Day 7 - Guatemala Update continued...

I left my previous Update blog with our making the assignments for the Carnival. The men were busy constructing a putt-putt golf game, the backboard for a wet-sponge throw, pie throw, tee-pee, etc. LOTS of fun games. They had some supplies that were left over from the playground and grass installation, so leftovers were used accordingly.

Grass Man even born... or hatched... or whatever.

Melissa and I paired up for the ring toss. We had frisbie/foam rings and taped water bottles together to receive the toss.

Rick was assigned to the bean bag toss. There was also a teepee with face-painting and a puffy dice throw.

Each child would be given a bag that had tickets in it. There were tickets for pizza, popcorn, cotton candy, drink and photo-booth, & bounce house. Once the Carnival began, they would be turned loose to scurry like ants around all of the games and booths. Every game would award them candy or little trinkets.

Below is the pizza vendor setting up shop.

During the setup, the atmosphere steadily grew until it felt electric . The dj had arrived and was playing loud festive music. The cotten candy was smelling good.

All of us on the team were dancing around, getting our faces painted, setting up our booths, and the kids were glued to the windows, watching us. One little escape artist actually climbed out and squeezed through the broken bars on his window, dropping down the side of the building to join in!

At last the time arrived. All of the kids were lined up at the door, practically beating it down wanting to come outside. With the all clear signal, they began to pour out. All 107 of them. It was so exciting, seeing their little faces light up at all that we had set up for them to do. I can't begin to explain how festive and electric the mood was.

We were celebrating:

• A successful week.
• Unconditional love.
• The safety that God provided to our group earlier that morning.
• Life.
• Above all, we were celebrating these precious, special children.

We were as hyper as the kids were, intoxicated by the infectious energy and giggles the children offered.

The photo-booth was a hit. There were dress-up clothes, boas, funny hats, props... We had a polaroid camera so that the children could have their picture taken. Little Sylvia wanted Rick to be in the picture with her. It was precious. And then... she brought the picture over to me. I could see immediately that her countenance had changed from festive to somber. Her tears were about to spill over. She handed the picture to me and motioned that she wanted me to keep it. I pulled her close and hugged her, as her little sobs poured out. My heart broke. She was sharing with me something so special to her... I tried to refuse the gift but she kept insisting. So I tucked the picture in my pocket and led her back to the games.

There was only one thing to do... we needed to get another polaroid picture, this time with all three of us in it so that she could keep one. And that's what we did. Sylvia was so excited - she meticulously chose our outfits and kept rearranging the stance. The snapshot captured a moment in time. It froze one second of our 10 day journey and recorded for eternity the emotions we all felt. It was a moment that was so pure and real, filled with love and acceptance. It was a glimpse into heaven.

The Carnival continued on for a couple of hours.

Here is my cousin getting a kiss after the pie in his face!

Eventually, as our energy was waning, we herded the kids into the center of the playground and sat them down.

Tod spoke to them, through the translator, and told them how much we love them, and how much more God loves them. He told them that God had a plan for each of them, just like in the story of Joseph they had learned during the week. We brought out a big "Tu Eres Especial" cake (You Are Special) for them. Then, each one of them waited for their name to be called. As it was called, they would walk up to the front and receive their gift. They each received the Max Lucado book "Tu Eres Especial," and a plush teddy bear. The girls received a necklace and the boys received a baseball cap. Each child got a special hug as they received the gift. It was beautiful. Of course, they started getting ancy, and it ended up mildly chaotic, BUT, it was perfect.

Here is Kelby giving the gifts to one of the boys.

The kids were all taken back inside. We stayed out back and began cleaning up the MESS that was left. It went pretty quick, with all hands on deck. And many of the children watched from the windows. We knew what was coming next. So did the children. The dreaded goodbyes. When it was time, we trudged up the stairs to the childrens dorm rooms. Immediately upon entering, Sylvia, Lupe and Kejla fought their way through the bottleneck to us. They were already sobbing. Sylvia jumped into Rick's arms and buried her little face in his chest. I felt a sob work it's way up my chest and catch in my throat. These little children know more about goodbye's than I ever will. They know abandonment. They know sadness. And they are still tender enough to attach and trust someone else.

The three girls led us over to a bunk bed and we sank down on it, pulling each of them close into our laps and arms. My tears spilled over as I held these little girls and prayed over them. "Lord, please protect them. Keep them tender and safe. Protect them and show them your great love."

The crying must have been viral, if you know what I mean. And like all emotions with little girls, it was dramatic. I think they fed off of each other's tears, each one crying harder than their friend. Pretty soon, the gifts started. It began with Sylvia going to her bed and fetching her prized Winnie the Pooh. And then they all followed. Each girl bringing not 1, not 2, but 3 or more stuffed animals to give to us. We tried to insist they keep them, but they would have none of it. They kept stuffing animals in our backpacks and arms. These little girls were giving us all they had. They didn't want us to forget them. To be forgotten... that is their fear. Here is a picture of the stuffed animals on our hotel bed that night.

Finally we tore ourselves away and walked out of the door. Little Sylvia followed us downstairs, only to be nudged back upstairs by a worker. It was heartbreaking. I looked around at my team-mates faces. Each of them had tear streaks and sadness written across their faces. Each one of them were touched by the lives of these children. We each tucked away in our hearts the private emotions and tried to smile at one another. "Chin-up," I thought. Just hold your chin up and smile. Don't lose it now. We did what we came to do. We built a playground. We installed grass inside the atrium. We threw a fabulous carnival. We opened our hearts. We loved, without holding anything back. That is what we came to do. As our team drove away from the orphanage for the last time, I knew our time there would be blessed. God would water the seeds of hope we planted in these little lives. Somehow, our work would not be forgotten. We were exhausted and it was time to close the shutters on this day. What had started with a robbery and then been lifted with the giggles of the toddlers on their new playground, had then turned joyful during the Carnival and then sad with the goodbyes. Rest was deep and healing for us that evening.