Reflections...

I'm already back to reality, sitting at the Seoul airport in the Hub Lounge for 9 hours now, checking emails and Facebook, eating something other than rice and tofu, and not one mosquito or sweat bead exists. Strange as it may sound, I miss my other atmostphere "had" for the past two weeks. No one is giving me hugs, yet rather stares, for I'm the foreigner here right now. No one to de-lice or bathe, no one to bring fresh pineapple and watermelon to, and no one to read "I love you, Stinky Face" to in the melting sun. How quickly my service has ended, yet I know the extension of my love will last a long time in CHA's hearts. What I would give at this moment in time to have a little Cambodian orphan sitting right next to me, here in the airport, booked for my same flight, only to take them home and smother them with love, schooling and food. I feel ripped apart and it's only been a short time since we said our tearful goodbyes on Friday night.

I didn't mention the Friday night goodbye yet...it hurts my heart to think about it. I mean it when I honestly say our goodbye session lasted a good hour and a half. And I'm talking tears, real tears, sobbing and trying to hide it, laughter tears, hugs so strong I could feel the pain the kids were feeling from us departing. Every SCCS student cried, even Jack. What? Boys don't cry! Hardly. I felt a rush of accomplishment when I saw Jack crying, kids hanging on every inch of his body, crying along with him. Not once did one of the CHA children cry during our visit (except for ChonTim...mentioned in an earlier post), but Friday night was a different story. They tried with all their might to fight back the tears, as did we, but we couldn't hold back. You know when you try to resist crying and your throat starts to hurt? Yep...it didn't last long. I was genuinely upset, crying so hard at one point I couldn't breathe while hugging Nuch, because I hope and pray that they'll all be there the next I can visit. They told me that Jesus loves me and that I'll always be in their heart-in return, I told them to be strong, take care of each other, and keep smiling. I promised I would come back.


I miss them...