Working with Refugees

So this is my favorite time of the week. Going over to Language Lab, and playing with refugee kids. (minus the 100° :P) I love the feeling of walking up, and seeing kids racing towards me saying, "Melissa!!" It makes me so happy. First day i was there, we all got out of the car, and into the Language Lab. We got all the computers started, and once the doors opened, people came piling in. We figured out that only 3 computers worked. So we had people waiting in the back. They were so happy to be able to learn English. My dad kicked us kids out cause we took up to much room. "Go play with the kids," he said. Those were the 7 words i'd been wanting to here all day. Once we got outside this boy name Mustafa came racing towards us, smiling from ear to ear. "I'm Mustafa!" he said, proudly. "Where are you from?" I asked, "Iraq!" Yes! I said to myself, i've always wanted to meet an Iraqi kid, and here was my chance to get to know him. "How old are you?" I asked "I'm 8, but i turn 9 on August 1, we are going to have a birthday in the classroom, and you are invited," he said. We headed to the playground, and by then, more kids began to join us. I felt at home! I felt that this was where God wanted me, and i was happy, because that was where i wanted to be :) Going to Jaime's Landing (which is where to refugees live) is the highlight of my week. After we get the computers on, i race outside, and the same group of kids come out calling my name, it is the most beautiful sound.

This is Laura and Senpatu. Senpatu is the sweetest thing! She is 7 and is from Ethiopia, every time i see her, she lifts up her arms and say "Up!"

This is Jimmate, she is 9, and is Senpatu's older sister. She is so sweet. She is very shy, but is open once you get to know her. She has a bit of an attitude :) If you look closely you can see Mustafa in the background trying to crack the code to the classroom. Som how he figured it out. I have no idea how.

Now i don't know this girls name, but she is so nice! I believe she is 7, and i don't know where she is from. The past couple of days that i've been going she's come running outside from her apartment smiling big. Then she sits next to me in the same spot. She is also very helpful. Some of the kids got hold of my camera, and started taking pictures. Over the railing. "No!" I started saying, but they ignored me. So she got up, and grabbed it from them, and handed it to me. She also loves her stuffed cat very much, she treats it like it's real. She has an older brother, but i also can not remember his name.

This cutie is Jabon! He is Jimmate's and Senpatu's younger brother. Jabon is 4, and is a monkey, we'd find him climbing on the staircase, and around the edge of the balcony. It scares me so bad! He is so sweet. He always has a smile on his face, and loves to scare me..joy. Jabon has a younger sister, who is 18 months old, her name is Helima, i'll try to get a picture of her next time.

This kiddo's name is Oswaldo, and he is a ladies man! He is 7, and i have no idea where he is from. He kept asking to take a picture of me, and finally i asked him why. He smiled and said "Cause I like to." Finally Mustafa said "Cause he loves you, he told me yesterday." Oswaldo smiled and nodded. Then once we were leaving he said "Bye we love you!" and winked at me. We ran into him at the store, and he kept showing me his muscles, and waving and saying "Hey!"

(Me and Hadiel)
And last, but not at all least, is Hadiel (Mustafa's sister)! This girl is the sweetest thing. Every day she comes up to me, and has me hold her. Then she's lays her head on my shoulder, and stays there all day. She is always the hardest to leave, she will run up to our car, and sit there, saying "Don't leave me please!" It breaks my heart. One day we were walking to the playground, and she started saying "I want water!" and each time i'd say "You have to go to your apartment and get some." and she kept crying "No!" Finally i asked why and she said "Cause my mommy will hit me if i do." Wow...way to break my heart. Then she leaned her head on my should and sat there.

I'll try to post more pictures of them later :)