joy. and then tears.

Flashback to Semana Santa, Easter weekend. We piled the girls into the back of the blue truck, drove through sugarcane fields and down roads lined with mango trees smelling like over-ripe squished mangoes. Spirits were high, and the girls were singing over and over, "adonde va? adonde va? a campo alegggriiia!" After more beautiful pastures and newly planted cane fields, we arrived at the camp, started by people from Maine, and used their lake beach. The waves were big enough to knock a 10 year old over; we loved it and came back the next day for more! Notice David in the background. Some Nicaraguans don't prefer sun.

The kids went back to school on Tuesday, after a week of fun and games. I was at the house all day Tuesday and left alone with the 9 kids at supper time. I did manage to re-heat some rice and soup and boil some plantains and keep somewhat of a peace in the house. When everyone (Mike and Joan, the house mother, and Hazel) came back to the house, they explained the nightmare. The government agency that places the kids with us, Mi Familia, decided they needed to remove the kids from the house--that day. They had convinced them to wait until morning, time for the lawyer to come from Managua, time for us to tell the kids and get them packed up. The kids went to school the next morning (Wednesday march 26), met with the psychologist (who has been helping them transition into the house and deal with their problems) and found out they were being placed in different orphanages, ate lunch, packed up, and said goodbye to their new family.

We had less than 24 hrs to mentally prepare and pray. The girls had about 3. It was a terrible week. There are a lot of legal details and mistakes and the situation is complex. Simply put, Mike and Joan have been working to receive their official license for 3.5 years and they are within a few months of completing the process. Mi Familia, knowing their license status, placed kids with them, understanding that they were getting cared for. With the new government last year came a stricter interpretation of the law, and someone decided now was time for all children to be legally documented, which includes removing kids "illegally" placed and putting them in a center that is properly documented. Yet, in the following days and weeks, it turns out that Mi Familia was not legally able to do what they did, and it certainly wasn't in the best interest for the kids, one of their main policies.

If my explanation doesn't seem to make sense and you have a lot of questions, welcome to our world. It doesn't make sense. period. The girls went to different centers around the area. Typical centers/orphanages with many children, a bit different than the family setting that was being created at our house.

The following pictures were taken as a last fun family time--on the porch, all packed and waiting to be picked up.

All the kids, Mike and Joan, and I.

Julietta and I got along wonderfully. We are in the middle of a dog pile, and she was trying to suffocate me.

Juana, Julietta, me, and Daniella hanging out one more time.

As to what is next? not sure. Reflect. Pray. Wait for the licence. Continue working with the other ministries we are involved in. Clean stuff (like the stove).