This is our last day in Guatemala, at least for this trip.  We spent the day at San Gabriel, a boys´orphanage that we have visited in the past.  There have been a lot of changes there, with turnover in the names and faces we have seen in the past 12 months.  I still saw some familiar faces in Humberto, William, and Dany.  Some of the boys are pretty rough and disrespectful, but there are still glimpses of hope and goodness in brief conversations with boys like Freddy, who shared about his previous home and his current stay at San Gabriel.  We spent time talking with the boys and building relationships, but of course, nothing holds a candle to the gifts we bring.  Maybe someday they will react as strongly to the prospect of our friendship.

We ended our day with a bright spot.  John and Emily had spent the day with Juan Pablo and were due to return him to the babies´home.  I was glad to accompany them and see the kids again today.  I hugged as many of the kids as I could, but went looking for Milli and Christel.  Milli was in her walker, motoring around the dining area.  I sat down near her, and she smiled at me and extended her finger, remembering our touch from yesterday.  So sweet.  Then Christel came into the room.  I put out my arms, and she came straight over into my embrace.  I held her against my chest and rubbed her back for the longest time.  She just lay her head on my shoulder.  Rachael later told me that she could see what I couldn´t: that Christel was just laying contentedly looking out the window, resting in my arms.  It was one of those precious moments with God and His children, experiencing the rightness of doing His work and caring for those He holds close to His own heart.  Christel especially has captured my heart, and I prayed for her future to be full of God´s love, however He can bring it to her.  It was sad to walk out the door, followed by Milli in her saucer and Danny with his hugs.  It makes our next trip seem so far off.

It has been a good and productive trip, though I´m still processing all the experiences and the plans for our future in Guatemala.  I´ll post lots of photos as soon as possible.  Home in 24 hours…