After a very long day through Guyana, Trinidad, Miami, and Atlanta, we got back safely last night. A huge thanks to James Smith for picking us up late at the airport! We were so thankful for a ride home :)
Our trip was such an incredible experience for everyone, new and old. We are so very thankful to be back home yet missing our sweet Guyana all at the same time. It is definitely a bittersweet homecoming.
Thank you all so much for following our journey. We, once again, are so blessed by your sweet thoughts and prayers! We would love to have some of you join us when we return in March!!
Until next time,
Lauren
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Goodbyes are always the hardest part.
Today was our last day in Guyana. It was a day full of much laughter, joy, games, and so many children. It was also filled with sadness and anticipation for the journey home.
We chose to spend our last day at Joshua House. This orphanage is very different from most of the other children's homes we visit. There was a very clear difference in the way the children interacted with us and responded with each other. They have very little supervision or structure and because of this, they crave attention. This attention we were happy to give them :) Michael immediately became a climbing wall and a punching bag. Miles ended up going out of his comfort zone a little to sing "Lean on Me" over and over again because they desperately wanted to hear it. Of course, Derrick chimed in with some Bob Marley songs, his trademark!!
We were able to do many crafts with them which included decorating a butterfly with colorful stickers and making a spider out of oatmeal cookies, frosting, raisins, and licorice. That was of course a huge hit!! I was also able to read two books to them which they loved hearing. They got very quiet and paid close attention. We spent the remainder of our time at Joshua House playing, blowing bubbles, coloring, getting our hair done (painfully and very funny-looking :), and just truly getting to know the children on a personal level. We have realized that while construction projects and painting are important spending time just listening is even more so. These children have stories and have things they want to share, and they often do not have the opportunity to share them. We were all more than happy to be a listening ear for these lovely ones.
The goodbye was hard as it always is at Joshua House. The children form bonds quickly and feel very rejected when we leave. One little girl in particular was crying because she did not want Holly to leave :( They always walk us to the vans and walk as far along the side of the vans as they possibly can. Leaving definitely tugs at heartstrings, but it helps everyone get more and more excited to hopefully return.
After dinner tonight, we will head back to the hotel to rest and make our way to the airport VERY early in the morning. Please pray for the ones we leave behind, for a smooth exit for us, and for safe travels as we return home. We are sad to be leaving so soon but thankful for such a great week filled with many blessings and so many evident ways that God has been at work here.
Thanks again for all of your love, prayers, and support!!
Until we are home,
Lauren
We chose to spend our last day at Joshua House. This orphanage is very different from most of the other children's homes we visit. There was a very clear difference in the way the children interacted with us and responded with each other. They have very little supervision or structure and because of this, they crave attention. This attention we were happy to give them :) Michael immediately became a climbing wall and a punching bag. Miles ended up going out of his comfort zone a little to sing "Lean on Me" over and over again because they desperately wanted to hear it. Of course, Derrick chimed in with some Bob Marley songs, his trademark!!
We were able to do many crafts with them which included decorating a butterfly with colorful stickers and making a spider out of oatmeal cookies, frosting, raisins, and licorice. That was of course a huge hit!! I was also able to read two books to them which they loved hearing. They got very quiet and paid close attention. We spent the remainder of our time at Joshua House playing, blowing bubbles, coloring, getting our hair done (painfully and very funny-looking :), and just truly getting to know the children on a personal level. We have realized that while construction projects and painting are important spending time just listening is even more so. These children have stories and have things they want to share, and they often do not have the opportunity to share them. We were all more than happy to be a listening ear for these lovely ones.
The goodbye was hard as it always is at Joshua House. The children form bonds quickly and feel very rejected when we leave. One little girl in particular was crying because she did not want Holly to leave :( They always walk us to the vans and walk as far along the side of the vans as they possibly can. Leaving definitely tugs at heartstrings, but it helps everyone get more and more excited to hopefully return.
After dinner tonight, we will head back to the hotel to rest and make our way to the airport VERY early in the morning. Please pray for the ones we leave behind, for a smooth exit for us, and for safe travels as we return home. We are sad to be leaving so soon but thankful for such a great week filled with many blessings and so many evident ways that God has been at work here.
Thanks again for all of your love, prayers, and support!!
Until we are home,
Lauren
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| Group picture! |
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| Holly had stickers :) |
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| Leah and some new friends! |
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| Nakise and I! |
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| They were enjoying bubbles and some crazy glasses we brought! |
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| They thought Miles needed some stickers! |
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| Holly and I with some of the kids! |
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| Derrick talking with a few :) |
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| Mike with some of the children! |
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| Making butterflies and spider cookies! |
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| Hair time! |
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| This is how my hair turned out :) They asked me if I would wear it on the plane... haha |
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