Mango, Mango Tree!

Day 8    

This morning we had biscuits and gravy. We went to chapel at the George Benson College here in Africa. It was very similar to the chapel we have at Harding University. There was a few songs, and short devotional and announcements. The announcements were basically us though. We all had to stand up and say our name. I’m sure we sounded funny again just like Sunday morning, but that’s all right.

After chapel we headed over to the Havens where we started working with the toddlers in Haven 2. We all sat on the porch and read books for a while trying to get the children engaged and point and teach some basic words. After while, one of the nannies taught us a song. I guess it’s called Mango Tree. It goes kinda like this

Mango, mango tree

Yes, mango tree

(repeat)

I sleep under the mango tree

I jump under the mango tree

I dance under the mango tree

I eat under the mango tree

I walk under the mango tree

I sit under the mango tree

(the order of those lines changed every time so you kinda just watch the nanny)

After singing it was time for the toddlers to eat, so we headed over to Haven 1 with the smaller babies. We worked with them till lunch time. For lunch we had meatloaf, coleslaw, roles and cake. It was all very good. After lunch we talked about the different children we were working with and where their skills are at. After a small break we headed back to the Havens and spent the rest of the time at Haven 3 with the sick children. I spent most of my time with Leo. We worked all afternoon on making some kind of vocalizations. My voice was so tired after saying “mama” “dada” etc for an hour ish, but by the end he was talking to me. I enjoyed working with him even though I was exhausted by the end of the day.

Haven 3 is pretty entertaining. There are a group of boys that are older and can run around. After their bath then all ran naked out into the play area and tried to hug all the girls out working with other children. It was pretty funny.

After finishing up at Haven 3 we walked back to our place. On the way the college soccer team was playing so me and Tessa stopped and watched them as they played soccer. They are really fun to watch.

Dinner was good, we had macaroni and cheese. After dinner a group of us headed over to watch the end of the college soccer practice. There were a lot of students watching, so I decided to be brave and introduce myself to all of them. It was fun as I went down the long line telling them my name and then trying to pronounce their name after they had told me. It wasn’t so bad and they seemed to enjoy me stumbling over their names.

After the team finished practicing, our group wanted to play soccer, but it was time for dinner for the students. We went ahead and played soccer and some of the younger kids in the area that aren’t in school joined us. It was really fun as usual.

After soccer we all hung out in the Man house. There was one group playing Phase 10 and another group playing trivial pursuit. I played Phase 10 and lost again to Shanna. Grr. After phase 10 Tessa tried to teach me to play Skip Bo, but we were so tired that we quit half way through and went to bed.

Today we were assigned our groups that we will do therapy with in the Havens. The groups will rotate around to the different Havens throughout the day and participate in different types of therapy. My group consists of Cari, Anna, Liz, and Me and we are all supervised my Kara. Sounds like a good group to me. I look forward to working and learning with them.

Ben