Hoodwinked

Everyone on board and ready to go!

I had the privilige last week of helping to escort 26 of our younger children here at GSF to the cinema. A kind donation had come through which meant that we were able to treat the children for Christmas (the teenagers were taken quad biking a few weeks ago!). We informed the children the night before and the atmosphere was wonderful. There was lots of chattering, giggling and an excited buzz that moved through the orphanage. The excitement even meant that most of the children were standing ready to leave at 6.30am when we had asked them to meet! They couldn't wait to get going :) We boarded the bus and after loading 2 wheelchairs onto the roof and a last minute toilet run we were ready to go. We took the 2 hour bus journey to Kampala which in itself was fun. Some of the children had not been to the capital before and it was lovely listening to their chatter and watching them as they took in the sights and sounds of their capital.

All the children were put in teams. Gayla was in the yellow team
(note the yellow necklace and yellow headband!)

We arrived at the cinema to find Rose, the cinema manager all prepared and waiting at the door for us (which in itself was a pleasant surprise as we were convinced with it being Africa either they wouldn’t remember we were coming or it would be hugely delayed!). Rose was delighted to be able to serve the children and chatted to them asking their names and doing every possible thing she could to make sure it was a perfect experience for them. We received a soda each as we arrived and were ushered into the cinema where Rose and her team gave each child a bag of popcorn. We watched a private showing “Hoodwinked too”, a children's movie about fairy tail characters fighting against a wicked witch!!  There was a mixture of emotions at the movie - for all of the children at GSF it was their first cinema experience and it was enjoyed by most of them however a few of the small girls were frightened by the witches mask and one of them had to leave crying! 

Waiting for the movie to start

The day was completed with a chicken and chips lunch in the shopping mall before our drive home. 

Lunch :)

The day was fun. The children were beyond themselves with excitement and all had an amazing experience that I felt privileged to encounter with them. From hearing one child crying as the witch in the film was too scary, to clearing up vomit as another child had eaten too much and been sick all over his chicken and chips!, to listening to the giggles of laughter as a group of girls played with the hand dryer in the toilets in amazement, I will take many happy memories of their special day. It was a wonderful day for them and for me, what a wonderful gift that the children received for their Christmas treat! Praise God for the money sent so that they could experience a trip to the cinema, something that I have always taken for granted rather than thought of as a once in a lifetime treat.

Playing with the water fountain in the shopping mall

Psalm 92 v1 "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the most high".