Orphanage Graduation and Goodbyes

Trip Start Mar 17, 2005

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Trip End Mar 13, 2006

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Flag of Philippines Bacolod, Philippines
Saturday, April 9, 2005

Our last few days at the orphanage were so fun, and yet so sad as we knew our time was coming to a close. The kids have warm up even more than we could have imagined. Now it is all too common for them to come running over to us and hug our legs as we walk. They love to play with Amy whether its jumprope or just sitting and playing with our camera, and I have spent hours playing soccer and basketball with them. I have to say my favorite thing is to hold them up closer to the basket so that they can shoot, make it, and then watch the big smiles on their faces! They keep running up to me saying "I want to dunk, I want to dunk". It's the cutest thing ever.

Thursday was the graduation ceremony for the kids graduating kindergarten, junior high, and high school. It was so cute to see them all dressed up in their little graduation outfits, they even had tassels just like in the states

Bobbie & Joe Rosmarino who run the orphanage

. They sang songs about Jesus and Amy and I couldn't help but tear up numerous times as they sang things like "I don't know much about hearts and things, but you were a kid like me, so remember me when I'm small." The most touching part of the ceremony was when the most outstanding student award was given to Mary Ann, and child with brain and lung cancer. Though she can't really talk or express much due to her illnes, when she was wheeled down the center aisle she had tears of joy running down her face. The whole place could hardly contain themselves.

Finally, after being with the kids for a full week, it was time for us to move on in the Philippines, but it was extremely hard to do so. We shared a special time our last night with Joe and Billie and the rest of the staff, and we feel like we have become part of their family, and know so many of kids by name. Yesterday morning before we left we hugged all the kids. Some of them wouldn't let go of us, and some even wrote us some notes to take with us, which we read on the plane. We left teary-eyed, but felt so blessed to see how we were led to this place. We pray that they feel blessed by us as well. Beyond just the relational aspect, I was able to design and build a simple database for them to help organize all their information and run the types of reports they typically need. They were so appreciative and said that they have been praying for a long time for someone to be able to do this for them, and we pray that it actually works long term and suits their needs!

We are now on a small island East of Bacolod for some time to relax on the beach, but we'll write more about that later as this is our first full day...

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