paper thin lies

My group did our 'character development' project today.
We spent 4 trying hours at Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's home and the first thing I did was to read 'Noah's Ark' with Kenneth.
Kenneth is 7 and still has much of his innocence intact.

It is only with a 7 year old that I can talk with about thunderstorms,swimming,army,how two of his brothers didn't die though,why he didn't like his enemy,how he felt scared for Jesus when he saw how Jesus died and soccer.
Gradually he opened up more to me and his cheeky and mischevious side was shown.
I had to bribe him with a lollipop to have him complete the book.

Slightly innocent Kenneth.

(he was putting on his shoes under the table. He had taken off while reading and laughed at me when I smelt the stench of his feet.)

Cheeky Kenneth.

Most of the kids there had no parents and it was no wonder that their behaviour was that of much spewing of vulgarities,hitting,kicking and most of all throwing things at each other like metal cans,pencils,books and shoes.
We played catching under the sun and I felt old.

Then we played duck duck goose in which also made me feel old.
Had an impromptu catching session thereafter in the playground with kenneth,faith and 2 other indian kids.
My friends marvelled at my stamina.
I scraped my knees,laughed till I couldn't move,stood helplessly in the corner while the kids conspired against me and I had fun.
I didn't feel old then.
Headed over to the hopscotch area and did my thang.
The 4 years of playing hopscotch in my primary school did me good.

I felt a lil sad at the end of it though.
The helpers knew it and I knew it but didn't want to acknowledge it.
That we were there only because we had to and we ain't going change crap for the kids there.
I wonder what impact will our 4 hour stint there have on the kids.
Even though we are going there again for one last time, I don't think much of anything will change.

The kids seem to know it too.
When we were about to go off, the girls had looked at us imploringly while kenneth suddenly stopped talking to me.
I think they've gotten use to this and that's the sad part of it all.

More pictures will come in soon.

=)