The Long Walk GoodBye

The ¾ mile walk from the Church to the Hospital never felt so long.  We spent our last night in Quiche with our ministry contacts, Pastor David, Lole, Rene, AnaLu, and Julio. 

For church they invited us each to share something God has put on our hearts about our time with them.  We already shared breifly at each church service we attended; given our testimonies, shared something God was teaching us in Quiche, and now, we had more of an open forum to share whatever God was laying on our hearts.  I will go into more detail in my next blog about what God has been laying on my heart.

Then, the youth got up and did a Drama for us!  I cried so hard.  It is such a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done in my life!  I know what it is like to be romanced by the Lord, to be distracted by things this world has to offer, and then have Jesus fight for me, and take me back as His own.  So powerful!

P9300061 from Michelle Close on Vimeo.

After church, we shared a meal together, and proceeded to set up our sleeping pads in the church downstairs.  The family tried to insist that we take their beds and they would be missionaries for the night, but they had already given us too much!  So we proceeded to set up down stairs.  One of my team mates only brought his sheet (his sleeping pad was broken and he didn’t have a sleeping bag).  He was perfectly content to sleep this way.  Next thing we know, Pastor David is rolling a mattress down the stairs!  This family loves us so well!  Then, we all snuggled in and watched Toy Story.  We had Rosita with us, one of the orphans the family works with.  She spends the night with them about once a month.  They also take in orphans when they get sick so they can get some extra TLC.  They serve and cook at the orphanage regularly and the kids come to church with them often.
(I wanted to add pics but the Internet is too slow, there are pics on Facebook of our sleepover)

Speaking of coming to church, please pray for El Classico.  It needs some serious TLC, but Pastor David uses it to faithfully pick up and drop off people for church.  This is a family who gives all they have, and trusts God to provide every step of the way. 
The next morning, we shared a quick breakfast before the kids had to run off to school, and we had to get back to base to load up and leave with the Squad.  It hurt so bad to leave.  We love this family so much!  Rene was the first to go, but my heart wanted to call out after him as he raced down the stairs.  The walk home never felt so long.  Most days, Rene, Ana Lu, and Julio walk back with us to the Hospital.  They come for no reason at all, just to be with us!  Sometimes, even Pastor David and Lole would join us!  But not this morning.  This morning, we took the slow, sad walk alone.