Goodbyes and Hellos

I think the best thing about saying goodbye is being able to come back after a while and say hello again. After being home in California for a week for my sister’s wedding, it took me three days to travel back to Rurrenabaque, Bolivia. After only being able to sleep three hours total for my whole trip, I was more than ready to be back at Familia Feliz to see the kids and get some sleep. When I got out of the taxi, the first thing that one of the sm’s said was, “Wow! You look so American in your jeans.” I’d forgotten that I was wearing jeans and since I only wear skirts and dresses at the mission (Occasionally cargo pants for work), and decided to change as soon as I could. One of my 11^th graders was there and helped me take my luggage out of the taxi. I was excited to see him and gave him a hug before I noticed the bandage on his neck and asked him about it. Every day at Familia Feliz I learn something new and that day I learned to not ask about bandages, scabs or any sicknesses that the kids have because I guess it embarrasses them.  He brushed the question off and said he was fine but the other sm’s told me that a few of the children had been sick and now have scabs that appeared on their hands, arms and neck. Good to know. Besides missing that interesting sickness that went around,  I missed the 114 degree weather. That is something I am so glad I missed out on.

On our way to my house, two of my girls saw me from a long way off and ran to give me a big hug then help me take my things to the house. I only had gotten a little ways from my taxi across the wooden bridge when I spotted Dagner. Now, Dagner is someone who only warmed up to me the day before I left Familia Feliz to go home. And when I say that he warmed up to me I mean that one week he wasn’t speaking a word to me and seemed really shy and the next week he was constantly hanging around me and hugging me. When I saw Dagner, his face lite up with the biggest smile as did mine and he ran to give me a hug and nearly squeezed the breath out of me. He has now become my shadow wherever I go, constantly hanging on me and scowling whenever I say I have to go back to my house. He may find someone else to be his shadow next week but right now I’m enjoying every moment.

That’s my favorite thing about leaving somewhere and knowing that I’ll be coming back; being so warmly welcomed with smiles and bear hugs from the kids. It makes me even more excited to go home to heaven, where I know I’ll get the biggest hug from Jesus and where we’ll both be so excited to see each other. I can't wait!