more from Hoa Mai 2008-09-14

Those of us who weren't hard at work on the mural engaged the kids at Hoa Mai in lots of activities:
--drawing and sharing words on the chalkboard
--a game of duck, duck, goose (or, more accurately, cat cat mouse)
--fingernail fun (some kids were way into the nail polish. way way into the nail polish)
--weekend English lessons with a volunteer librarian lady named Xuan
--mad Frisbee skills
--snapping photos (kids are fascinated with cameras and seeing themselves on the screen)

By the end of the day it was raining hard, so the kids settled down to draw with crayons and use some of their new supplies. It felt a little like living in a Crayola commercial.

Coloring is a universal past-time.

Some kids got to play in the rain with the brave souls from Team Awesome who sacrificed dry clothes for huge laughs. One little boy strummed a guitar as the finishing touches were put on the mural, as our little art director kid supervised.

Some photos of the team and the kids, creating and fun-ing:

Katie Sam Sesha Brandon
bracelets big glasses bubbles
butterflies

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Birthday parties 2008-09-14

Sesha shared that many of the kids in the orphanages don't know when their exact birthdays are, so we were going to throw them all a killer birthday party to remember! Before we came over, we packed donated party supplies and presents - cars, balls, bracelets, jewelry, balloons, decorated crowns made for them by kids at Robberson Elementary School in Springfield, toys, and candy.

Friday was our first visit and birthday party at Hai Chau orphanage, which was two stories and nestled in the heart of Danang, sidled between storefronts on a busy street.

I'm not sure anyone really knew what was going on, but we set up a beautiful spread. Having picked up a large cake on our way, we laid it out, candles and all.









In the whirlwind of activity, a local business brought over little packages for the kids that they wanted to donate, filled with chips, candy and soda. In a way I felt a little guilty loading them with sugar galore and then leaving later - poor caretakers!

Thankfully, we left the kids on a promise to return the next morning for more playing and art classes... (more...)

Attempting art classes, round one 2008-09-15

Pooling together our talents and resources with the masquerade fundraiser in mind (to feature and sell the kids art/photography/crafts they create on this trip, with proceeds going to them through Giving It Back to Kids - Nov. 22 in Springfield), a schedule had been made for two orphanages involving various activities with the kids: creating short films, writing bios, painting, photography, and fabric dying.
On the ride back to Hai Chao on Sunday morning, we hammered out the tentative plan, knowing full well that things might go otherwise (tip: key to success in travel and things such as this - flexibility!). After more nail painting extravaganza, a lunch break, and the mural already in full swing, we haphazardly began...

After a giving a brief lesson with help via a translator, Sesha bravely let about eight kids loose with film-full cameras. We will eagerly await their development too, not only to see what raw images they captured, but also the assumed array of horrible close-ups of our faces, snapped over and over again.
Brandon also collected a group and began to teach them about film: the camera, shots, story-line, plot, angles, and "ACTION!". He asked what they wanted their movie to be about and they said, "Dancing!" And it was so. A natural director emerged from the group as well as a star. They had good ideas and Brandon put them use. Before long, they had a great short film and he was able to play it back for them through his camera hooked up to a TV in their main room. Oh, the laughter and delight on their faces! It was quite incredible.

While those classes were going on, Hanna and Charity led a group in dying fabric out front on the street. The kids caught on with ease and although it went quicker than expected, they looked great; our plans are to sell them as scarves at the masquerade.

Chris had an abstract painting project set up, which captured some interest and led some to create colorful butterflies. Everyone was also involved in coloring and drawing with the kids throughout the day.


Sam played guitar for and with the kids as they were enamored with it, and him.

Amidst the ending chaos, Sarah and I handed out Vietnamese bios (typed translations on 12x12 colorful cardstock - thanks Rachel!) for the kids to fill out that say:

First Name
3 adjectives
Who wishes
Who dreams
Who fears
Who likes
Who loves
Who believes
Who plans
Last Name

The response was strong as many appeared thoughtful as they wrote. We are looking forward to having them translated, giving us more of an insight into the hearts and minds of these precious kids.


While we left the orphanage with a fantastic collection of their art, our hopes are that we left them with a gateway into their own imagination and creativity at hand. Robert (the founder of Giving It Back to Kids) finally made it to Danang today, and spoke of the the importance of teaching the kids to dream - a completely foreign concept to them.  We are looking forward to sharing their creations with you, and seeing what else evolves as more of their personalities and needs are met and nurtured.

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thoughts 2008-09-16

It's been an emotional couple of days.  There's really no way to describe all I'm feeling...but I'll try.
Like those Hallmark commercials where the son comes home early at Christmas and surprises his mom with a card hidden in the tree, and she turns around and there he is.
Like an episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition where this family---who's been through so much---is weepy and happy and overwhelmed by kindness, and then Ty gives all the kids scholarships.  And then John Mayer shows up to sing for them.
That kind of covers the positive end:  surprising, unconditional, unexplainable joy.
But it's mixed with another set of emotions.  In many ways this trip is making me think about the BIG issues:the systems in place that cause povertythe injustice in the disparity of wealth on earththe fact that I can't possibly help everyone, but that shouldn't stop me from doing what I can
Humbled and helpless and hopeful all at the same time.
But what helps, really, is knowing that in the moment I have a little kid in my arms, and I'm making him laugh with silly songs he doesn't understand, and he's making me laugh by repeating everything I say ["holla" was a particularly good one], I'm nowhere else but in that moment looking in his little eyes, and nothing else matters but LOVE.
It really is the greatest thing.


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up to marble mountain 2008-09-16

Up to Marble Mountain



















Happy monk buddy who lovingly slapped me:)










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