A long, long time ago

When children came to Happy Home, they all were still very young.

When that empty building, which had previously been a hospital, became a home, the first blessed were twelve children of the region, who were the first ones to be part of a family called Happy Home. And, with the passage of time, the family grew.

Gradually, the twelve children became twenty-two, and then the twenty-two children became in twenty-five, to be later, thirty, and, eventually, those thirty kids, became thirty-two brothers and sisters, beyond genetics, yes, and very nearby of the living, too.

Over the years, the children met many people from different countries who also became part of their family, from the exact moment they -Children- began to call "Aunty" or "Uncle."

One day a young woman decided to take road to that place, to that family and that life that a person can live only when it is in Happy Home.

Thousands of miles, many nights, days, shooting stars, birds flush infinite sky, clouds of hope, enormous land, rotting land ... land.

The young Venezuelan, had spent much time traveling on a white horse made of steel and sailed through the sky for hours, minutes and seconds of anxiety, to finally get to that place far, far away, where was the home of the thirty- two African children whom she visited. Children who told to the young Venezuelan -without expecting anything in return- the best of the stories, so that she could tell that story to many people from distant kingdoms, and so, these people would be able to feel, breathe, look, listen and enjoy the story of -The children were sure- many people fall in love.

After living a month in the distant meadow where was located the Happy Home Orphanage, the girl who had come from very far away, more specifically from a kingdom called Venezuela, had learned much about the culture, traditions and way of life with children and adults who were in charge of them, lived every day.

She had learned how important it was to greet people every day, as if she had not seen them in weeks. She also knew the importance of the church in the lives of Africans, and she was absolutely amazed by the devotion, faith, and gratitude that many -Those who had absolutely nothing material in the world- gave to God. The girl also knew what it meant to get up early in the morning to go to work -No matter in what: fetch water, go to school, selling vegetables on the street, sewing, being a taxi driver, driving the land, cook… – She, also, understood that life was not about to do things fast, it was about do the things, just that.

The young Venezuelan had known very mature children for their age, children responsible and admirable, children playing at being adults, adults living in the body of children. But, -And not to mention the end of this paragraph, less important- above all those things, she could understand how a family could be founded by several members of different families, and how, could be based on love and respect neighbor.

The children of Happy Home orphanage, had a routine of coexistence based on household activities, learning the basics for survival, and school attendance, to feed the hope of a brighter future. But when August came, the children's school closed for holidays, and they went to visit some relatives, leaving to the young Venezuelan, living in the home of a nurse who works in the orphanage for three weeks.

During those three weeks, the young Venezuelan managed to devise activities to do when the children were back in their home, which was also her home. Also, she put much effort into making a dollhouse for the girls to play with the freedom to transform what had been established bases in Western culture of the young Venezuelan, giving it an African touch. The girls put paintings on the furniture in the small house, and docked the cardboard walls, in the best African style, which is why the young Venezuelan felt quite proud. On the other hand, and accompanied by Liesbet -Another young woman who had come from far, far away to visit the children of Happy Home- the young Venezuelan built from cardboard boxes and sheets of paper in the style safari Masaai Mara, in which the boys enjoyed a lot while playing.

When they finally returned, the young Venezuelan was very very happy to go home everyone had left for just under a month, and that had become mere walls, without the voices of children laughing, or noise that they made when they are playing.

On 25 August the young Venezuelan met twenty-four years old, for that reason, she decided to show the children of Happy Home Orphanage, the way that birthdays are celebrated in Venezuela.

She made a piñata, which is the most traditional way with people living in the countries of Latin America to celebrate birthdays, although it is more common in children's parties.

In addition, Liesbet -The other young woman- helped the young Venezuelan to schedule a series of seven games that the children would have to play all day, to discover the secret word of the party, which at nightfall, they knew it was: piñata.

Happy Home children really enjoyed playing games like Bingo, Twister, Tom and Jerry ... In addition to the celebration in general.

At the end of the day, everyone went to bed very tired but a great day to remember.

To be continued...