For the last couple weeks we've been keeping the door open to our apartment as we do our work. When I need wifi I have to stay in the apartment away from the kids. They're gone at school most of the day anyway but when they come home I can hear them in all of their joy. Now with our open door policy the kids have been coming in to our apartment for the first time. I like that they feel that comfortable with us, although there is still a need for boundaries.
I had a bunch of the little ones in my room this week and it was pure chaos. Their time in that space was short lived. Picture frames were dropped, sticky finger touched my computer, soccer balls were tossed around. I had to tell them to leave. Yesterday Kirk had a group of the little ones huddling around him as he worked on his computer. He looked up at me from in between the frail hands that surrounded his head and confessed "Rochelle, I think I need space to do my work". I laughed and quickly shuffled all of the youths outside.
With the kids being at school all day I do strive to maximize the time I have with them. That's pretty difficult when they have to bathe and shine their shoes and focus at devotions and then do homework and then go to sleep. But the open door policy helps a lot.
Amanda and I interviewed some of the staff on Bethshan for one of our final projects last semester. The head director made sure to tell us how he kept the door open to his office so the residents could freely stop in and say hello or sit for a time if they so desired. And they did. They felt as those every inch of Bethshan was their home, even the office of the head director. That's the atmosphere I wanted to cultivate by keeping the door open to my apartment. First Love is not the kid's orphanage, it's their home. And I'm a visitor. I'm a guest. I want them to feel...at home.
Last night Kirk, Anna, Eleanor, McKenzy and I watched the movie the Life of Pi. Ken, who serves at First Love sometimes was also present. Ken told 3 of the boys that they could come in and use his iPad if they were quiet an respectful. Indeed they were. I made popcorn for the group and also for the boys. It was very nice. Very communal.
Today the door is open and the kids have been flooding in and out, just as I like it.
