Hecticity

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of new things, unforeseen problems, and the realization that the school year is almost over. I very much enjoyed the change though.

Are they leaving? For good?

Note: The following two paragraphs I wrote last week. I was going to publish the post, but I didn't have enough time or good enough service to do that, so I am combining it with this week's post.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, three sets of parents arrived on campus: Sophia's parents, Laney's parents, and Carlie's mom and brother. On Friday, Treson, an SM who served here two years ago, and his girlfriend came on Friday, so we have had eight new people on campus. It has been absolutely wonderful having them here. They have been a huge help and encouragement to all of us, and I'm sure the kids as well have enjoyed some new faces. The dads have been helping with maintenance projects around campus and the moms with cooking and entertaining the kids. For us male houseparents, Treson has provided a wealth of wisdom that we have much appreciated. It's been amazing to hear his thoughts on different aspects of life here and to know that we aren't the only ones to have gone through the many difficulties we have experienced.

The other reason this week has felt so different is because it is finally hitting us that we don't have much longer with the kids before they leave for the summer. School ends in ten short days. Seeing as tomorrow will be our hundredth day here, ten days is not long at all. How do I even begin to process that reality? It's so hard because I don't know which boys will be coming back next school year and which ones I will never see again on this side of heaven. This past Sunday after the visitation hours were over and all of our boys had returned to the house, Diego-Alexis, our oldest boy, came up to me and what he told me made my stomach drop. He said that he and his siblings, which includes his three younger brothers in our house too, would be leaving this coming Sunday, December 1, which is a week before school ends. That's in five days! Not only that, but he said they would be leaving para siempre, forever. Diego-Alexis had been saying for the past two or three weeks that he and his siblings would not be coming back, but when I would ask him if that was really true, he would respond with an "I don't know" or a "maybe". He seemed more sure about it this time. Diego-Alexis visited his family this Sunday, right before he told me he was leaving forever, so I'm guessing his dad told him they wouldn't be coming back. Even now, I can't know for sure if they won't come back next school year because their dad is saying right now that he will be keeping them, but things could change between now and February when school starts again. The uncertainty is excruciating. The thought that Diego-Alexis, Marcelo, Alex, and Emir, my precious boys, are most likely leaving forever is unbearable. I am so thankful that even if they don't come back to Familia Feliz, I can take comfort in the fact that they will be living in a stable environment with good parents. My heart is going to break if I have to say goodby to these boys forever, but if that is God's will for them, I don't want it any other way. He knows what is best, and I know He has the power to carry out His will.

This is now me writing on Tuesday, Dec. 3. 

I have amazing news to share. The four brothers didn't leave last Sunday! Their family came to visit, but they didn't take them back, so we have three more days with them. Even better news is that they very well might be coming back next school year. Diego-Alexis said that he might be staying here until he's 15, which would be three more years. Obviously, I can't know for sure if that will hold true, but I don't think anyone can know for sure. Still, it brought me comfort to know that these next three days probably won't be the last days I spend with them. I am doing my best to remember that what I want to happen with this situation might not be what is best for these children. Maybe it would be better for them to stay home next year instead of coming back. I don't know. That is why I when I pray for this situation with my boys and where they will end up next year, instead of praying for what I want to happen, I have been praying that God would carry out His will in each and every one of their lives. If these end up being the last three days I have with them, I will choose to trust that God knows what He is doing. I am simply grateful for a few more days with them. 

The last day of class is Friday, and we have been told that a lot of the kids will be going home on Friday afternoon. In our house, we think we will have between six and nine kids leaving to go home for the summer, but we can never be sure. Without a doubt, it's going to be so hard to say goodbye, but God will reunite us again one day, so I have peace.

On Thursday afternoon, after school gets out and we have had a chance to eat lunch, all 12 Leones, Teacher Juan and his family, Justin, myself, and a couple other SMs will be making the trip into town to go to a pool and eat ice cream afterwards. It will be a wonderful way to close out the school year and spend some quality time together with all of the boys making lifelong memories. I will share plenty of pictures of our excursion next week. 

