Uncle Mike!

When I first arrived at World Help’s facility for training camp, I knew there would be approximately 24 hours until the children arrived. I was told this was to be the calm before the storm. For the most part all of the activities we did before the arrival of the children  were to prepare for them. Everyone from my fellow soundmen to the company president kept saying “this is the calm before the storm” I didn’t know what to expect. Sure I have been a camp counselor for several summers but this, this was to be completely different. These children don’t speak English, they don’t understand much English, some, well most, don’t know how to brush their teeth, or use the bathroom like we do.  The very things I take for granted, excite these children to the core of their beings.

Errand Running: that is what I do alot of right now, we haven’t started rehearsing just yet, we’re trying to combat the jetlag, and are therefore just cruising at a leisurely pace. Monday night, shortly after the Ugandan, and Nepali children arrived I was charged with the task of driving to Wal*Mart and purchasing toys/athletic supplies for the children to play with in the gym. I purchased the requisite things one would expect to find in a gymnasium where kids idly played: basketballs, playground balls, kick balls, soccer balls, jump ropes, hula hoops; nothing special or even of good quality. When I scattered the stuff around the gym, the eyes of the children lit up with glee and excitement. The smiles of the children are worth far more than my paycheck (if only I could convince the various bill collectors in my life of that)

I am now the proud uncle to 15 children: 6 from the Philippines, 3 from Nepal, and 6 from Uganda. The children in their broken English call me “Uncle” no name attached, just uncle.

This is just a glimpse, into an expansive picture. I’ll start taking more photographs, and writing more and hopefully turn this into a pretty interesting photo journal for all to see.