Saturday, May 22, 2010

Leaving her behind

Mike is home, thank the Lord!  Remember the little toddler girl he texted me about Monday?

(pics of the kids are not allowed, this is the boys room)

Her name is Adriana.  She has a brother, about 3yrs old, named Edwin.   He told of the last day at the small orphanage in Peurto Rico.  After spending a few days with the children, everyone in the mission team group had fallen in love with and was playing with the children.  Imagine, 30 children with 2 caregivers(and for oprhanages, those are fantastic odds--believe me, I've seen worse!).  But two caregivers, employees, can't play with each child and give individual attention.  Adriana attached herself to Mike and he to her.  A gorgeous dark-skinned toddler girl with a big grin.  Mike held her all afternoon Wednesday.  He doesn't think she's been around many men, she kept stroking the hairs on his arms.  She nuzzled up her little face to his stubbly cheeks and put her cheek against his when he sang.  She squeezed his neck tightly.

Then it was time to say goodbye.  He put her down and she screamed.

She lifted her arms up for him to pick her up and cried.

He turned, walked away with a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes knowing all she wants is her very own mommy and daddy, and boarded the bus.   Marcus, one of the senior boys with the group, had children clinging to his legs and they had to be pried off of him at the end of the day.

That's it, there's no happy ending to the story.  It kills Mike and I

1 comment: