The Great Tickle Fest of 2008

Sometimes in the midst of all that is going on here, I get caught up in the tasks. I focus on the books to be purchased, the schools that are being built, finding money for porridge for the children, class schedules, curriculum, developing the child sponsorship, creating systems for things to be more efficient, etc. etc. etc.!

So, yesterday, we traveled to Karanse and in my attempt to be more effective and efficient, I created a list of all the things that needed to be done. As we were driving, I was thinking through everything and how to make sure we got everything done. However, at one point, I had nothing to do. We were waiting for the school children to have a break and Julia was taking pictures of the smaller children for sponsorhsip updates. I had talked with the social workers and the teachers and given them all roles and tasks to make sure things got done. But, then I was left with nothing to do. I just had to wait for the children to each of their picture taken. So, I stopped and looked around. And, there were tons of the cutest little kids just sitting on the grass. What person in their right mind would not go sit and join them? How fun! The crowd around me continued to grow and the kids just wanted to touch me and we played a little and sang some songs. From out of nowhere, I had this urge to just start tickling! The laughs, the squeals, the giggles were contagious. They could not get enough. Soon, kids were just walking up to me holding out their bellies to be tickled. Hilarious! And, then the tides turned! I had all these little fingers tickling me. I could not breathe I was laughing so hard. I was tickling them, then tickling me. It became this huge tickle fest! In the midst of the laughter and the smiles, I remembered while I do all of those tasks.