Giggles That Fill Your Heart

I know it’s been about 2 weeks since I got back but it feels like yesterday. I mean since Peru we have had a wonderful Spring Break with my closest of friends and family.  I had all last week at home to get caught up and start planning Spring 2013.  I rarely brag, cuz I really don’t have much to brag about but I must brag about Peru.  I am telling you this is the one trip that dug the deepest into my heart and to be able to share it with Lynette, Sara Brown and Joe was amazing.  I can think of few other times my heart has been so full. Yes, we saw Machu Pichu, Cuzco and lots of Inca walls but nothing is better than sleeping in a dorm style room and waking up to the sound of girls giggling in the bedroom below. I would be selfish not to say THANK YOU for supporting Matilda Jane and allowing me to do such great things.

To hear Joe tell me playing with the girls was his favorite part of the trip just reminds me it is not about the things we have, the things we buy nor the places we were able to go. It is all about the company you keep, the friends you surround yourself with, the family who is always there and above all it’s the love and need for human interaction. (Does that make sense? I couldn’t think of a better word.)  I think traveling all the way to Peru and then 6 very slow hours up a mountain (only appr 170 miles) would have certainly been categorized in the same rating as a trip to China or our trip to France had it not been for all these giggly girls. The landscape was beautiful though it has quickly faded  yet I cannot get the smiles and sparkling eyes out of my mind.

Carla (our production gal who’s been with us since Homegrown) has an Aunt is who is in charge of the orphanage (I’m losing my train of thought. Joe is sitting next to me doing homework.) So Sister Doris is everything you’d imagine. She is warm, welcoming, her eyes just capture your soul and you want to hug her all day long. And what I love best (being me) is that little itty bit of her that you can see sneaking out, the spitfire side! ha, I love that! Oh, we loved her.

Gosh, I feel like I am not doing my experience justice. It is s hard to describe a happiness like this. All I know is I have to figure out a way to help my girl, Madilia (above in photo with Lynette, her little sister is in photo with Sara Brown)and her 2 sisters. I could never separate them but I really want to be certain they have a great education and a good life doing whatever they chose. I want them to have options. I want that for all the girls.  Sister Doris was telling us that they are running into the problem of once the girls graduate high school not all of them have the opportunity to go to college or a vocational school. So Carla and Matilda Jane brought them up some sewing machines and a ton of fabric. It was what we could do to help. Carla will send some girls on  her team up once a month to train them so they will have a skill they can use once they are ready to leave the orphanage after graduation.

I could go on and on with all the things fluttering in my brain.  I do know I am going back in July. I need to do more. I need to be sure I am doing my best to help them get food, sanitation and an education. Gabe is sitting next to me snacking on popcorn and all I can think is, “Has Madillia ever had a snack?” Oh, I love those girls.