Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to visit an orphanage that I spent much time at back in 2007, El Ebenezer. This place is home for 10-15 boys between the ages of 6 and 25 with mental and physical handicaps. It was such a blessing to get to go, but it also was sooo incredibly surreal! In my nearly five months of being here I hadn't had/taken the opportunity to go, and I'm very excited that I finally did.
So many things were fun and very nostalgic for me. First of all, I went with Heather and Kayleen, so it felt "just like old times". I easily recognized where we were as we were getting a little closer, and then driving down the very familiar road that Kayleen and I would walk to and from the bus on those two days a week we visited. Then waiting outside their door and going in I was just overwhelmed by the familiarity of it all and how strange it was to finally be back! I went in and was greeted by a few kids but almost instantly the drooly Richard grabbed my hand (with his drool covered) and led me around for the next 20 minutes, mostly just walking back and forth from one end of the property to the other (not big at all). It was so incredible to just see how the home had changed! I remember just the very rustic set up of it, now it's all tile and pretty nice looking! I couldn't help but just marvel though at how the kids had grown!! It's been over three and a half years since I've seen them and boy have they gotten big! I remember little Jorge, who I feel like would have been around 10, maybe 12. Each time I went I was his "teacher" helping him and a handful of others trace letters. Such a cute little squirt. He's now taller than I am! And my dear little Julio! He was probably the same age as Jorge, and in my class as well. I remember him loving dancing- just bouncing up and down mostly- and now he's talking much better but his voice has gotten deep/scraggly, you can tell it's changing. And he's grown so much! Some of the boys are like they always have seemed to be- Jaime, Roberto :) And I got to meet some new faces as well. There were three boys that were at school when we were there so I missed them, which made me sad, but I'll have to go back sometime soon when they're around then I guess. After being there for a little while we gathered the boys into one of the rooms to do a little Bible story and color a picture and eat little chocolate covered cookies, and as they were sitting there and I was taking it all in I couldn't help but think of the two little boys I'm taking care of now, and how much they're going to change when I leave! It's going to be so hard to leave them here. I know, I know, it's six months away, but then that's just gonna make it all the harder! I'm not usually one for waterworks, but I'm guessing I'll be doing some crying when my time to leave approaches!
But, as far as Ebenezer goes, I was really glad I finally made it over there and look forward to hopefully going back again before too long. It's exciting to leave and come back and just see God's faithfulness in taking care of the kids, providing for the home there, seeing how dedicated the staff still are- all of these were very encouraging to me. It was a very good way to spend a chunk of my day off :)
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