Bulgaria Ski discussion board

This is from Amanda and has been posted on the website
www.orphanagestoikite-bg.org
The day was so magical and I would not has swapped it for anything.



On Christmas morning the children at the institute awoke bright and breezy, excited but very cold. Today they knew that it was really going to be a special day and like all other children they too would receive gifts. The children straightened the one blanket on their beds and sat waiting in readiness for there special lunch at a restaurant. All the children walked across to the restaurant emptied their plates, leaving them clean, feeling full they returned to the institute. It was not long after when a kind gentleman asked for all the children to meet him in the restaurant, Jasmin escorted them across where they were bought fizzy drinks and given a new television and DVD player, the day started to get really bright and so excited (this gentleman wishes to remain anonymous).



Paula, John and Kayliegh had joined us to give gifts to the children; they had purchased watches for the boys and handbags full of bits and bobs for the girls. From all the donations we gave the children warm coats, hats, socks, vests, scarves, gloves, pencil cases, stationary, pyjamas, long johns, underwear, flannels, hair bands and clips for the girls. All the children were handed a bag with there gifts in, they were clearly exited and happy to see so many people who were there just for them, as we approached in our vehicle one of the young girls spotted the car she was running an errand for one of the staff, she ran as fast as she could in excitement and forgot that there was a road there and almost got run over in the hurry to get to us. They had a table tennis table out especially for the festive season loaned from the municipality, and John, Mike and Doug waited for their time for a game. Things were frantic and the atmosphere was great. Jasmin and I made sure that each child received their designated Christmas pack, making sure that no one got left out.



The children seemed to like the coats and watches most of all, with the underwear a close second. The sweets did not last long. Everybody present spent time with the boys and girls trying to converse in the best way they could, there was lots of laughter. One orphan boy who does not speak and had a horrible early life he joined the orphanage in June this year (my favourite), was not present when we arrived, suddenly he appeared whilst walking up the stairs, we promptly gave him his bag of goodies, he had a confused look, but quickly took it to his room and we noticed him again about 30 mins later. I would like to say he was looking happy an exited, but the truth is he still looked confused. Today Jasmin said that he will not take the clothes of not even when he eats. He does not usually talk and he has started to talk in the last few days, he is so grateful, this is the boy that ate the soap believing it was food, it smelled like fruit, he did not seem to mind the taste. This young man has only just started to realise that he does not need to eat soil to fill his belly, he is picked on by the other children daily because he is the weakest, h is still very thin and frail, where as the others are strong.



We left the orphanage with allot of happy faces and frantic waves. I am pleased to say that I believe our visits and gifts, certainly made a big difference with the Orphanage children’s Christmas, and with the new clothes something that will help to keep them warm through this winter. Our children Michael, Azaria joined us unfortunately the others were to ill. One of the girls was not putting on her coat when asked why she announced she did not wish for it to get dirty and as her Birthday is in June she wishes to save it to wear then. The children have difficulty understanding why people would want to give them things and expect for them to be taken back. In time they will understand.



I can’t wait to share the video with you all.



Thank you all for making this a magical day x