanted the stickers on their foreheads.

Sometimes a little child would be off in the distance, while others were getting balloons. Then Ray or the boy would blow up a balloon and go and offer it to the child. They were so grateful to receive them.

One child came by my window and he asked me for something to eat. I gave him a granola bar, and then he clearly said, “Thank you.” I asked him if he wanted a balloon. He said, “Baaa looon.” I nodded and handed him a blue balloon. As I went into the store a few minutes later, I looked back to see him caressing his balloon to his chest.

My Balloon

A Mum and Baby

After we came home I took a break to do some writing, while Ray took a rest and the boys played soccer with Abebe. It wasn’t long after that that the power went out. It is now back on, but that didn’t happen before we had eaten most of our dinner in the dark..

Before we ate Abebe’s mother held a very interesting silver pan. In the centre, there was a drain and below it there was a bowl. His little sister held a silver pot that looked like a coffee urn. There was a bar of soap on the drain over the bowl. We washed our hands with the soap, while she poured the water over our hands.

For dinner we had chicken – the chicken that Dane helped butcher. It was a very nice, spicy dish. There were other dishes, too. Abebe’s mother is a wonderful cook, and I will have to get her recipes! While we were eating dinner, a handful of little boys arrived. They are from the neighbourhood. On the nights that Abebe’s family has the bonfire, drumming and dancing the children come. While we ate we could hear them playing outside with the soccer ball.

After dinner, we cleared our dishes to the kitchen and Abebe’s mother took our plates and got a clean plastic bag. She scraped any remaining food into the bag; it would go to the beggars in the neighbourhood. This is another example of giving back to their own. They will also give leftover to the beggars.

When we were done clearing up we headed out to the fire pit. It was simply a small contraption that held small sticks and brush. The boys got the fire going and then the dancing, drumming, and singing began. All the boys and Abebe and a friend of his began dancing around the firepit. It was very reminiscent of what you see in tribal movies from Africa. Nothing has changed with their roots! It was wonderful to see and hear!

A couple questions I asked myself today:

Whose children are deprived? Canada’s or Africa’s?

Which country is a ‘Third World Country’?

While we were out driving our children and our host children were happy and busy, and animated, and full of life, as they played simple talking, clapping, and nonsense singing games. Tonight, the children were having a wonderful time singing, dancing and drumming around the fire. These are truly happy children.

When I look at North American children versus the children I have seen in Mexico and now Ethiopia, I can truly say that the ones who seem happiest are the ones who are supposedly ‘deprived’. Deprived of what? Play Station2? Game Boy, Nintendo, TV, fancy bikes, new clothes, toys.

No, really, the ones I think are deprived are the ones that have parents that allow them to bask in the light of the television or Play Station, who have too many clothes, and get the latest toys.

Really, when I see the simplicity of the children over here – the happiness, and calmness – I think these children have it better!

Yes, they combat sickness and hunger – depending on where they live. But they also are in a culture that embraces them. Our culture certainly does not! Children are often seen as an inconvenience, or an expense, rather than a blessing. It is wonderful to be in a country where children are cherished.



What do you consider a Third World Country? I know what the government and the UN calls one, but I think the Third World Countries have more of their priorities in order than we do. Family is important, stuff is not. Friendliness, kindness, helpfulness – all very important to Ethiopians. You can’t help but walk or drive down the road and smile at the goodness and hope that you see. People aren’t shut up in their own selfish little worlds; they are spending time together.

And I am not saying that the sad situations are not devastating. They are there, and we have yet to see any really bad ones, but even seeing those will not take away from the love of the people that we have encountered.

Tomorrow we head to the Compassion office and meet our Compassion child for the day. We are hoping to take her shopping and see what she needs.