What's Your Talent?

Everyone has talents and skills.  Some are very obvious and some are more subtle.  As I said before, the family who came on this trip along side Judson and I had the talents of nurse and carpenter/contractor.  These came in very helpful on this trip.  Jaime (the nurse) taught the Ethiopian nurse how to measure the kids and keep records on growth, etc.  Frank (the contractor) repaired faucets, hooked up a washing machine, built shelves and a work bench for the cook.  He and Tamirat and Melkamu painted the Read and Feed center.  So lots of skills.

So what was my talent?  I was the kid-magnet!  You know, the pied-piper.  I sat down and kids flocked to me. It's a talent I inherited from my father.  So, my job was to keep kids busy and out of the way when paint was going up and work was being done.  I think I got the best job!

May I just say, the girl on the right had such a beautiful spirit.

She was beautiful on the outside but something else just shown thru.

Loved interacting with her.

Example:  We had spent the whole day painting the read and feed center. This is the day I had a severe attack of Montezuma's Revenge and the plumbing was NOT working, by the way. TMI?    So let's just say, I'm in a weakened state and after painting flowers and grass on the walls, I decide to sit down.  I've got paint on my clothes and my hands and arms.  Before I know it, I have 3 girls 'grooming' me, picking paint off my skin.  I swear when they are done, I have no paint left on my skin.  After they are through, I pull out my iPhone and turn on music and a bubble app.  Next thing I know, I have about 10 kids crowding around to play and sing to the song.  Come to find out, every kid in Ethiopia must know the K'naan song: "Wavin' Flag".  Who knew, right?

See, no paint on my hands.

Why yes, that is a 3rd eye.

The girl in the pink shirt from yesterday's photo.  She wanted nothing to do with any of us.  She'd sit there with her arms crossed and glare.  Now, I happen to think she is very smart and is also pretty sure she can depend upon no one but herself.  So she is a student of humanity.  It took a few hours but we were walking back to the bus after the amusement park.  I could see her cutting her eyes over to me.  I just held back.  Then she made the move!  She slowed down so she could be beside me.  So I stuck out one finger....AND....she grabbed it!  She let me walk her back to the bus.  Pretty awesome feeling to get the trust of a kid.

Judson got in on the act too.  He taught the kids how to fold origami figures and tried to teach them chess although it was a bit difficult due to language barrier.  Luckily, Melkam knew how to play so he helped with translations.