Refuge Week-- Part 2

Refuge Week-- Part 2: The refugees and the boys and girls club:

Days 3 and 5:
These were probably my favorite days. We got to spend both days all day long with refugee children whose parents had to leave their home country because of threats made on their lives. We went to this lady's house who is kind enough to lend Reach The Nations (The group that does this on a regular basis and who we volunteered to do this through) her field. We went to the back of her property and there is a huge hole in the fence. After climbing through the hole you find yourself in an apartment complex. We were told that almost all if not all of the residents of this neighborhood are refugees. We walked down the streets carrying soccer balls and asking if the children would like to "play on the field". Though most of the kids don't speak English they all knew what that meant. By the time we were done walking through the apartments everyone had a child or two holding their hand or one riding on their shoulders. Once on the field we played soccer and did face painting both days and on the second day we brought jump ropes, a slip-n-slide, bubbles, and other neat outdoor games. I got to meet and talk to a couple of the Asian girls. They spoke English pretty well and they loved to face paint all of the youth! It all started when Ehdena told me she loved me and that she wanted to paint "I love you" on my arm along with a flower. As you can imagine it didn't stop there. They soon had all of the youth volunteers that would stand or sit still long enough painted up and down their arms, legs, face, or all 3. Afterwards we all joked that it always started with "I love you and a flower" because that was always the first thing they painted.

Day 4:
Day four was probably the most relaxed day of the week. We whent and played water games and did VBS at the Monroe Boys and Girls Club and fixed lunch for them and then we whent to Stone Mountain to play frisbee and watch the laser show.

And then we whent home on day five and spent the next day trying to recover all of the sleep we missed. It was the most rewarding and selfless youth camp I have ever taken part of and I hope we get to do it all again next year!