Kirsten & Laura

Friday, April 18, 2008

I Will Always Remember.........

To LAUGH often, to win the affection of children, to earn the APPRECIATION of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate BEAUTY, to find the BEST in others, to leave the world a bit BETTER, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch....to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have SUCCEEDED!

-Emerson

Friday, March 28, 2008

Last Night in Morocco

Khadija doing henna on Kirsten

Laura getting henna

Henna is made from crushed up leaves from a tree. They crush the leaves then add lemon, black pepper, sugar and water

Brenda- showing off her henna

Bye Bye Babies-thank you for what you have given me

My favorite lil boy "Saleh Hodine"

Workers and Saffa and Farra

In the playpen

Outside of Orphanage

Sister Maria making lunch at the Orphanage. (couscous always served on fridays in Morocco--even at the Orphanage)

Goodbye and thank you Morocco

My last day at the orphanage....I new it would pull at my heart strings but not to the extent that it did. As I dressed the children/babies this morning I found myself holding them a little longer kissing them a little more and looking into there big brown eyes a few extra times. These babies ....oh my god, I am so in love with each and everyone of their sweet little innocent spirits. They didnt ask to be here and they are, for good or for worse ,it is such a survival course for them. As the morning progressed , unlike the other mornings ......the hours seemed like minutes they time flew by and I hated it, my time was coming to an end. I hope with all my heart that my time here(though only a drop in a bucket) that they (babies/children) felt a little more loved a little bit more important and if only for a time a bit more safe. The nurses and care takers do an amazing job but how do you deal with this many infants ...and give them the attention they truly need? You simply don't, they have to be very rigid and very systematic to make it through any given time on any given day. Today the "twins" adoptive grandma was there to visit and that was,WOW...to see the love that she was sharing with her two grand daughters and to know they were both be leaving(next wednesday) to have a "family"! It was beautiful! Next a man came from Florida to see the son he would be taking home next week also. This was the only time we saw first hand the one on one towards the end of the adoption process and to be on our last day (already emotional)was an added bonus to this entire experience. As I fed two of the children lunch I watched each bite taken and though not eating with them got as much pleasure feeding them as they did filling up. Every act of care for them today just tore me apart. I was here I gave and they gave me back so so much. Thank you Morocco and thank you babies....I do love you and will always wonder if a pair of big brown eyes in some corner of the world is you. Laura

Colors of Morocco

Kirsten learning to belly dance

Kirsten and Stephanie in Essaouira

What a humbling experience this has been, I will always remember the wonderful food, friends and friendly people I met here in Morocco.

"All the colors of Morocco"

Mom asked me if I was to write a book what would I title it.... I think I would settle with, All the colors of Morocco. This experience has been so life changing. I just said goodbye to some of my closest volunteers, it was very emotional to see them walk out the front door for the last time. Since the first day of this journey we have all been together, seeing, experiencing, watching. laughing, crying, talking, barfing, eating, traveling and volunteering all as a group-- and now that grooup is disolving. I guess its something I always knew was going to happen, but I didnt realize the emotion I would be hit with when it did. Today was also my last day at the Family Protection Agency. I went to work today with candy for all the children to help in my farewell. It was an interesting day for me because I was really trying to absorb everything--to not miss any detail that I may not have been noticing before. Hyat brought in the coloring books that I had brought for "drerri" earlier this week and we colored pages from the books. Later on we went to the theatre room and the children danced for me. Towards the end of my day Jose (director of association) had all the children sit in a big circle with me in it as well. One by one the child came to me kissed me on each cheek gave me a hug and said "bye bye" Many of them added a "shukran" which is thank you in Arabic. It was so sweet to know that the association appreciated me being there and all the children cared so much as well. Its so difficult to put into words my feelings here, its sureal to know that this is coming to an end. I can truely say this experince is one in a million. I will never forget all the vibrant colors of Morocco.
Love-Kirsten