It’s almost guaranteed that if you are reading this blog you have played the historical game of duck duck goose. The name possibly changing but details of the game surely goes far back into the ages. I mean how else would caveman kill time sitting around the fire? When inventing fire they probably huddled around it so close someone couldn’t fit in and boom the first game of DDG landed on the earth.
History aside, the simplicet fun which it brings amazes us of a further age, yet when pushed into a game even our faces perk up with a smile and laughter surfaces as we slip when trying to run in a tight circle chasing after the tagger.
Yesterday we had outreach with the CG boys and girls. We have been doing 2+ a week sense we got here. Itineraries include, gathering 100+ kids to play a variety of games and songs, helping the CG kids perform a Christmas story skit, serving food and snacks and further hanging with the kids. Outreach locations range anywhere from the slum suburbs by the rice fields, to the children’s juvenile campus, back streets of the city and under a bridge.
This past outreach was at a central location in the outskirts of the city. We arrived and kids were there and ready as always. Many running, playing and occupying themselves with activities to do. There was a group of kids however with faces that read, “I have a smile under this cautious demeanor and desire to play, yet I am uncertain towards the moment.” I’m sure we have all seen the look the kids wear in this moment; a simple face with lifted eyebrows, slow walk and curious gaze. It’s as if they are waiting for a door to be opened by us welcoming their enormous smiles and joy into the atmosphere.
I was drawn and reached out to this small group of boys for some reason and what happened afterwards came so natural. We shared names and talked a little while and when the amount of spectating children around us grew, decided to play a game. I brought them over to the center of the basketball court we were at and said we are going to play Duck Duck Goose….. Blank faces looked back at me in confusion. THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT DUCK DUCK GOOSE WAS!! No lie, I never thought that was possible haha.
With some help I started teaching them the basics of the game and before you know it they were cracking up running in circles and spreading laughter to anyone watching.
It didn’t last long but when it was time to huddle up and continue with the planed activities of the day the original few boys I chatted with instantly came back to my side. I could tell there was something different with how they interacted with me sense the game ended. They were so much more open with me not in their words but their expressions and heart. It was as if they knew at that point it was safe to be free and fun and who they were with me. I sat with them through the whole program, while also being pulled to the front during games because they wanted me on their team!
(Pictures from our Christmas Story skit)
After all was done families and young’ns started to make their way out and back home. Ray and Kevin however came up to me and gave me the most sincere look I’ve ever had from a 10 year old while saying, “We will miss you.” I never knew something so simple could mean so much and be so powerful in peoples lives, especially kids. Who would of thought that a game of DDG would open the door to being just what these two boys needed. Who would have imagined that by being intentionally there for them would impact them and me in such a way?
(Ray and Kevin, two buds I will never forget)
Duck Duck Goose thank you. Thank you for being the precursor to the kids light and Joy shining so bright during that outreach. Thank you for being an ice breaker to so much more that came afterwards. Thank you for being the door to trust that was used to be on the receiving end of Ray and Kevin’s enormous love. And God thank you for bringing me on the race to be that light and loving arms these two boys may never have seen. Though it was only a couple of hours, these are some of the most I will miss.
~Photo credit goes to Luke Sherron the great 
~
