Goodbyes

So, I write this in the Santa Cruz airport, trying to kill time before my flight takes off in a few hours. It hasn´t hit me yet, that this experience is over. I still expect to wake up on my top bunk to Allison´s alarm clock, greet the boys downstairs when we go for a run (tomorrow we have 23 vueltas), and then head upstairs for the Bolivian traditional ham and cheese sandwich for breakfast. Today was such a whirlwind, and the hours flew by. Before I knew it, dinner was ready and we had to eat and run. This week, the kids headed back to school, so I had to say my goodbyes to some of them in the middle of the day. I decided to ride the bus with them to drop them off at their school, and just like that, they filed off the bus hurriedly as I said my goodbyes. The boys that go to school in the mornings were at the Center when I left, but scattered all over the place... A few of the grandes awaited me with cards and hugs, and all the medianos and pequeños were around to shower me with love and ¨¡no te vayas!¨It was special to see them wave as we shut the door to the trufi, and then to see them continue playing, signaling to me that life will go on, but it will never be the same as it was, because we have all been touched by one another. Obviously if you are trying to say goodbye to 76 people, you´re gonna miss saying goodbye to a few. But it was just SO HARD pulling away, as face after face crossed my mind, boys that I didn´t get to tell one last time how much they are worth, how much I love them, how much I will miss them, and how I will NEVER forget them. There was a literal feeling in my heart that it was in my stomach as we made my last drive into Cochabamba...

My heart is so intertwined with the BLC, and as I sit here, heading home, I have SUCH fervant yet opposite emotions. While I am so sad to leave Bolivia, I have a peace knowing that the BLC and the boys I have met and befriended this summer will always be a part of my life. I am not sure how yet, but even now as I sit here, I have a feeling of peace that this was not my last journey to Bolivia. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me and my 76 new brothers. I have never had brothers growing up, but now I do. I am SO THANKFUL for this journey this summer (Bolivian winter), and I am sure I will continue to see how it shapes my life from here on out.

The internet store is closing now. It´s not goodbye, it´s see you later Bolivia!! =)