Saturday - Goodbyes

It was our final church service today.  Once again jammed packed to the doors, the sunday school  filled to the brim, and then  the big changeover from first to second service.  One hostel has 96 kids.  Can you imagine getting then all ready for church.  When we came out from the first service, there they were all lined up outside the church, quietly waiting for their turn to go in.  After church, I had to reinterview a beautiful young women who I had talked to before.  She wanted to tell her real story.  Previously,she had been ashamed (not that any of it was her fault) to talk about it.  We sat up in the church office, with my lovely little interpreter  (who is so quiet and gentle with the girls) and she sobbed her way through her horrific story.  I was no better.  It is so difficult to comprehend how human beings can treat each other the way they do.  After it was over, we were all pretty wrung out.  But after lunch, we went to say our goodbyes at Tusal hostel,which is near here,and where the young woman lives.  It was a happier time.  They all sang Nepali songs to us, and then took the floor in little groups and danced their beautiful Nepali dances for us.  Even the tiny little toddlers get up and try.  Of course, it is expected that we will do the same and they enjoy our fumbling attempts.  The four little boys from the  mountain were there, still very shy and quiet.  A little overwhelmed by their surroundings, having been all their lives in a remote little mountain top village.  I am looking forward to our next visit to see them at school in their little uniforms.  There is a young mother with two small children who lives at the hostel (her story needs a small book to tell) who works there cleaning and cooking.   She is so poor but today she shyly unwrapped a small gift for me.   A lovely bracelet in all the beautiful Nepali colours.  It is so humbling.  I wondered how she could ever afford it.  I will treasure it.  We were also given a couple of other little gifts from the houseparents.  They are very dear to us.  Tomorrow is our last day, and we have a visit to one hostel to deliver letters from their sponsors and get photos of them.  Then at 6 p.m. we fly out.

Robyn