My time here is dwindling away. I was so uncomfortable at the beginning that I was counting down the days and I wasn’t sure how I would make it. I will be so glad to go home and see my family and friends and enjoy air conditioning and drink Starbucks (I have never craved anything more in my life), but I have fallen in love here with the precious kids who always give me “abrazos” (hugs) because they think I need them when really they need them. (That’s not entirely true…I need them, too). They draw me things and give me kisses on the cheek or sometimes on my stomach because that’s where their face hits on me. They are always happy to see me, and I am always happy to see them…even when they yell commands at me that I sometimes ignore. (“Calame! Subame! Bajame! Mirame!” - Swing me! Pick me up! Put me down! Look at me!)
I also get to feel like a part of the family when we eat with the different families. Their are four homes here, and we’re eating with a different one each week. The experience last week was rough and challenging. Each house, each family is so different and I like getting to see that. The house we’re eating with this week has house parents barely older than I am at 23. They grew up here and got married. I have so much respect for them for sacrificing so much for these kids. Also, one house dad is particularly attractive but I keep having to remind myself that he is married with 12 kids, so my method of dealing is pretending he doesn’t exist. I am nothing short of honest. I have so much respect for all the house parents. I have been sick all day and one of the house moms brought me medicine. They make sure we are well-fed and give us snacks throughout the day. I like talking to them and getting to know them.
These kids are definitely better off than most of the kids in Honduras. They have food and shelter and clothes and are getting an education and two stable and loving parents. I wasn’t sure I was doing any good at first, but everyone in this world needs love and there’s no such thing as too much.
My focus was off last week because of a few different things, but I am determined to take advantage of my remaining time here, study the Bible more in my free time, give all I have to the people around me.
Like I said, I’ll be glad to go back to the gecko-free land of air-conditioning, but I think I might miss their chirping at night. There is nothing I will regret about having air conditioning.
