Root Beer Colored Children and Clothes Flying Everywhere

The group had just arrived at the beach bungalow and they were busy setting up camp for the day. Some women in the group grabbed pieces of straw to sweep the floor. Others neatly arranged large, colorful carpets on the cement floor. I looked around the beach hut and saw a bunch of little root beer colored toddlers ripping off their shoes, shorts, and shirts. Little pieces of clothing were being thrown everywhere. From the corner of the room an African woman attempted to make order of the chaos. I certainly don’t speak French or Fon, but from her hand gestures and what transpired, I think she instructed one person to gather flying clothing, another to cover diapers by putting cotton shorts on the little girls and underwear on the little boys (makeshift swim costumes/suits), and another person to keep the small children from making a mad dash toward the ocean. As I watched this site, my mind flooded with memories from Liberia and the last time I saw little children with black velvet skin ripping their shirts off. I thought about all my precious babies at the Sisters of Charity Orphanage in Liberia. Oh, those dear little ones! As I thought of my little babies in Liberia, I wasn’t sad; instead my heart was filled with priceless memories and joy knowing I was at the beach with a group of nuns, orphanage workers, and Mercy Ships crew; chasing babies from the Benin Sisters of Charity Orphanage. This past week, my schedule finally permitted me to volunteer once again with my favorite Mercy Ministry Project: Sisters of Charity. People from the ship have been going to the Sisters of Charity Orphanage weekly since the ship arrived in Benin a few months ago. Our noble, trustworthy reputation from our service with Mother Theresa’s Sisters of Charity Orphanage in Liberia paved the way for our work with the Sister’s Home for children here in Benin. Every Wednesday a few land rovers full of African-baby-loving, Mercy Ship Crew, volunteer to work with the children and support the work of the nuns. Normally our volunteer work takes place at the orphanage, but this past week we ventured to the beach with the nuns, a handful of orphanage staff, and about thirty chocolate skinned toddlers! We thought the Sisters were either crazy or very brave in their endeavor to introduce a troop of small children to the ocean. So, there I was. The majestic ocean waves crashed loudly on the sandy shore in front of me. It was a beautiful, sunny day and thirty shirtless toddlers dashed toward the crystal, blue waves. There was no question as to my role in this situation, I kicked off my sandals and ran after the busy bunch of children! As the children neared the water most of them came to a screeching halt. They realized the water was cold, scary, and all of a sudden my previously, frightening, white skin became a safe haven. I relished the opportunity to snuggle the startled, little, black, angels. After a few minutes and close observation of the water rushing around, a couple of the children mustered the courage to test the waters. I held them closely and let the waves rush around us and their little squeals filled my heart with joy. We spent a small amount of time with the babies near the water because most of them were not impressed by the cold, forcefulness of the ocean. I don’t blame them; I am still afraid of water for the most part! We made our way out of the sun and found shelter in our beach bungalow. We helped feed the shirtless, children yogurt before drying them off and changing their clothing. It is a universally known fact, that it is better to feed kids when they are half-naked if you have limited access to laundering facilities! After a few hours of loving the little ones, we helped the nuns load their pickup truck with the sandy toddlers, and we went our separate ways with the promise to return to the Sisters of Charity Orphanage next week, I cannot wait!