In Africa...

Charley likes talking about Africa. Actually, she likes telling us what is going on there, in her little mind. D has had several opportunities to serve in Africa in Charley's short little life, so she has heard us talk of it quite often. She used to think Africa was at the top of the elevator at the GSP Airport, because that is where we last saw daddy as he left for his last trip. When we returned to get him, we rode the escalator to the second floor and Charley said, "Hey! We're in Africa now. Where's daddy?!"
Anyways, more recently, she has randomly said the following "enlightening" things about Africa:

Me: "Charley please shut the door"
Charley (while shutting the door): "why do we have doors? In Africa, people don't have doors on their houses."

Charley (out of the blue): "in Africa, Daddy's friends don't have mommies or daddies."

Charley: "hey Mommy! There's Eli's doctor!... In Africa, the boys and girls don't have doctors"

Charley (at the dinner table): "In Africa, the boys and girls don't have any food."
Me: Exactly! So we should eat all of ours and be grateful for what God has blessed us with!" (hey, can you blame me?)

Charley turned three last week, and my parents gave her a toy cash register, which she calls her "pay thing." The night she got it, she pretended to fly to Africa to give the boys and girls all of her money so they could buy some food at her pay thing. She left the basket of food on the table when she went to bed so they could come out from their hiding places and get it. She was very concerned that Eli was going to take it, but I assured her it would be okay. Other than hating on her brother, this act of generosity was refreshing to see, even if it was pretend! Putting others first isn't high on her list, which we are constantly working on. "Me" paired with "First" are bad words in our house!

For the things she says that aren't entirely true (no doors, no mommies, no food), we try to correct her but also use it as an opportunity to point her towards generosity, sacrifice, service, etc. Donald wants to take us all there one day, so hopefully Charley will be able to see that there are some doors and mommies and food, but more importantly, give her real money away so the boys and girls can buy real food at the pay thing!