I felt guilty as our clean, air-conditioned bus rolled into one of the poorest neighbourhoods in North Africa. Here we were, traveling comfortably to visit Sudanese refugees, while they lived in crumbling, filthy buildings. Arms laden with gifts of toys and food, we proceeded to climb a dimly lit stairwell to the dingy room that would be our meeting place.
Our team set up an assembly line, filling gift bags with toys and food for the 100 expected children. However, by the time we finished preparing the gifts, only three children had arrived! Our Sudanese friend assured us that more kids were coming - in the meantime, could we play some music or something?
The kids slowly trickled in, until a room to hold 50 was bursting at the seams with over 200 kids! We had to seat the kids two to a chair, and were forced to lock the doors; people were pounding to get in. We taught the kids a song (and in return, they sang one for us!) and made them laugh with a skit.
When it came time to give the gifts, we apprehensively started handing them out - we hadn't anticipated so many kids! But our team witnessed a miracle that day - every child went home with a gift (even the ones pounding in the door), AND there were gifts left over!
The local Sudanese partner joyfully accepted the remaining gifts to pass along to kids that couldn't make it.
To top it off, our team found out that the children we were originally supposed to visit had cancelled just before we left our home base. This whole event was a last minute concoction of giving and receiving the joy of Christmas - and what a wonderful result!
Amber
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