Dear Family & Friends,We are now home in our condo in California. It is so quiet without the laughter of 50 children playing in the yard.
There were many tears on the last day. As the children were wiping tears from my face, telling me "mum don't cry", I was reciprocating by wiping tears from their little faces. The walk to the taxi was very long and not long enough at the same time.
We thought we would have very organised and co-ordinated goodbyes; we invited each child into the room with us and said private goodbyes. We did not plan for how very heartwrenching the event would be.
Little Jeny Rai, in particular, ripped my heart out. Jeny was always infatuated with Tom and I was just the person who did her hair in the mornings. On the last day, she was not her usual outgoing self. Instead, she was very introspective and kept very close to me. She alternated from wrapping herself around my neck and tugging on my arm whispering "I love you, don't go". I kept asking myself how the children with biological parents could walk away from them without wanting to visit at every given opportunity or find a way to be with them full time.
Every child wrote us letters. They did not help the flow of tears. It became clear that the chidren were intrigued with a married couple who laughted and loved each other. If nothing else, we hope we have left the impression for both boys and girls that a marriage is a partnership rather than an abusive relationship.
Letters from the children have started arriving via email. We are definitely looking forward to watching all of these wonderful children bloom into fantastic adults. One of the first questions Nepali people ask is "Do you have children?", we can now answer "Yes, we have 50". We definitely have left a large part of our hearts in Nepal with the children and all the people who look after them at Papa's House.
If anyone has questions about volunteering at Papa's House or are sitting on the fence about an experience like this, do contact us. Everyone told us it was going to be a trip that would change our lives, they had no idea how right they were.
Sending much love,
Fiona
There were many tears on the last day. As the children were wiping tears from my face, telling me "mum don't cry", I was reciprocating by wiping tears from their little faces. The walk to the taxi was very long and not long enough at the same time.
We thought we would have very organised and co-ordinated goodbyes; we invited each child into the room with us and said private goodbyes. We did not plan for how very heartwrenching the event would be.
Little Jeny Rai, in particular, ripped my heart out. Jeny was always infatuated with Tom and I was just the person who did her hair in the mornings. On the last day, she was not her usual outgoing self. Instead, she was very introspective and kept very close to me. She alternated from wrapping herself around my neck and tugging on my arm whispering "I love you, don't go". I kept asking myself how the children with biological parents could walk away from them without wanting to visit at every given opportunity or find a way to be with them full time.
Every child wrote us letters. They did not help the flow of tears. It became clear that the chidren were intrigued with a married couple who laughted and loved each other. If nothing else, we hope we have left the impression for both boys and girls that a marriage is a partnership rather than an abusive relationship.
Letters from the children have started arriving via email. We are definitely looking forward to watching all of these wonderful children bloom into fantastic adults. One of the first questions Nepali people ask is "Do you have children?", we can now answer "Yes, we have 50". We definitely have left a large part of our hearts in Nepal with the children and all the people who look after them at Papa's House.
If anyone has questions about volunteering at Papa's House or are sitting on the fence about an experience like this, do contact us. Everyone told us it was going to be a trip that would change our lives, they had no idea how right they were.
Sending much love,
Fiona
