Take two

23 May

I had run into Fedony yesterday and he had asked if I would perform for the childrens’ service tomorrow at Manoget at 8 am. I agree. I was up early to go out for café and banana y zay, my favorite breakfast here; a banana, two hard boiled eggs with a touch of hot sauce. Try it. I also wanted to take all the bags of clothes that we had carried down with me. And the forward edge team had left a few things, including a bag of dirty laundry, nice thought, but a little tacky I felt.

I was downstairs at 7:45 with all my bags, ready to go, by 8:45 I gave up and went upstairs to write. At 9:45 Zangmo showed up, saying that he had forgotten me. When we arrive the church service is in full swing, there’s not a seat available full house, tent that is, A woman offers me her seat. It was fun to see them all in their Sunday best after seeing them working all week.

After the service the children all want to play with my equipment, so I break out all the toys.

A little boy of maybe 6 years does really well with the3 diabolo. I also had brought along a large orange exercise ball that they were really enjoying/ A light rain fell as many colored balls flew in every direction.

One taptap load leaves packed to the gills. When it returns, it’s my turn. I get in thinking I[m going to the hotel, but didn’t realize that I was going to

Feldny[s house for

Sunday dinner. His house is very sijm0ple, concrete block, but it is still standing, and so much better than a tent.

Back at the hotel, I take a rest. The afternoon heat is pretty stifling, and I feel it’s a good time to rest/write. Etc.

I had planned to go out and play but I felt some hesitation. I couldn’t quite pinpoint why, but there was something preventing me from going out. Finally I thought, if I’m going, I need to go now

So out the door I went. As I walked up the street, I heard my name. that’s not getting to be so rare, but what was amazing was that it was Fanel, the man I had talked with in March about performing at his preschool. What a chance meeting, now I see why I had waited, to meet Fanel. He walked with me to the place where I head up the hill to St Helene. I was met there by a group of 5 or 6 boys who had been there yesterday. They were so excite3d to see me again. Fanel took our picture

As we walked u 0p the hill more children spotted me. I had decided not to do it in the same place but to go further into the camp. As I walked u0p the path, I looked and there was about 25 children running toward me3.

What a welcome., they took me to a small covered pavilion where they danced jubilantly over my return. I eventually moved out into the o0en to accomodate3 the large crowd, over 100 strong at the end. It was getting dark by the time I finished..

What a triumphant return. This was the first time I had gone back to the same area the next day, I was stunned by how enthusiastically I was received.