not good-bye, just so long....

we knew it would come and it did. the time to say our farewells. this morning we took lori bassett :) clothes to the pediatric area of the "hospital". let's just say, they were a hit and we survived the mob :) and let's just say, "hospital" is a very loose term.

then we went to the orphanage and finished the carpentry projects and loved on the kids. we gave the teachers and workers their wallets/billfolds with money and sunglasses. it was sooo cute when one of them opened their billfold and saw there was some money inside. she quickly starting telling the others to open theirs and the smiles that broke out were priceless :)

and then we loaded all 41 kids and the workers onto the JESUS bus to bring them back to the guest house compound. we had a party!!! balloons, streamers, cupcakes, pop, face painting -- they loved it!!! and then the time had come to take them back. it is amazing how quickly hearts can fall in love. each person had one or two kids that became theirs. emisson, the boy we sponsor, is my boy! and claudine, who we don't sponsor, is my girl! pastor eristead and cathy kept reassuring them we would come back. and because a team had come in october, and then returned, we pray it gives them hope that we will come again. the team in october was mainly men who were putting on roofs; they didn't get nearly the love they did this time and they literally could not get enough.

the tears were flowing. we were all waving out the bus windows to them. and then they were gone. and the bus was silent. except for the crying. it hurts. and about ten minutes after we left, cathy's cell rang. it was pastor eristead saying he didn't know what to do ... he said as soon as the bus was out of their sight they started screaming and wailing with their arms up. this is what they do when someone dies. pastor eristead did not know what to do. he had never seen them like this. cathy told him to just keep reassuring them that we would be back. he called a few minutes ago and said they are settling down but many are in their beds crying.

i am thankful their hearts are still tender. i am thankful our hearts are still tender. i am thankful that God can connect hearts so quickly. if you could pray, not only for our safety tomorrow as we head for home, but pray for God to keep our hearts broken. i beg you, if you are reading this and have considered adoption, please don't wait any longer. the orphans in this world need a mommy and daddy. desperately.