Cristina and some of Dinoras daughters spent the morning with us. I helped two of Dinora’s daughters create email accounts so they can communicate with the women who will be giving them scholarships for high school and the university. It was really fun teaching them how to use email and also so wonderful to know we will have a way to communicate with Dinora and her family once I leave.
In the afternoon we were doing some painting with Ruth(a women we spend a lot of time with in the library)’s daughters. We decided to make a tree out of all our hand prints and the girls were loving it. We convinced Dinora and Ruth (40 year old women) to join in and so they painted their hands and added to the tree. We stood around looking at our work of art when Katherine, who is in 7th grade, turned to me and said “you should paint your face”. My initial reaction was no way since Dinora and Ruth were there and I felt I might get in trouble. But then she said it again and I couldn’t resist. I lifted my hand and placed it on my face and let out a scream. The girls and women went crazy. They couldn’t believe I actually did it. I turned to Dinora and said “te toca” (it’s your turn). She slowly backed away so I quick grabbed her around the shoulders and pulled her closer to me. I felt my heart flutter as I raised my hand and the thought that she might be mad passed through my head but it passed quickly as I lovingly placed my green and red hand to her face. She doubled over in laughter and was just as shocked as I was that I actually did it.
Hands passed from face to face as bright colors filled the faces of every person in the room. It was a moment of pure love and joy that I will never forget. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to spend so much time in Las Delicias. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would fall in love with so many beautiful women and children in a small canton in El Salvador.
We had our final day of praxis yesterday and it was a good but hard day. When we arrived they had decorated the library with bright streamers and balloons. We made pupusas with the 3 women who I have become closet with and had a wonderful morning joking around. We shared a final lunch and I remember looking around at each women who had dedicated so much time to my experience and I know I will never be able to thank them enough.
Kids and families started arriving around 1:30 for the despedida (the going away party). We all sat in a circle and played a few games. Then Cristina said some nice things about us and we responded with our own words of thanks. The 3 women, Dinora, Ruth and Isabel whom I have come to love, each spoke about our time with them and what it means for them to have us leaving. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life and brought tears streaming down my face as I felt my heart aching, never wanting to leave them.
The party continued with cake and a piñata. The party calmed down as people began leaving and we were presented with amazing gifts and cards. We hung out a while more and I started dishes with Ruth, Dinora and Katherine when we were told the bus had arrived for us to leave. I resisted as long as I could be eventually we had to walk to the front where the bus was waiting. My whole body was telling me to stop walking but that one logical part of my brain made me put one foot in front of the other. I started hugging and saying good-bye and felt my heart breaking. It hurt so much to feel like I was abandoning my new family. Everyone was crying as I had to pull myself away to get on the bus. I remember turning around at the last second and see them standing in a group with tears falling from each face and my heart broke again. All of them will be coming to the final despedida on Sunday so I can’t even imagine how difficult that day will be.
The people of Las Delicias have changed me forever. They have filled my heart more full than I thought it could be. The end is so painful but I guess that means we have loved each other fully. I will never forget these incredible people and they will always have a special place in my heart.
