I succeed a goat snatch, Chad gets interrogated, and we all see a birth

On Thursday (July 9) we had a teammate down! Megan woke feeling really awful and so she stayed back at the hotel with Michelle. We set off a few short and were on our way out to the village by 7:30. On the way there I saw a sheep with something weird hanging from its..err, bum. It was sort of pinkish looking. Then I realized there were two newborn lambs on the ground nearby, and that it was probably giving birth to triplets! I was actually really bummed that we didn’t get to see it, I think that would be pretty Dench (a reference for my British pals).

When we first got to the village Sheila and I had to scope out the bathroom situation. It’s actually become our routine to do that. We both have tiny bladders and since we’re all trying to stay hydrated it equals multiple wee trips in a day. Anyway that day we got lucky and easily found some nice bushes and trees a short walk away from the village to serve as our latrine. Score! While I was busy with that and helping set up a couple of things, Jules, Helen, and Rachel had pulled out bubbles to blow for the kids. They absolutely loved it. Every time a new rush of bubbles was released they would jump up and grab them, screaming and laughing. I was on kids that day with Jules, so she and I took over with the kiddos after Helen and Rachel had left.

There was a group of kids that were excited to play with us, but across the road from where we were was a small group who was apparently pretty scared of us. Every time we would look over and wave they would run inside their house and not reappear for a while. The kids who weren’t scared got going with some football, which was really fun. We kicked the ball around for a while and then did story time (that day Jules told the story of the nobleman’s son being healed) and had a coloring session with the kids. They always love getting their papers and crayons, and for some of them it’s a first time experience! I noticed one boy that day who was just sitting there holding his paper and crayon, looking a little lost. After I showed him what to do, though, he really enjoyed it. Anytime we color with the kids they always bring their papers to us after they’ve finished to show us their work. It’s really amazing that a few kind words from a strange white girl can fill a little child’s face with so much joy. I’m so thankful that these kids (well, most of them) invite us so easily and willingly into their lives for the short time that we’re able to be there.

When lunch rolled around I went over to where the van was parked and spotted the tiniest goat I’ve seen on the trip. It was so little! There were two other small ones (but not as small) nearby; as I walked near them the two larger ones ran off, but the little one faltered long enough for me to get him. It took about five seconds for that little cutie to steal my heart. I spent most of my lunch break freaking out about how cute and tiny he was. The goat obsession is real, people. Thank you to my goat obsession partner, Helen, for supporting and encouraging me at all times.

Thursday night dinner turned into an interrogation session for poor Chad. The other interns were still salty that we’d never gotten to hear his first kiss story when we’d heard everyone else’s. In an attempt to right this, Jules, Helen, and I grilled him with a series of yes-or-no questions about the experience until we were satisfied that we could say we knew the story of his first kiss. We also managed to weasel a second kiss story out of him! He (and John too!) do a good job of putting up with all of the girl crazy that goes on.