Tic Tacs and Business Cards

...seem to be popular with the children I've met in Uganda. Above is a photo of a group of children near the Kampala Primary school, after a meeting with someone at the Refugee Law Project next door. I sat down to make a phone call and before I knew it, there were a few young children who came to me shyly, smiling and wondering who I was and why I was there. I gave a tic tac to one and then a number of children appeared out of nowhere. I gave tic tacs to each child and then, not really knowing what else to do, struck up a conversation with them and then gave a few of the children my business card. The child in the center is holding it up in the photo. I think the one in the foreground is still trying to put a tic tac in her mouth. You can tell from the photo, each child had such a beautiful, unique character and personality....They were so wonderful and precious. I was reminded of Jesus's interaction with children and the things he said about children during his ministry..whosoever accepts a child like this in my name, accepts me. One must be like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. There was such an innocence, beauty and plain likeability to these children! Spending time with them was one of the highlights of my trip so far. I was especially struck by my time with them, because it happened soon after a cool reception from professional refugee experts soon before. How accepting, loving and kind these children were in comparison - and I had nothing to prove or show to them credential-wise, except my care, attention and interest. That's all they seemed to really want or need - and the tics tacs and business card were just a strange bonus, I'm sure. ;-)