Goodbye.

Our last day at Smile was one that I, in the first few months, never thought would ever come and ended up to be a day that came all too quickly! I had prepared my mind for the day and tried to prepare the kids as well by letting them know how many days we had left. 

We arrived at Smile early that morning to drop off some things and when we arrived all the little ones were chanting our names, running to us to greet us! It brought tears to my eyes knowing that was the last time I'd hear those sweet little voices and receiving ALL those hugs!

We had a wonderful day playing with the kids, handing out some clothes, receiving the many necklaces /bracelets. *When people leave that they respect and love they give gifts of necklaces, bracelets, or anything they have such as avocados etc. Such a blessing. We were definitely loaded with necklaces and felt so loved. We received so many hugs and said goodbye to the kids. It was awful. But I am so glad it was hard because that reminds me how much I really loved all of them and what an impact they had on my life! 

It is always hard to say goodbye to the little ones, like my little Jose I think he understood that I wasn't coming back but for the older kids who fully understood some of them were crying so hard they couldn't catch their breath. I just hugged them and held them while I prayed for a little while. It was a mutual sadness. 

I am SO THANKFUL for my time at Smile Africa and all that I have learned, grown, experienced, and all the friends that I have made. It will be an all round experience that stays in my heart forever.

Dota and my sweet baby girl Esther! 

BIG SMILES!

I gave Lodo my NDSU shirt...sharing the "Bison Pride"!

Group Photo!

Group Photo!!

The day went so quickly I didn't think I got one last picture with Jose. Sure enough I checked my camera and we did get one, and its the BEST one I have!

New Cloth-es!

Now that I have arrived at home I have some time to catch up on the last few events of my time at Smile Africa. 

A BIG THANK YOU to Trinity church in Sharon, ND for sending these pillowcase dresses! We handed out 50 dresses to girls at Smile and 10 to a girls choir at a village church nearby!

Don't they look lovely! They were all so thrilled to get a new dress!!

Processing...

As we are down to single digits of days left at Smile Africa. My mind is running. I am trying to be "in the moment", but yet, I am excited to be home to see family, friends, and begin my new journey at Graduate School. There is so much to think about, how to say good bye, how to pack, to bring closure to this chapter in my life and how to prepare myself for re-entering home.

We are each reading a book called, "ReEntry". SO beneficial...(I suggest ALL short-term or long term missionaries read this book). It compares this journey of going to a different country, learning a new culture, language, and being totally out of your comfort zone to an astronaut on a space journey headed back home.

 It is life changing..... and hard to explain. 

I have no idea how I will react to the materialism of the Western World, or the reactions to the stories I tell from my experience here. I know I have changed, but I can't really tell how.....yet. I want to say an apology prior to my returning, for all of you who I will see, for an irritated attitude, or drifting off and daydreaming. It will be hard to grasp the difference between life here and there. 

I do know that this journey has changed my life. I am so thankful God gave me the courage, strength, and support around me to do this, He is preparing me for......something. It has been good to chat with our fellow short-termers who have come and gone. To hear their experience of returning home. I know it is something that I cannot compare life here to life at home....you just cannot compare. It is like a whole different world. 

Simon, is getting so big!

Smile Africa = Happy

Sweet Hugable Richard!

Paulo giving me a nice camera smile :)

Logose is getting so big!

Precious.

More PICTURES!!! haha I just have to share them! It wouldn't be fair if I didn't.

SIMON!!!!

We call this one "Little Monkey"- he loves to just cling on to you with the biggest hug!

BLESSING/RICHARD!!!! 

Precious Esther! :)

Paulo....He could be a model someday! haha

Juma, juma!

Olupot!....doesn't this just make your heart melt! So stinkin sweet!

The Last Supper

Last Saturday we had an "Appreciation Lunch" for the staff. We wanted to do something for all of them to let them know we appreciate their work at Smile Africa, because we know it is a very draining and difficult job. But they are there because they love on these kids like we do.
The staff has been such great friends to us, welcoming us with open arms, helping us with the language, learning cultural differences, and just having fun together!
We will miss them all dearly!
Pastor Ruth as well has been such a blessing. I am so thankful God placed this vision on her heart to start Smile Africa because without that we wouldn't be there. She has been such a good host to us, and our Ugandan Mom! Smile Africa has been such a blessing and will continue to be when I leave.
When we arrived  for the day we all had our hair down, which is rare because the kids just like to play with it and pull it. So they were all surprised, it was really quite funny. Then Doris, an administrator, had brought us Gomasis! So we each put one on and they were so thrilled to see us in African dress! It was a fun afternoon of sharing appreciation stories, and enjoying a meal together!

It is hard to describe all the emotions, thoughts, and unknowns of leaving a country you have gotten used to to go back to one you have always known.

It is definitely bittersweet.

Traditional dress!!!

Ugandan African Gomasi!

Holly, Baby Sam, JaJa Grace, Sarah, Margaret, Baby Christine, and Me!

I can't NOT share these with you!

With only a few short days left my camera has been very busy! I have been trying to take photos like crazy even though I know I have pictures of most of these kids already! They are just too precious, I can't help it! 

It is going to be awful to say goodbye on Tuesday....pray for me!

Enjoy!!!

I spy with my little eyes....

Babies eating porridge in the morning! 

Someone donated money so the kids could have some fruit with their lunch!

Oranges!!!

Richard...I will miss this sweet boy!

Our last time having the girls over for a movie, popcorn, and some nail painting fun! The little one in the front is Pastor Ruth's daughter...Esther!