Today held one of the moments I’d been looking forward to: seeing Christel again.  She’s one of my favorites, a sweet and smart little girl who I held on my first trip when she was just a sick baby.  Now she is healthy and has an infectious laughter, and you can’t help but smile along with her.  It was good to see her again in a lovely new home with nannies who obviously have great affection for her.  She came to me easily and wrapped her arms around me, laying her head of my shoulder.  And I closed my eyes and sighed.

Our time with the boys at Eliza Martinez this afternoon flew by.  We talked to the boys about being polite and respecting others.  About getting a job and wearing a tie.  About taking care of the bodies God gave them, as well as their neighbors.  We brought neck ties for all the boys to practice tying a tie, and it was amazing to see them watch Shawn, Nate, and Adam with rapt attention as they followed along with the demonstration.  It is a rare thing that brings that much quiet and focus to these boys.  We played games and passed out candy and trading cards.  Rachael ended the day with a bit of urine on her leg.  Adam may be responsible for a riot over candy.  Wendy is a rock star, and having your picture taken with her quite the thing to do. 

Tomorrow we’re looking forward to preparing lunch with, and for, the boys.  We’ll work on following directions, what it takes to prepare a meal, working together, and serving one another.  I think about the meals Jesus shared with so many other people, sitting with them, feeding them, relaxing with them.  It will be a good day with them, yet also a hard last day.  It’s so hard to leave them, even knowing that we’ll be back.