“It’s so GOOD”

June 11, 2008

It was a site that I will probably never see again, and I am so grateful that I did today…

Most children in the US have ample opportunity to get outside and play. Often Mother Nature just isn’t enough and before they are old enough to be captured by the unfulfilling lure of video games, there are play grounds. I can remember going on a mission trip to Kazakhstan and taking pictures of a very old and run down play ground. When I showed these to friends back home, their hearts melted as they wondered what on earth to the kids to for play.

Here are Harvesters, the ages range from just under a year old to about four-teenish. All 124 of them, have NEVER…EVER, seen a play ground before.

…think about those good times you may have had, or you know that your kids are having…..a firemen’s pole, a 4 foot climbing wall, A SLIDE, A TUBE SLIDE…huff….huff…..childlike excitement just might be coming back to you…..and, after a week with a team of three builders from Franklin, NC they were finished with such a play ground.

Upon completing her first ride down a slide in her 5 – 6 years of life, Sara Lilly put it best; with a smile so big her eyes were almost rolling back in her head, arms flailing in directions I thought impossible, jumping up and down uncontrollably at the knees like children do, she said “it’s……..it’s……….it’s…….so….. (pause many times for her to catch her breath)…..it’s so GOOD”, and she was right.

Angelo, a boy of about 4 years, like many here loves any extra attention he can get a hold of. Usually this comes in the form of mysterious aches and pains that are normally reserved for the elderly. He came down the slide once…

…remember it is the rainy season and it started to rain about 10 minutes after the children were allowed on the play ground…

…Angelo, lands butt first, and his left arm twists and turns behind him as his bottom skids across the wet grass for another few feet. Oh no, I thought; already our first injury. NOPE….he jumps right up, runs to the stairs, and like the others pushes and waits, and pushes and waits, for his next go.

Some kids did cry, but it was more from being simply overwhelmed with joy, excitement, and I am sure a little fear from seeing everyone running and playing, and having such a good time. Nancy got a couple of videos, and one of them shows an 8 kid pile up at the bottom of the firemen’s’ pole. Normally a scene that would produce a few crying faces. NOPE, not today, not with the new play ground.

I am grateful to God for allowing me to witness this spectacle of pure joy and excitement. I am praising the team of builders for their humility and efforts, and thankful to God for putting it on their hearts to make this journey to bring joy to the hearts of orphans.

Thank you all so very much. I am grateful for each of you, who have made this experience possible; and I pray that these little notes will speak to your hearts and bring you peace and joy.