Children Today...Leaders Tomorrow

Hi Everyone,
I was just sitting here trying to remember all of the amazing things that have happened throughout the past 4 days, but everyday brings something new and exciting and it is really hard to remember everything that I have wanted to share with you all. On Monday we started our working days and began painting the children's playground. It was rusting, and had sharp edges that kept scratching the kids, so we sanded and cleaned the slide, sea saw and swings and painted with bright colored paint that we got that morning in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is kind of scary. Not because of the people, but becuase of the bussiness. It is hard to know where to look. There is so much going on, the smells make your stomache turn upside down, and you are constantly being honked at! Garbage is a real problem here. We passed a river that later we saw a mother and her baby bathing in. In that same rivern were piles and piles of garbage, and about 30 cows standing in it. It made me feel sick to my stomach that that is potentially peoples drinking water. We drove through severe severe poverty and then slowly made our way into the touristy area which made me really mad. All of a sudden the roads were clean, and the stores were selling things aimed at our western culture. I knew that there were other white people in Nepal, but as soon as we turned a corner, we found them all. Some listening to ipods, others with 3 cameras around their nexts, and several on lap tops. It was really frustrating to see that people come all of this way to ignore the problems that exist in these places. We were able to take Brother Nepal and his youngest son James out for lunch which was nice. James is 14 and we have actually started building a really cool relationship. Forwhatever reason he can understand my english easier than the rest. I almost translate what everyone else says for him. He always comes to me to ask questions and invited me to go into town with him today with another boy on our team. He is so beyong his yeas it is crazy and is starting universtiy in 2 months becuase he was able to skip some grades. I am so proud of him!
Anyways back to the work we completed on Monday. We finshed the playground, and moved onto painting the poles that surround the volleyball net that is set up outside the home. A few of us also painted the basketball hoop which ended up with me almost making a trip to the hospital! I thought it would be a good idea to climb up and paint over top, but we didnt realize that the hoop was not very stable. Luckily the rest of the team was there to catch me, when the entire hoop started shaking. In the end it looks fantastic though, and the entire playground looks way more inviting. The kids were all so excited! We also handed out umbrellas and were able to play with them outside during one of many flash flods that happen in the valley. I had an amazing Nepal moment the other day. It was raining and instead of going inside to stay dry I decided to stay outside with the kids. I found myself teaching about 10 little ones how to make sand castles, and stopped to look around. I was in Nepal, at an orphanage, building sand castles in the rain! It doesnt get much cooler than that.
The last two days have been dedicated to finishing up all of the painting projects that we have started. Today we finished painting the front gate and the poles surrounding the pool that we have cleaned as well. Once that is finishe we are going to fill the pool and give swimming lessons! I cant wait! We have also been spending a lot of time with the kids. One of my favorite little guys Samson and I made paper boats and took them out to the stream and had boat races. The other kids were jealous and we ended up having many little friends join us. We have had many great games of soccer, and they love patty cake games.
Every morning the kids start off with a group sing along. Most of the songs are in Nepoli but sometimes they throw a beautiful english song that always gets me. I was doing so well, but when they asked me to teach them a song and I had them all singing "we are children of the light" I had my first melt down. 25 amazing kids, who have all gone so well, singing english words about how they are the light, and how they are going to spread joy across the land, just killed me. I love them all so much.
I think that is all for now. We have to get back to work! I hope everything is going great back home! Love you all!
xoxo Tory