Petit Mwen

My child, Fery, who was in many a blog post while I lived down here is no longer a child- but a teenager.  We laughed today about how he now reaches my nose, whereas just two years ago he was barely at my chin. 

Mom, he asked me to take this picture and send it to you.  

"When are you coming back? I miss you!" he says.

Family Support

This afternoon Bonhomme fell off of the horse.  By the size of his wrist and the screams from him mouth, he had obviously broken it.  While Father Marc called for a car to the hospital, and Linda iced and wrapped, I went out to shoo the other children away from The Gate.  

Much to my surprise, I found yet another child crying his eyes out.  "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" "That's my brother!" Bossco could barely make out the words through his sobs.  In spite of myself, I smiled.  I hugged him and brought him into the Quad.  

Here is Linda- not hugging the broken child, but the brother of the broken child.  Now that is what I call brotherly love.

* Side note- It is 9:30 at night as I post this entry.  The car left for the hospital around 5, and it is just now getting back.  I asked Johnny our driver how our Bonhomme is doing and his response was, "There was no doctor in the hospital- it was too late.  We had to leave him, and he has to wait until tomorrow."  There is something wrong with this picture. *

  

The Gate

Anyone who has stayed in the Quad knows what this picture is, and what it represents... and they are probably smiling right now.

To me, "the gate" has been a barrier to give me some space, a meeting place to hold small conferences with friends, and more than anything else... the perfect feeling of what it would be like to be an animal in a zoo.  

I lived here for over a year, and never once took a picture of the kids at "the gate"... thought I'd do that now. 

Back Home

Here are a few of the beautiful faces that welcomed me back to Espwa.  

I have been gone for four months, but it feels like only a couple days- telling me that Espwa truly is a second home for me.  

I jumped right back into the swing of things, receiving hugs from the kids and Amanda, food from Linda, and "I have a job for you" from Father Marc. I couldn't have asked for a better welcome. 

I will be here for 20 days (but who's counting), and have a lot planned.  I will do my best to break my bad habit, and update my blog OFTEN.  I have learned to not make promises, and will not say "daily", but it will be often.  So be ready!