Happy, Sad, Angry, Content

I have so many emotions going through me right now, it is unexplainable how I feel. The past few days have truly been some of the best in my life. One moment that will live in my heart forever is when a little boy named Jose-Andreas didn’t want to leave me. I was in the preschool room on Thursday and played with the kids the whole day. It was nearing the end of the day and I knew I had to walk Jose-Andreas to the bus. Instead, his mother came and was trying to get him to leave. He was practically in tears when his mom tried to pick him up. As she was carrying him out the door, he was reaching back for me. This moment plays back in my mind continuously like a broken record.

            Saying goodbye to all of the children yesterday was incredibly sad. My heart actually felt like it was going to crack and shatter. The deep connections that I have made with these kids have made it that much harder to say goodbye. I had no idea that these children would change the way I saw the world, life, and myself. I am so much more thankful and appreciative for my family, friends, food, water, home, and health. Compared to these kids here my life is a fantasy. I believe with all my heart that these kids, who some Nicaraguans think are burdens, are put on this world to teach us about love, life, and trust more than any other normal person. After saying goodbye yesterday, we cleaned up and left the school shortly after. We are now staying in a large beach house for 2 nights. Despite the beauty, beach and ocean I would rather spend 3 more days with the children then stay here.