It was a rest and relax day today, which we dearly needed. We slept in, relaxed, then went out for a big meal at 1 pm. We happened upon a noodle place that was good. We went back to the hotel to use the restroom and then walked to the entrance of the Pyramids. We had a chocolate bar we were sharing and local kids kept coming up and asking for some. Peter asked if we should get some candy to share with the kids and I thought that was a great idea! So he went into a nearby store and came out with some Oreo's. A big group soon formed- I still don't know where they came from. The Oreo's disappeared like a flash! Then a woman was so pathetic and insistent her little child needed real food that Peter went back to the store to buy her some. Word spread as if by loudspeaker- kids ran into the store and threw things on the counter. The mom went straight for the freezer section and grabbed bags of chicken. Peter paid for it all, and as he came out a mob formed around us. The girls handed out the second batch of Oreos to pushing and pulling children. Women came up to me begging for food for their babies and pointing to Peter. Women were begging Peter for food and shoes for their children. He gave out some money. They were pushing in upon us and I saw a flash of a uniform and a strong voice say "Take your family and go." The policeman didn't have to tell me twice. I found Leesie (she had wandered out of my line of sight) and we hustled out of there.

We are still trying to process everything. How it went from a kind handout of candy to a mob requiring the help of a policeman. We learned some valuable lessons. 1. The size of the candy was too big (packs of them). That heightened things. 2. Kindness is good, and generosity is good; but working with organizations who know the people and their true needs are best. 3. I am grateful for constant angels who keep us safe despite our ignorant actions.

There were kids who followed us all the way back to our hotel begging, but thankfully the doorman stopped them from entering.

We processed our experience together, showered, and had a snack before bed.

Theme today: Don't Worry, Be Happy

Things we learned:
Emma: I learned to not be cranky.
Clara: If you hand out candy, sometimes it can turn into a big mess because lots of kids come and come and come.
Leesie: I learned that you probably shouldn't hand out candy and stuff on the streets. You should give it out to community centers or churches, because they know who really needs it.
Addy: I learned that we should do smaller treats, not bigger treats. Because bigger treats cause problems.
Kathy: I learn again and again how grateful I am for the nutritious food I have available so easily to feed my children; and the safe place we have to live.
Peter: I learned that things don't always go as planned and in pondering and reflecting on the day, you can see the hand of God in your life, with the blessings and the protection He provides. Hopefully we were able to help even just one in need today.