The real rainforest Cafe and Happy 39th Colin

We were unable to post yesterday because of computer access problems. Yesterday was probably the toughest day for me, physically. I guess it all boils down to the fact that I am a wimp when it comes to long, hot bumpy car rides. It is a trait I share with my sister, so next time WE come together I will have her heavily medicated for certain parts. By the time we had returned home I had been awake for almost 40 hours, so I think sleep deprivation played a big part.

We drove about 4 1/2 hours to head to the Rainforest Canopy walk. I kept thinking there was no way the treacherous drive could end in anything that would make it worth it, but I was wrong. Walking though a real Rainforest, from the canopy floor to above the trees was breathtaking. I took lots of vegetative photos that will be of no interest to anyone except the second graders at my mom's school. We walked on a bridge across the canopy, and it was remarkable. There are ropes to hold on to, and you walk over the rainforest hung by ropes in mid air. We got really giggly walking across. Colin pulled many of his best "one-liners", which make me giggle and snort and took the edge off of the nausea/headache/sleep deprivation at the time. And, what a fantastic birthday for Colin. He got to have a special lunch of peanut butter crackers and I treated him to a grape fanta.

The next drive was to the Cape Coast slave castle, which everyone seemed to enjoy but me. I'm not a huge museum girl, but this was too much. I got emotional walking to the "women's dungeon" and decided I would quietly protest the rest of the tour and stand in the back. Two reasons. First, I kept thinking about friends I have met through our Circle of Support program in south Dallas whose relatives, hundreds of years ago, may have been transferred and sold from this castle. It was too much for me. Second, as you walk out of the castle, which is on the Cape Coast, you can see hundreds of fishermen on the bank of the ocean, pulling in their catch for the day and mending their nets. You look down and see boys, young boys, who should be in school, not fixing boats and nets. Kofi told us that some of the boys were trafficked. I just don't get it, under a old slave castle. Just too ironic. There is a great picture you can see when you browse the facebook photos. Read what the sign says on the building. Just too much. Incidentally, this is where Obama spoke from last July.

Well, what goes up must come down. Goes for driving, too. Had to go back the same way we came. We told our driver there was a video game in the US called "Mario Cart" that paralleled our drive. Thankfully there were no crashes. Kingsley is a great driver, who has carted us all week.

One really fun thing happened when we stopped to get gas. Across the gas station was an elementary school. The kids were playing recess outside and many were kicking around old soccer balls. We had an extra ball in the car (we brought 12, but VOL doesn't need all of them) so Brad and Colin walked across the street into the playground. Brad held up the soccer ball and the kids started jumping and screaming! They tossed the ball in the air and the kids went nuts. They ran over to Brad and Colin saying, "God Bless you. We love you." They stood there waving and jumping up and down until we drove off. Just a soccer ball.

Thankfully joy comes the minute we drive to the Village of Love and the kids are arriving home for school. Brad Gautney has come from Global Health Innovations. He will be doing health assessments for all of the kids this week, and next week as well. So, if you see a new white man in our photos, that's him.

Today we sang songs, and the kids were pumped up! Hopefully I can upload a video. Our craft was decorating a new pillowcase. Each child was able to color with fabric markers their name on a new pillowcase. I always think about Jen Hobbs during craft times. If only Jen was here to give me guidance with all of these crafty things. The kids loved it and it was fun to see their smiles with the new pillowcase on the bed. The scripture on the top of the pillowcase is "O Lord you have searched me and you know me....you know my coming in and my lying down; you have laid your hand upon me. I love that in light of their pasts. We had an ice cream party to end the day. The kids thought it was really funny that I had never seen ice cream that way. They giggled and giggled and pointed at me and giggled more. I had to draw an ice cream cone and demonstrate how we lick off the top. This gave way to more giggling.

The highlight of my day was watching Moses read The Giving Tree. This precious child was rescued just over a year ago. He is so so so smart, and has a smile as big as Texas. If you watch this video, you will see him throughout (he has a visible hernia). And look at him yesterday- Been here for a short time and reading like a champ! Pictures here. Also, no time to spell check, so forgive mistakes. Today was a fantastic day that ended with a joint African and America dance party. Can't wait to show you photos.