Saturday evening before the concert we enjoyed dinner with the children. Sam and I were introduced as Auntie Sam and Auntie Michelle (all adults are either Auntie or Uncle, like ma'am or sir). We learned some of their names and interests and just sat and enjoyed their laughter--and there was so much laughter about nothing really. It was refreshing to see the energy and excitement and joy and hear the sweet sound of their laughter about nothing! We were blessed to hear their thank you song (will forever be stuck in my head!) before we headed outside to play. The boys grabbed soccer balls and the girls painstakingly chose stones from the rock beds in the parking lot to play intense games of jacks with.
Just before the concert, after the children were in their costumes, we experienced devotions with them. Devotions did not mean someone reading from/talking about the Bible and praying. No, the children were broken up into groups and one of the groups LEAD devotions. They opened in prayer (Leno, maybe?) and then they took turns leading songs. One child would start the song, and the choir would join him or her on the next line, often in four part harmony! They would close their eyes, raise their hands, and just dance! Sometimes they would run over and grab Sam and I and dance with us! Their leaders just let them lead and enjoyed the worship themselves! And this was all BEFORE the concert itself, which was amazing. For anyone who has seen the concert, it is nothing compared to spending time with these children outside of performance mode!
These are children with HUGE dreams; pilots, teachers, pastors, politicians, the president, engineers, and more! But they are still kids who get so excited to play and interact and cannot keep the smiles off of their faces! Their laughter and excitement is brought on by the simplest of things, like singing, dancing, playing with stones or soccer balls, or just talking and joking and laughing. They do not have much, but they definitely have enough. They have what they need and they care and are provided for. They love to just be!
The time we spent before, during, and after the concert itself has brought on an interesting new perspective (which was to be expected). I learned a lot from these kids, such as the simple pleasures and joys of life, to the importance of playing, to the idea that it really is okay to move and dance and just enjoy worship! And there's so much more that could not possibly be expressed here...but our time with these children provoked an entirely new thought process and perspective, which I LOVE!
