Sunday…a low key day.

Yesterday was Sunday and it was a pretty low key day. There was a small celebration at the promenade where there were several military ships in port which were open to the public. We walked down there after lunch and met up with some of the children from the orphanage too. It was interesting to see the kids when they saw Aleks. The kids were on one of the ships when they saw him and immediately started yelling Losa! Aleks! (Losa is Aleks in Russian) The kids came running off the ship to greet Aleks, then in an instant they were gone, running back on the ship. They all played and teased each other, but there was a clear pecking order among the children. Aleks had been gone for six weeks and others had moved in on his leadership role, but it seemed they expected him to take it back upon his return. Aleks was a bit perplexed trying to balance his new life and his old. The other children clearly look to Aleks for direction…and affirmation. Affirmation is something that I have not seen anyone give to the children….or anyone now that I think of it. It is just not part of the culture. As we talked with the children yesterday and on Friday at the park it is clear that they long for love….for just a kind word of affirmation. A smile is something that is not shared much in this town but it can light the face of a child.Cindy’s pictures at the park show just how beautiful these kids are when they have a smile on their face. I am encouraged that there may be five more children from Aleks’ orphanage who may be going to their “Forever Family” in the coming months…but there are still so many who long for a touch, a smile the security of a forever family. Aleks wants us to take pictures today of his friends and help to find them families too. Once again his leadership qualities are kicking in as he wants to make sure those he cares about are taken care of.

We finished the night at the park and then on the beach watching the sunset. The fear of many is that the sun may be setting on the orphanage as money is running out. Where will the children go then…