the park

Today we spent the afternoon with some of the older children in the park. We took ping pong paddles and balls and nets to set up at the permanent tables. The park is nice, for Galati, complete with a guard who strolls around in a menacing manner while we played. It is helpful however b/c a pack of street boys tried to harass us and he helped to keep them away so we could enjoy ourselves in peace. Sad that the children we wish to reach are also the same children we must protect ourselves from at times. But, anyhow, it was a lovely afternoon.
On the walk to the park I made a language error which you should find entertaining. A girl from the center was describing to me something on the leaves of the trees. She was saying a word in Romanian which sounded like "mooch" and I repeated it. She dissolved into hilarious laughter. Basically, I said that the trees had boogers. The word sound more like "nooch" and means nuts. Glad to be a source of entertainment. We did have more significant conversation and she asked me if I was sad yesterday (I wasn't feeling well).
I am beginning to get a better idea about the daily lives of these children. Sometimes we see them on the streets after programs are over when we are walking home or waiting for buses. Yesterday I saw one boy with his little brother and he was sifting through a trash can. Fun to stop and talk with him before we sent him home.
Off to book discussion - A very good book if anyone is interested, called: Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger - Moving from Affluence to Generosity.
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