Been thinking about our kids in Kenya – well, that isn’t really news because I think of them every day. Remembering their smiling faces always brings a smile to my face and going through my pictures helps too.
We had some teens from the US donate beanie babies which we were able to hand out during our last trip in October 2008. I usually carried them in a book bag so I would have them ready whenever a kid showed up, which was very often! When Chuck went to hand our neighbor one she didn’t look too happy. We were the first “whites” she had ever seen and Chuck’s also a big guy, so I can imagine what was going through her mind (who and what is this thing?) He got down on one knee and held the beanie baby out but she just wouldn’t take it. Finally he had to give it to mom and have her hand it to the little one.
This young boy is also our neighbor and a student at Nice View so he had seen us before and knew that we liked to hand out fun things to the kids – along with school books, backpacks, pens etc.
It was so fun to see the differences in reactions and we only had one little one who just wouldn’t take her beanie penguin! No matter who tried to give it to her. Plus we had to bring out the snake after everyone saw that these were just toys and of course it was a boy who wanted the snake!
What joy such a small thing can bring a child. I pray those beanies are still bringing joy and comfort to the children.