The Final Chapter
It’s
the day we have dreaded all week, our final day with the kids at the
center. We knew it would come, but all
of us hoped it wouldn’t. We hoped that
somehow we could delay it, but we can’t.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for
every matter under heaven. . .” Our season in Guatemala has come to an
end. Hopefully I can stall the tears
long enough to complete this post.
Today
was the day all of the families came to visit.
I don’t know who was more excited, the children or the team. We all waited somewhat impatiently for the
Mommies and Daddies to arrive. First
there was a worship service for the parents and then the nannies started taking
the children to their parents. One Mama
came directly to the baby room for her daughter. The joy on her face when she spotted her
daughter was priceless. Some of us were
permitted to take the children directly to their parents. I cannot even begin to describe the feeling
of being able to hand the precious baby girl I was holding, over to her
mother. Many of the team members stood
by witnessing the family interactions. There
were smiles, joy, sadness and tears. I
could barely keep my emotions in check. Observing
the tortured expressions of the mamas as they once again handed over their
children ripped me to shreds. Seeing the
crocodile tears of the children was no easier.
Fortunately the team was available to cuddle and comfort the little ones. The rest of the morning was a rather subdued
affair.
The
families did not leave completely empty handed though. Some of them gave their hearts to Christ
during the mini-service which means they no longer walk alone; they now have a
savior to comfort and guide them. Each
family also received a gift from their child; a craft with their handprint, and
a photo of them. A team member captured
a photo of each family together, I expect those will be presented during their
next visit. All the groceries lovingly packed
by the team went home with the families as well.
There
have been happy moments today too. This
morning when I entered the infant room to prepare one of the babies for her
bath, she greeted me with her toothless smile, like I was the most important
person in her world. Another toddler
caught onto a game of, “answer the phone”.
He entertained all of us by picking up the toy phone, placing it on his
ear and saying, “Hola.” One team member received the priceless gift of
a visit from one of her babies who had been at the center during her visit two
years ago. It is all of these seemingly
minor things, that really are huge, that will keep us going in the days to come
when our sorrow threatens to overwhelm us.
Our
time in Guatemala has affected each of us differently. Exactly how our lives will change is
difficult to predict, but I fully trust that God brought each of us here for a
specific purpose. For some of us that
purpose may have already manifest, for some it may take a little longer to
recognize. And honestly, some of us may
never fully understand every part of His plan.
What really matters is that we continue on in this life of faith
trusting and knowing that God is always in control, even when we can’t see the
plan. And for now, we bid farewell to
Guatemala.
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