Catching up on the events of the past month or two, in late October I attended an annual Halloween party at the Mercy Center in the Bangkok neighborhood Khlong Toei. Mercy Center, founded by a Catholic priest who has been a longtime fixture in the surrounding slums, provides extracurricular activities and ongoing education for local children. The Halloween party is pulled together by several business owners associated with the American Chamber of Commerce.
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This was the second time I volunteered and this year I scored the assignment of working the face-painting table. While we had lots of face paint, our tools were limited and the children had high expectations: Zombie! Dracula! Ghost!
As you can imagine, over time the ghosts started to look more like vampires and the zombies started to look more like children with green faces. I was thrown for a loop when one girl asked to be a butterfly. It wasn’t until I looked at one of the face painting kits that I realized that there was a picture of a girl with a very elaborate butterfly on her.
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Regretfully, I hadn’t the tools to make her as beautiful a butterfly as on the package, but she seemed pleased with the results. I tried my best and next year will be sure to bring some proper makeup sponges (instead of just using the random foam sponges we had access to) and brushes.
Still, it was a fun time and the 300 or so children seemed to really enjoy themselves. It is neat that there are so many people who come together to create these sort of opportunities for children.
christao408 
I had no idea you knew how to face paint. It’s neat that you’re able to find time to volunteer :-).
Based on the results, I think we can agree that I truly do NOT know how to face paint! =D
Days like that are so much fun and make you feel as wonderful as it does the kids. You are a many talented fellow. K
Oh, thanks for the kind words. I don’t know if I am talented (especially in face painting!) but I do know that time spend with children is always rewarding. They look at the world with a sense of wonder and joy that helps remind me that I probably should think a bit less in life and enjoy it a bit more.
I think you had a fun time too. Working with kids is always fun and rewarding just to see that little smile begin to appear and then grow into a huge grin.
Oldest grand daughter and I do face painting every year at the 4th of July Splash celebration over the water here on the Washington Coast.
We have so much fun, and I think we are bigger kids than the kids whose faces we are painting.
The kids are ready to move onto the next booth and we want to decorate those sweet little faces even more.
Very true. Children are so transparent in their emotions: joy, happiness, frustration, anger – whatever they feel, it is usually very clear.
Thank you for your amazing heart and ability to touch and make a difference in the lives of so many precious children. God bless! ❤
Thanks