Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (NIV)
Monday at the center. The first day back in over six months. The advantage of being a frequent flyer at the center is that you can skip the facility tour and go right to work. And the priviledge of getting to know the nanny you work with over time is that you can communicate through signs and broken Spanish to know exactly what she wants you to do. It was so wonderful to see Christy again. She is now assigned to the Squirrels, the older girls. Well, older is relative. She has girls ages two through eleven. What they have in common is that they are all potty trained. Hallelujiah! No pots to scrub on this trip! Christy bathed the girls, I dressed them and for the most part got their clothes on right though I had to redo a few when I put the layers on in the wrong order. There is so much more chatter in the girls’ bathroom than in the Chicks or Canaries. There, it is mostly fussing and some crying. In the girls’ bathroom though, they had to finger the buttons on my shirt, show me their shoes and wait for applause when they pulled their own socks on. There is just something about being a girl that is universal. My daughter-in-law, M., is with me on this trip. It has been so much fun seeing Guatemala through her eyes. After I dressed the girls, M. fixed their hair with headbands, braids or hair clips. Once everyone was pretty, the girls left, some to go to school, others to go to play and left Christy, me and another worker in the now quiet room to clean, sweep and make the beds. Though Christy and I really didn’t get to talk, there is a quiet companionship in just being in the same room together. She managed to communicate to me that I am her friend and a blessing from God. I pointed and stammered my way to say the same. The rest of the day was a whirlwind as the girls mingled with the boys (the Ducks who are wild and crazy) for Bible Story, crafts and music. Before we knew it, it was time for M. and me to go to lunch, then, while the girls napped (well, some of the girls napped, the rest had to be chased back into their room), we had chores, M. scrubbed the lunchroom while I helped unpack and sort supplies. It is so good to be back. To be honest, and I really didn’t admit it to myself until I was on the plane, I came to say good-bye to Christy and my other friends in Guatemala. I have had some health issues that convinced me that I wouldn’t be able to return to this place I have come to love. But, today, seeing Christy, communicating without words, I knew. I cannot leave this place. I will be back. Today was not about saying goodbye, but hello.
I love the names of the groups. A week with the Squirrels! How lucky are they to have you and vice versa. I can't imagine you not being there, always, in your heart.
I'm glad you'll be going back. They would miss you so much, and you them. Hopefully an improvement in your health will make it easier!