We followed a different schedule today at the orphanage. One of the church members at the Shadi church was getting married today. Since the children attend the Shadi church, they were invited to the ceremony. When I arrived for work this morning, I helped to finish getting the children dressed and ready for the service: fixing collars, buttoning buttons, tying ribbons and making sure all shirts were right-side out. I think the service was supposed to start at 11:00 a.m. so there was plenty of time for the children to eat chai – causing them to be in a better frame of mind and mood for a long ceremony.
We took the large mat up to the church around 11 a.m. so the younger children wouldn’t have to sit on the concrete floor. We sat around waiting for the wedding party to arrive. It was about 12 p.m. before the festivities really got started. The wedding party came and the choirs started singing. It was a fun, festive occasion. The children really enjoyed watching the singing and dancing – some of the older girls were dancing when they thought no one was watching them.
Afterward, we rushed back to the orphanage so we could all enjoy a hot plate of rice and beans. It was 2 p.m. and we were all very hungry and ready to eat. The rest of the day was a lazy play day. No work for the older children to do at the farm since almost all the adults were at the wedding reception at a house nearby. I stayed behind with the children and one caregiver to get some work done. It was nice to have a change of pace to the usual schedule and for the children to have a part in a community event.