A Visit to the Young Boys Home at Mahdeva

Yesterday James, Keith and I (Dan) visited the younger boys who varied from age 8-14 at the Mahdeva Children’s Home in Killinochi. As soon as we arrived we were mobbed. We were simply overjoyed to be in each other’s company. 10, 20, 30, 40…there were 55 children at this part of the multi-acre Mahdeva site.

The children were eager to do some activities, revelling in the 2 hour ‘games period’ after arriving back from school.

With the sun burning bright, the afternoon descended into a joyous sweat-fest. Relay games were followed by a hysterical hokey-cokey which descended into a raucous mosh-pit during the ‘ooooooooh hokey-cokey’ section. Understandable I guess, considering there were 55 boys in the circle!

Another highlight of the afternoon was playing duck-duck-goose. In particular watching Keith demonstrate an electric turn of pace to evade the young Sri Lankan ‘goose’ (video footage is available). Don’t think you will find a faster former Pastor!

The afternoon concluded with a short game of football, James and I demonstrating a woeful lack of fitness as we tried to get ‘stuck-in’ with the far more agile and energetic Mahdeva boys (the game ended 0-0, probably for the best).

We then gathered in the prayer room where the boys sat down in immaculate lines to receive handwritten cards and messages from Heatherside Junior School. We also provided each boy with a new toothbrush and toothpaste and grasped both items with sheer joy.

It really was a fantastic afternoon and a pleasure to share time with the boys. We all felt so at ease from the first minute to the last. It sure is true that sport is a universal language. Despite us not knowing any of the Tamil language and the boys’ having limited English language, we managed to connect, compete and laugh in harmony.

*Just as a side note, the Mahdeva Children’s Home in Killinochi is a truly remarkable project. They are currently 90% self-sufficient, growing virtually all of their own produce, serving 500 children 2-3 meals every day. The love and compassion provided by the staff to the children who have been displaced or orphaned by the Sri Lankan civil war is amazing. It was wonderful to be a part of their world for a few days, in what was my second visit to the home. 

On now to Trinco an Batti, cannot wait to see what joys await us!