What a Day

What a good day!  I went slowly this morning instead of going to church with the kids and the other guests.  When they all returned, we loaded up Leonard’s green bus and headed north to Kaliko beach resort.  Not all of the kids could go.  Of course Jameson, Edson, and Michael went because their adoptive mom Megan is here.  Megan also chose to bring Keloke.  Then, Wolton and Mimose’s adoptive mom Dixie is here, so they went.  Another guest took Jonathon and Christine.  Rosie decided to take Jephte and Jackie. 

The hard part was that Lovely, Kethia, Shirley, and Christell couldn’t go.  They sobbed as the rest of the group readied and got on the bus.  I tried to imagine how they felt because it goes way beyond just not being able to go to the beach.  It’s about not being chosen.  It’s about being abandoned by Mom and Dad.  It’s about not being chosen by adoptive parents.  It’s about not being chosen by a guest to go to the beach.  For many practical reasons not all the kids could go, but that doesn’t make and difference to those left behind. 

Little Christine

Kaliko Resort

The kids were well behaved and loved the pool at the resort.  They weren’t so fond of the beach because it was pretty rocky, but they all had a good time.  The view was amazing, great breeze, relaxing times.  I couldn’t ask for a better day of rest (even with 10 kids running around!).  The buffet was all you can eat, and the kids did eat.  Watching them approach their food is a study in psychology.  They’ve never seen so much food or been able to have seconds.  And thirds.  And fourths.  It’s like their only “stop” is when the food runs out, not when their bellies are full.  So they ate literally until they couldn’t eat any more, and a couple kids ate beyond that point.  One little girl ate until she couldn’t swallow food anymore because there was no place for it to go.  All their little bellies stuck out because they were so full.  Most of these kids came to Gertrude’s severely malnourished, and even though they have had three meals a day for years, it’s like their bodies remember the malnourishment, and they just can’t stop.  I wonder how much their psyches remember the malnourishment and how that will affect their psychology into adulthood. 

On the way back from the beach we received good news from the folks who took Maxo for eye surgery.  The surgery was successful—Maxo can see!  I can’t even begin to imagine what his life will be like now that he can see.  So much is now available to him that wasn’t before.  They don’t fly back until Wednesday, and we can’t wait to for them to get back.  The kids are as excited about the news as the adults.  Now we pray that the surgeries for Alain and Jude tomorrow go just as well.

The school kids head back to school tomorrow which means that I can get back into my routines with the special-needs kids.  I think everyone is happy that the kids will be back in school—40+ kids in one place drove us all a bit crazy!