Sweet Kara Lapso and her momma arrived today, and just when we thought Dove couldn’t radiant with any more joy, their contagious happiness flooded the club. And what a perfect day for this exquisite bliss to occur: the day of our first water balloon war. Joan paired us up and formed two straight lines facing each other. The kids squirmed as they held their balloons steady, meticulous in tossing them to their partner under their legs, over their heads, or five steps away, erupting with laughter when they burst across the concrete, splashing cold water over our sweaty clothes and faces. No one was frowning, and few were dry!
One volunteer of the week, Patrick, whom the kids lovingly refer to as “Patricio,” allowed four preteen girls at the club to braid his hair today! Although he cringed from time to time when the girls tightly pulled each strand, “Patricio” held his breath and continued to wait patiently for the completion of his new due. Certainly worthy of a captured photograph!
Kara and I also had our hair extensively styled today while watching a basketball game following the water balloon fight. As sticky, sweaty hands experimented with various looks, oftentimes undoing something perfectly acceptable for the sole reason of repeating it, Kara and I flinched and laughed. “You’re beautiful,” they would say to us, “Your hair is beautiful! Your eyes are beautiful!” But sitting there on that hot concrete, knowing one another for a matter of minutes, Kara and I both can only hope to be as beautiful as they, with hearts just as alive in love.
-Betsy Coughlin
Summer Volunteer for Dove Missions
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