Smiles :)

I had the rare opportunity to have Thursday off, as Friday was a ship holiday, and I had to work!

So I slept in for a bit, and then ate some lunch and went off to the Hope Center!

Normally there is two weekly trips that take a group of crew members on Monday and Friday, but due to the ship holiday we went on Thursday, and as it turns out i was the only crew member other then the driver and translator. There wasn't that many kids around, but there was one in particular who pretty much attach himself to me. While we were listening to the story, Abell kept trying to understand why my fingernails were so long, and wouldn't break. We then started coloring a picture of the Joseph and his multi colored coat. I ended up getting some help from 2 year old Joseph, himself, he thought he should end some black lines in the background. Once we were done coloring, Abell decided it was BUBBLE TIME! So i got the bubbles out and at first he just chased them around, and i blew them. HE then decided i should chase after the bubbles instead. This grew old quickly so he gave them back to me! He then climbed onto my back and we walked around blowing bubbles at the other patients and little Joseph. Then he wanted to get higher so he climbed onto my shoulders, and could see pretty much everything from there. He also kissed my cheek a bunch of times, and i kissed his leg that is just nicely healing! It was then time to leave, but he wouldn't let me, so i picked him up like he was flying and he squealed with laughter! Then he hugged me very tightly and kissed my cheek once again, and then i got into the land rover and drove off waving into the distance!

This day was a true blessing and it put back into my head why I am here, not to drastically change these kids lives, but to put a smile on their faces and they easily put one on mine. They are precious gifts of God, and will always have a bit of my heart :)