The end is near. As I type this, we're headed back to Virginia to meet up with the other two teams (I am excited to meet the other kids for the first time!) We'll all be together for several days, and then the Nepalis (including Prava :/ ) leave THIS Sunday. Several days later, the Ugandan kids leave, and then I'm officially done on Wednesday.
I'm just enjoying these last moments with our team....we have grown to be like a family, spending every day of our lives together since September. We've laughed a lot, cried, and have seen each other through many frustrations.
Yesterday was our last full concert (the Nepali kids won't be in next Sunday's concert, since they'll be gone.) Prava, Taylor, and I definitely shed some tears...I was quite emotional, but I held it together as best I could--for the kids' sakes. Some of them had eyes filled with tears, but they were troopers and did a wonderful/enthusiastic performance.
I'd like to ask for your prayers during the next 9 days. I'm praying that God gives all of us strength during this emotional time (ESPECIALLY the kids, as I know it will be tough for them to say goodbye to us and return home).
I'll leave you with some interesting information. This was stolen from Taylor's blog....she calculated these numbers to her best ability.
During the tour:
39,000.... miles driven
60,000... adoring audience members
195... concerts
160... different cities/churches
160... different host families that have spoiled the children (and me ;)
way too many (for me, at least 200)... meals eaten in restaurants (blech! From now on, I'll probably only eat out five times a year.)
440... different gas station visits
70... games of Phase 10 the Aunties have played
20... bottles of Dramamine purchased for all our kids who throw up regularly on the bus
50... number of times the Dramamine hasn't worked and children have thrown up into plastic bags on the bus (always pleasant!)
800... children who have gotten sponsored (food, clothing, medical care, Christian education until they're 19 years old!) by our team
560... bathroom trips with all 13 kids
40... fried chicken & green bean dinners churches have provided us with
5... the longest time (in days) we have spent in one place
130... different parks we have visited for the kids to play
4... broken bones (all Ezera's fingers)
240... hours spent watching kids' movies (I usually read my book ;)
1,000,000 number of times someone has asked, "So, how did you get involved in this?"
1,000,000,000... number of times someone in a gas station/restaurant has looked at our group and said something like, "Now, what exactly IS this??? A fieldtrip or something?"
5... children on our team who have prayed to ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior!!!
Some of these things have been far from wonderful (all the fast food!), but we've made lasting memories with 13 precious children. Which of course is PRICELESS!
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