Leaving

I am coming to the end of my first 6 months and it is crazy to think I've already been here that long. I am 3 weeks away from leaving and the closer I get to leaving the more conversations we have about how much I will miss the kids and adults who work here and how much they will miss me. The all understand I am coming back in July but we have all become so used to being together everyday for the past 5 months that it is hard to think about not waking up to their giggles and yelling at 6:30 every morning and falling asleep to Guerby and maten Delva singing in their rooms at night. 

Last Saturday I took a break and went and spent the day with a friend. I left around 8:00 in the morning and returned a little after 8:00 in the evening so I was away from them for the whole day. When I got home I thought most of the little ones would already be in bed but I was wrong. We pulled in to the compound to find most of them in the yard and on the porch waiting for me to arrive. The greeted me at the car door and as soon as I stepped out of the car I was bombarded with hugs and kiss, a beautiful greeting! A few of the boys had gotten sick that day with fevers and colds so after I said hello to everyone I went to care for the sick ones. The next couple days a few more got sick. They are all well now just getting over their coughs. The boys decided the reason they all got sick was because I left them for the day. They said, "You can't leave again. When you left for one day the boys got sick, if you leave for a long time EVERYONE will be sick!". It was a little dramatic and I told them I really didn't think that was going to happen but it was a good attempt to keep me here :)

Yesterday I was talking with some of the mama's and they were asking me when I am leaving and coming back for the hundredth time. They told me if I don't come back that they are coming to America to find me! We all laughed as I told them it would be so funny to hear a knock at my door and open it to find Saudriana, Saurene, Jossi, Veralin and Nadia standing there!

The other day some of the girls asked me who is going to pray with them every night. We joked about me calling every night to sing and pray with them :)

Last night I was informed by Mackenson, Schnaider, Fenic, and Kimbel that they are all coming with me. Fenic will be riding on my feet, Kimbel will be hiding in my hair, Schnaider will be hiding in my ear and Mackenson in my shoe inside my bag. Mackenson also told me that I will have to stop to let him out when I eat because he can't stay in my shoe that long, he might die he said :) 

I am always praying that these kids really do know how much I love them and that they understand the reason I am here and trying to care for them is because God has put a love in my heart for them. Sometimes I feel like they're missing it and that I'm not making that message as clear to them as I would like to. Then the Lord gives me moments like the ones I just shared and though I know I don't always love them as well as I want to and should, He's allowing me to see that they do know I love them and that they even love me too :) Thank you Lord for your kindness!