And then it Happened…

And then it happened…I left the school.

When we came back from the orphanage visit it was home time and there was a surprise waiting. The whole school was assembled and Brett (the other volunteer) and myself were called up the front. I had already been feeling a bit teary in the last two days, but this was the turning point, now the tears started rolling steadily. The whole school sang two songs to us – I tried to look as many in the eye as I could, but there were more than 150 kids and teachers.

It’s a weird feeling being in front of 150 kids and some adults and crying without any ability to stop. But at the same time it felt OK. I had been on a real journey with the kids and carefully put them into challenging and vulnerable situations (like solo singing and performances). Now it was my turn to be vulnerable.

When the songs finished they swarmed in, dozens of them. I was surrounded from all angles by kids saying goodbye, hugging me, handing over handfuls of little letters of love and affection, and threats of them hiding in my suitcase. It was very powerful.