Do you remember your first cupcake? I certainly don't. While I LOVE cupcakes (making them, eating them, staring at them on websites) they are not a "rare" thing and thus not really all that special. Yesterday I went with the Ambassador and the Sea Bees to a ribbon cutting at a school we rebuilt. It is always so amazing to witness the incredible work our military is doing around the world and see just how grateful the people of TImor Leste are for their hard work. After the ceremonial speeches and cutting of the ribbon snacks were handed out to the locals who had come to show their support. There are always a ton of random children milling about at events like this, mostly out of pure boredom and lack of anything else to do but also in hopes they might grab a little something yummy. Yesterday they handed out cupcakes and two little girls were positively giddy that they were able to sneak one.
They kept looking at each other, then at the cupcake and would laugh hysterically. The little girl in blue positively stole my heart and I am not going to lie as I left I started to tear up wishing I could take her home with me.
My hubby always reminds me that these children ARE in fact very happy. For the most part they have families who love them and they are unaware that their lives are not "normal", that food being scarce is not the way it is everywhere. I had to snap a picture of the boy below as he walked past. He had such a cool fro, and the boy in the middle walked over and tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to take his picture. He then totally posed it up against the basket ball hoop.
I am telling you I HAVE to order an instamax from Amazon so I can take pictures and GIVE them to the kids. None of them have pictures of themselves and I bet they would go nuts over it! There is a little glimpse into part of our week here in Timor! I hope where ever you are your week was as full of opportunities to serve and share with others!
They kept looking at each other, then at the cupcake and would laugh hysterically. The little girl in blue positively stole my heart and I am not going to lie as I left I started to tear up wishing I could take her home with me.
My hubby always reminds me that these children ARE in fact very happy. For the most part they have families who love them and they are unaware that their lives are not "normal", that food being scarce is not the way it is everywhere. I had to snap a picture of the boy below as he walked past. He had such a cool fro, and the boy in the middle walked over and tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to take his picture. He then totally posed it up against the basket ball hoop.
I am telling you I HAVE to order an instamax from Amazon so I can take pictures and GIVE them to the kids. None of them have pictures of themselves and I bet they would go nuts over it! There is a little glimpse into part of our week here in Timor! I hope where ever you are your week was as full of opportunities to serve and share with others!
I actually remember my first cupcake because I had never had one until after I went to the US a couple of times. I was around 18 when I ate one for the first time, so I remember, lol! Cupcakes weren't popular at all here up until a couple of years ago or so.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of getting an instamax is great! It would be so cool to be able to give them their pictures, I bet they would love it! All the kids I know just LOVE to see themselves on the digital camera once someone takes their picture, I can only imagine how happy they would be if the picture came out of the camera and they could keep it! Specially if pictures were a rare thing for them.
I found what your husband told you very interesting. I'm glad the kids for the most part have no idea what they are "missing out" on and are happy with what they do have.
I love hearing your unique experiences, Kelly! Thanks for reminding us how most of us are so very blessed!
ReplyDeleteAn amazing post, Kelly, really. Made me catch my breath.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a lovely weekend.
Stef
I am new to your blog. I found it . . . somewhere . . . maybe madebyrae?
ReplyDeleteEither way, I just wanted to say thank you for all you and your family are doing for the people in Timor Leste, and around the world.
And, thank you for sharing it with us naive and out-of-the-loop people. It's really nice to hear of the good things and good people out there!
Hi Kelly. I've been following your blog for quite a while now and I love everything about it! I love this little story about the cupcakes, and those two girls are precious. My little family recently (3 months ago) moved to a small town in Honduras, which isn't as bad as Timor, but I have to remind myself that certain things here are "normal" for them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the amazing posts!! I'm always excited to see what you do next.
what a beautiful post!! thank you so much for sharing..i'm so glad i came across your blog. i'm a follower! look forward to reading mroe of your posts!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet wonderful post and of course I'm crying!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! How wonderful is this?! The absolute joy in the Little Love's eyes is amazing... LOVE!
ReplyDeleteI love this! You are living my dream. This is so neat reading about your adventures and how you're able to contribute to the world in such special ways.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has been to a bunch of countries in Africa and usually works with children when he goes (or they come and find him). He shows them the pictures he takes on his little point and shoot digital and tells me they are always giddy about seeing themselves. He likes to take another picture after that and they are usually smiling twice as big in the second picture. There is something about children's faces from places like Africa or your pictures from East Timor that have that innocense but strong will of survival at the same time. It's hard to find that on kids here in the USA.
ReplyDeletewow, you went to TIMOR??
ReplyDeletei live in Indonesia by the way :)
and their little children's cupcakes in those photos are called ROTI KUKUS.