Please pray for all of the kids here. Honestly, none of them are in great positions. The ones going home will be going to much less stable and safe environments, and the ones staying at Familia Feliz will be missing their family and their friends who went home. And then there are the social services kids. If they end up leaving, which at this point we have no reason to believe they will be staying, it is sickeningly likely that they will be placed somewhere where they will be badly mistreated. All we can do is lift up these kids to God now, so your prayers would be so greatly appreciated. 

Pictures

Because all of the parents were here, they were able to watch our houses
for a couple hours, so we could hang out as a group in town for the first
time. It was such a great time with everyone. If only we all could be
together like that more often. 

Because all of the parents were here, they were able to watch our houses
for a couple hours, so we could hang out as a group in town for the first
time. It was such a great time with everyone. If only we all could be
together like that more often. 

Teacher Juan mowed the yard, and the boys made a bunker
thingy out of the grass.

Emir and Alex at the dinner table.

I was sitting at the table when I heard Isaac
calling my name from the outdoor sink, so I
looked outside and saw this. He has a 
beard now!

So this hat that Alex is wearing I bought when all of us SMs went
into town. A random guy from Uruguay came up to our table and began 
making things out of palm leaves. He was a pretty cool guy, so some
of us bought some stuff from him. I came home with this hat. When I
got back, the kids were fascinated, so I let each one try it on, and took all
their pictures. Here they are.

Isaac, Teacher Juan's son.

Adrian.

Diego-Alexis.

Alvaro.

Valentín.

Emir

Marcelo.

Jeremías.

Andrés.

Selim.

Benjamín.

Jesús.

The craziest thing happened a week ago on 
my day off. I was getting more service on
my phone with Emilie when she pointed across
the street and asked if that was Daniel. I looked
up, and sure enough, there was Daniel riding
the back of a motorcycle with someone I am
assuming was his mom. They stopped directly
across the street from us, so when I finished
getting more service, I went over to say hi.
We weren't able to talk much because he was
getting ready to leave, and his mom was right
there, which made it a little awkward, but 
I was able to ask him how he was doing, 
and he said he was doing good. He seemed
to be pretty happy too, which I was so 
glad to see. Getting to see him again
was so good for me because it brought
some closure which I didn't have when he
up and left in the middle of the song service
that one Sabbath.

This is our Bolivian Thanksgiving dinner. I will not be able to accurately describe how wonderful
that day was. First of all, we ate really well: Mashed potatoes and gravy, Worthington dinner roast, green beans, stuffing, salad, chili, fried rice, bread rolls, sweet potato casserole, chocolate cake, and pumpkin pie. It was a feast, but the best part was getting to see everyone on campus in the same place. I had so many amazing interactions with a lot of kids that I don't get to see as much. It goes without saying, but that was a day that I will remember forever. The next five pictures are from that night.

Azumi and I. She stole my hat.

Selim and his brother Harol. I love this picture!
Selim's smile is so genuine.

Mariana, one of the Flores girls.

Nirza. She has two brothers in my house. She can be quite fiesty sometimes,
but she is also so sweet.

Jeremías, one of Nirza's brothers.

Hanging in my hammock with Emir, Selim, and Alvaro before
church. 

There was a big Pathfinder event this weekend, so all of the little
kids who aren't in Pathfinders had Sabbath school in the Lilas'
house. 

Emir with Justin's glasses. So cute!

Selim asked to get in my hammock with me, 
and who could say no to that. He fell asleep.

Then Emir asked to get in my hammock with
me. I think he fell aslep even faster than
Selim did. 

That's a keeper!
Photo courtesy: Jayden Cushing

Emir got some new clothes from his family. 
He has matching hats with his twin sister,
and I was trying so hard to get them to take
a picture together, but they didn't want to. 

Kind of a cool looking beetle.