One Father

Well, here is what our weekend held…

On Saturday we got to go to an orphanage, run by Christian organization as well as working with the Albanian government... I think I expected a lot worse when we were told we could just go hold kids that might not get held much... but it was a beautiful place with lots of rooms and the caretakers seemed good and attentive and the babies and young kids all seemed quite happy. Only about 30 kids, I think. A few are abandoned and adoptable (and amazingly, they said pretty much all of these get adopted before they're six or even much before)--the rest have different situations, like maybe parents who aren't able to take them home, or a mom who is still getting set up, or they said even more sad sometimes a mom will get remarried and the new husband won't want the kid. But it was a good place, and cool that they have some good happy endings often. We cleaned and sanitized toys and stuff, the boys got lots of mowing and yard work done, and we got to play with the kids a little too. All are under six and most are under 3.

We got back for youth group, which was good as always. Sunday was church--my 21 yr old student Eriza was there, we want to find her a bible soon in Albanian (she already took one in english). But she is also busy right now because it is test time for the schools, they have crazy tests and papers and everyone is busy and stressed.

After church we hung out with the youth and had lunch, and played some games and I got to play guitar a little. Then we went to a church hangout time at the park... played some games like volleyball and stuff... i'm a little sore ;) but it was fun. and then, oh my goodness, there was a little horse in the park just wandering--i still don't know whether it was wild or belonged to someone... but it was tame enough to have us come up to it, feed it, etc, and was completely fine and i was thinking of our horses, and then a little bit later while we were all standing around one of the missionaries' little girl was feeding it and startled it a little, and instead of just spooking like a normal horse, it lunged at her and bit her! i couldn't believe it... i should have maybe expected something like that, since it was a pony, and as i later realized a stallion (not fixed). yikes. but she bled a little on her cheek and they took her home... i'm sure she'll be fine but she might love ponies a little less now!! I felt bad. :( but she's a tough little girl. whew. so today i'm at the lincoln center, no class until 5 though.