The final days

I am officially down to my last few days in Africa. My experience has been extremely memorable and life changing. These last couple weeks have left me feeling blessed beyond comparison; from getting to celebrate 25 years with Nairobi Lighthouse Church, to spending a week in Apt. D with 11 children, to spending time with friends. It has blessing after blessing. In church last weekend the church recognized mothers for Mother's Day. I was sitting with one of the boys, Alex when they asked all mothers to please stand. Alex could not understand why I wouldn't stand up and kept telling me that I was just like a mother to them and NEEDED to stand up. He pleaded with me, pulling on my arm, begging me to stand up just like all of the other mothers....I didn't stand, which upset Alex very much....but my heart was touched and I felt more honored than almost any mother in that room.  Another huge blessing this week included the celebration of a birthday. Here it is custom for the birthday person to serve the first pieces of cake to people of importance; mothers, fathers, aunts, ect. Evans, the birthday boy, brought me a piece of cake. I know for some of you that probably sounds like something silly to make a big deal out of, but I was so touched that I could barely accept the piece. Now, I am not sharing these things to try and brag about "how big of an impact that I must have had on these small children." This is not the case at all; these children are the most loving and accepting children you could ever meet. They love everyone this much. I am sharing these things to help express the impact that these children have had on my life, melting my heart with each smile. Because of them my eyes have been opened to a new and purer love. I know that leaving in a few days is going to be extremely hard, but I know that it is time for the next step. As I prepare to go, I know that I am leaving a changed person and will forever carry a piece of Africa and these children in my heart.