Goodbye, School Kids! :( (4-6-12)

I was right, saying goodbye today was rough.  We went to the kids soccer game this afternoon and had a lot of fun.  Lots of the kids showed up, which was wonderful.  We told them it was our last day and that we were flying to America tomorrow, which resulted in many, many, mannnny giant hugs.  The entire time, it was looking very dark...a big storm was clearly coming!  We were hoping that it would hold off until the end of their games, because we certainly didn't want our last day with them cut short.  Thankfully, it didn't start downpouring until we walked into the door to our house.  I mean literally, we shut the door and buckets of rain started falling.  Good timing! 

We had a pretty huge group that walked us home today, all fighting over who got to hold our hands.  When we got to our street, the real goodbyes began.  It wasn't soooo bad just yet, because the kids we were closest to were walking us all the way home.  As we stood outside our house saying goodbye to that group, I basically almost lost it.  I may have cried a little, but Kendra was holding it together so I tried my best!  It was just so sad.  So many of them telling me that they love me, and thank you, and to come back to Ethiopia.  Solomon (who was also pretty near to crying) came up to me and said, "It is my only wish to come to America".  Oh my gosh, if I could take you, you amazing little boy, I would do it in a heartbeat.  Honestly.  Him and another boy that I really like asked me when I would come back.  I told them that I was going to try my best to come back as soon as I can, which is most definitely the truth.  But realistically speaking, there's probably a good chance that I won't see them ever again and that's what kills me a little bit.  What if, for some reason, we can't write and keep in touch?  What if I never see them again?  How do I know these kids are still okay?  I know that they're used to living in the incredibly poor conditions that they live in here, but it's still so difficult for me to know that they'll be alright.  I don't think I've ever been this bummed about saying goodbye to anyone before.  It's just so hard!  I don't even know what else to say...we hugged them all about a million times, and then it was time to go inside.  And that was that.  There are a lot more goodbyes to say tomorrow, and then it's home to America for us.  I can't wait to show you all so many pictures and tell you even more about these fantastic children.  I miss them so much already.