Wednesday, May 13, 2009

So, I'm actually writing this on Thursday because last night was SO late! On Wednesday we had to be at FAWE very early and I went to an S2 class. When we got there they were changing and we headed up for 'sports'. We played volleyball – I have bruises to prove it. Then we observed in a math class as well. After we were done I got to see my friend Anita who I've been emailing for a couple months. She is SUCH a sweetheart and I'm so happy I was able to see her again. Then we headed to a clinic near FAWE that one of the teachers suggested. It was a very small clinic and our 15 person group was a huge inconvenience. They would never say that, and they kept pushing us along, but I felt very uncomfortable. It was a good place for us to go and experience but it was not somewhere we should spend a lot of time. If we were able to DO something I would have loved it, but I felt so helpless. Then we had lunch and headed to the Women's Center. It was as amazing as I remembered. We went to the shop and then the national coordinator came to talk to us. We were going to go out and go down to their little classroom. On our way we went past the trucks and Guillaume told us that his wife had just had their baby! It was so exciting! We made plans so that we could let him go early and just take two trips everywhere. He was such a happy daddy! So we headed down to quickly finish our visit so he could get on his way. When we got down there they had chairs set up at the front of the room and about 20 women there. The director introduced our group and then introduced the center to us. They told us their stories and we told them ours. They are SO passionate and friendly and their stories are so wonderful. We are hoping to go back before we leave so we can learn more from them. Then we headed back to FAWE for our informal meeting with the girls that Anita set up. We cleaned out the truck so that Guillaume could go see his firstborn! He was so excited!
The meeting at FAWE was so great. The girls are all so intelligent and friendly. Everyone had a friend. Anita and I talked the whole time. She remembered everything from our emails – asked me about my job and graduation and everything. We had such great conversations. I gave her the journal and she LOVED it. She was so happy. She also gave me a BEAUTIFUL necklace which she bought. She is SUCH a doll. While we were talking she told me about how she loved to sing and she said she was in a little choir at FAWE. They sing when visitors come and they just sang for the Senate! They even write and compose their own songs! While we were leaving she asked if we were coming back and I said I didn't know. She said she wanted to sing for me before I leave. So she came to the car and sang to us. It was such a beautiful song. She is very quiet and reserved, but as soon as she started singing she shown like the sun! She sang loud and clear and SO beautifully. We were all impressed – some were in tears! Nakeesha took a video, which I'm SO thankful for! After FAWE we headed back to the orphanage. Because of sending Guillaume home early only one group went. It was kind of nice to have a smaller group. We brought soccer balls and frisbees...what a night! They loved it. We were there until well after dark, and after a while I had an excuse not to ever catch the frisbee – I couldn't see it! I also got to spend lots of quality time with Jeanine and Aimee...just what I've been needing! :-) My goodness I love those two girls! Then we made the long journey back to the hotel. You know you're in a good place when the hardest part of the whole day is saying goodbye!