It's taken me about a week to sort through my feelings enough to write about graduation last Sunday. I feel like a mother whose children have all grown up and moved away...an empty nest, so to speak. Only my kids will never call and there'll be no holiday visits. While I am very proud of every one of them, I'm also very scared for them. I don't know where they're going or who will be there to greet them. While they were here I felt like we could protect them from the hopelessness of poverty, the heartache of a broken family or the pain of illness. I know it was naive but I just knew that they were happier, healthier and safer here with us than out in the scary world they came from. So, I just couldn't understand why they were so excited and jubilant for this day to come. Sure, I know kids always look forward to the last day of school, but don't they know they may never see eachother...or me...again? Aren't they devastated or paralyzed with fear like me? I just couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that they would want to leave this beautiful, peaceful place....or me. But they did. One by one I have watched them drive away with family, friends and caretakers. And each time it's like they take another little piece of me with them.
And so here I am...an empty nest mom. I know that they do not go alone and the Lord is protecting them and I know that God could reunite us one day, but it's hard to see that through the blur of my tears. Even as I look at my own son, I cannot help but think that he is already looking forward to the day where he too will venture out into the scary world without me. I have poured my whole self into this ministry for over two years and now it's over and I feel empty. Several people have tried to console me by telling me that we have made a difference in these young lives. While that may be true, I can't see past the gift they have been in
my life. Their ministry to me has changed me forever and I am so grateful for this little bit of time God has allowed me to spend with them. I loved them before I ever met them and I go on loving them even when my nest is unbearably empty.
So, here they are...my kids on graduation day.
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| Me and Frankie |
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| CT, Arle and Luis Miguel |
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| Justo and Gelbert |
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| Rusbel |
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| Santiago, Gervin, Darwin and Dayer |
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| Eldar, Jose Elias, Jorge, Santiago and Rusbel |
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| Joe Daniel, Cristian Ariel, me and Luis Gerardo |
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| William and PK |
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| Milton and Bismar |
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| Me and Jorge |
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| Me and Fernando |
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| Jose Daniel and CT |
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| Frankie, PK and Victor |
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| Edwin, Joel, Eldar and Gervin |
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| Henry |
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| Elvis Renan |
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| Dayer |
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| Jose Elias |
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| Frankie |
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| Gelbert |
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| Rusbel |
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| Marvin |
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| Elias |
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| Bismar |
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| Rommel |
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| Darwin |
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| Fernando |
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| Graduates of primary and vocational |
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| Rommel |
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| Bismar |
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| Elvis Renan |
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| Darwin |
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| Henry and AT |
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| Elvis Renan and Me |
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| Elvis Renan |
