Oh Colleen... our midnight ballerina!

So first of all, I think I should probably explain who Colleen is. Colleen is the name Jen and I have given to the new baby in the house. This baby was new as of this shift. The first day we got there I asked the Sisis the babies name and one of the told me. It started with a C-O-possibly an L then a click... then a string of letters that I couldnt' pronounce. So Colleen seemed much more fitting for this child. Otherwise, I was only going to name em Baby. I thought Colleen deserved an actual name over just Baby. Anyways, this cute little baby was dressed in a slightly femine colour with a pair of little ballerina bottoms and the most gorgeous eyes with big flashy lashes. These tights were grey with little feeties in them. Too cute. On the second day of the shift... Colleen was dressed in blue. Then it came for bath time... if you haven't guessed yet Colleen should probably be changed to Colin... our bad. But as hard as we try we both keep calling the poor boy Colleen. Hopefully we can change that this week. But its just his eyes... there too pretty. And the tights, they through me off. But this baby is so sweet. We have both fallen in love with him. He has two teeth on the bottom and two on the top and can manage to smile and show all of them off fully. And he is always smiling (as long as someone is holding him) and he has the cutest little giggle.

Otherwise, the rest of the shift was pretty good as well. We met Michelle for the first time. Michelle is the manager at Masigcine. She had been on holidays up until last week, so that's why we hadn't met her. But she showed me were the grocery store was, which was good. So Jen and I took a walk over there the next day and we each took a child. It was a really good learning experience. I think I said earlier that we have taught some of the children the Kit Kat song (the whole "give me a break, give me a break, break me of a piece of that kit kat bar... etc, with a whole clapping game thing to go along with it). So anyways, I took Lucunda, a 7 year old who has become very good at that game and has just started to learn english (since arriving at Masi). So I looked high and low in the grocery store until I found a kit kat bar to show it to her. So now she finally knows what her favourite new song is about. It was a fun little trip.

Otherwise, we played with some more bubbles, learned how the storage room worked, Jen caught the flu, I held a plastic bag while she threw up in to it, it was Zains 8t birthday, and the school boys got new pencils and workbooks (that they were extremely proud of). So it was a pretty good week.

Also, I have a little story about Zubenathi again. He grows on my more and more each shift. I am in love with this child (along with all the other children). All of the kids at the orphanage are great, yet Zubenathi always manages to say something or do something that steals my heart. So this week I actually have two stories. The first involves Colleen.... I mean Colin. So we were watching a movie with all the children to help them wind down before bed. All the kids fight to sit in my lap, and none of them will share my lap. So I try to routate the kids through and give as many a chance to sit in my lap as possible. So I believe I had Bablwa in my lap, and then Odwa, and then it was Zubenathis turn. He had waited a little while, sitting patiently next to me, until my lap was free. Then he sat down on my lap and continued to watch the movie. About 30 seconds later Colin started crying. He had been set down on the floor not too far from me. As I said earlier he is the happiest baby... when he is bing held. If you isn't been held and he sees someone who could be holding him he howls. Instantly, however, Zubenathi got off my lap. He picked Colin up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Then walked back to my lap, set Colin in my lap and he took a seat nex to me (where he had been before). He flashed me a quick smile and then rested his head on my knee and continued to watch the movie. Zubenathi had pretty much been waiting in line to sit with me and gave it up as soon as he realized someone needed it more than he did. It just constantly baffles me how a 5 (soon to be 6) year old boy, who has spent most of his life in this orphanage, has developed qualities that I am still striving for.

This second story almost broke my heart. I think most people reading this blog are aware of the attachment I have developed towards Zubenathi, and so you will understand how this one little comment almost brought me to tears. I was sitting outside with a few of the children and we were having a tickle fight (which I always win). Zubenathi came out and joined in. After a few more minutes I was all tickled out and so we took a break. Two of the kids ran off to do something new, one of the boys (I believe it was Mazithandaze) had found a toy near by that he was quite excited about and Zubenathi took a seat in my lap. Zubenathi sat quietly at first, which is odd because he usually wants to tell me a story or show me something. Mazithandaze was showing me this toy and he kept saying "look mama, look". Which all the kids say to get my attention. Once he was done showing me everything this toy could do he walked away to go find something else to do. Zubenathi was still being quiet. About 30 seconds later he looked up at me and said "You're my mama aren't you?" in about a 70% matter of fact tone and 30% question tone. I didn't know how to respond. I just don't understand how this is still and orphan. He is a special gift from God. Jen and I just finished reading The Shack the other day. So I for any of you who have read it, you'll understand when I way "God is especially fond of Zubenathi." All of those children are Gods children, and God is especially fond of all of them, and he is especially fond of Zubenathi I'm sure.

Anyways, I just have to say that I would highly recommend anyone and everyone to come down here and volunteer. It is such a great experience; it is emotionally and spiritually challenging and thats what makes it so amazing. I have never been so stretched and so opened to the world around me. It is funny how coming down here I wanted to make such a difference for these children, and I hope I have, but every time I try to help the kids they seem to help me instead. The more I put in, the more these children make me see things and feel things. They are all so wonderful (which I know I have said, but I can't stress enough). The orphanage has really done a great job. These children, even though they are orphans, have grown up knowing that they are loved and that they are special. That is hard thing to do when kids are coming in and out and there are so many of them. Its special.

Anyways, before I get a little too emotional here I should probably sign out haha. I kind of went in to a little rant there, but I do mean it. Masigcine has been wonderful. Tough and demanding in some many ways, but always worth it!

So I hope everything is going well where ever you are. I miss you all and I will be home sooner than I would like to believe!

*The first photo is our Midnight Ballerina/Colleen/Colin/Xoleseka
*The second photo is Zubenathi and I pretending to be Muscle Man