Africa Based Orientation

Three times a year, for three weeks at a time, I help out at our orientation school for new missionaries by taking care of their children. Usually, this is quite a strain as children in major life transitions are a bit out of whack. But this group of nine children was really fantastic, very easy to work with, and that in spite of an 11 year spread from 22 months to 13 years old. I couldn't believe how the baby and the two year old were able to sit through lessons without being disruptive at all (and they even learned something). We have a great time learning about African animals, African countries, and some insight into why their looney parents have dragged them off to this continent, far from friends and doting grandparents. We made lots of neat things, went on many an excellent outing, learned some Kiswahili (Jambo and all that...) and played interesting games about Africa and with new African friends. Fortunately the oldest child, a boy, was very willing to help with the little ones and only snuck off to his room occasionally. I wish the program was a bit more engaging for young teenagers, will try and work on that before the next ABO, in October.