A Long Day

After the kids had arrived, I wandered around for a little while and watched the other sponsors talking to and playing with their kids.   Everyone has their own translator on Child-Sponsor visit day, and usually one family member comes with the younger kids, and also one person from their Project Center, so there were little groups here and there around the pool and snack bar.  

Then I decided to spend some time taking photos for Kimberlie, specifically of the flowers at the hotel.  Awhile back, in a letter, I had asked Kimberlie if she had any flowers where she lives-- because I love flowers.  She had written back and the translation said "there are no flowers in the area where she lives".  Interestingly enough, just before I got that letter, I had bought some pretty paper flowers to send her, so I sent them in my next letter.  Then, her next letter to me included a nice drawing with two flowers, similar to the purple and pink paper ones I had sent her!

Anyway, I had hoped to take a walk with Kimberlie around the hotel grounds and show her the beautiful tropical flowers, and since it didn't seem like that was going to happen, I decided to photograph some of them to mail to her after I came home. 

An orchid on a palm tree, and a close-up shot of it below.

Then I decided to go for a swim, so I swam out as far as you could inside the ropes, and floated around for awhile.  After that I took a walk along the beach.  All the while I was praying for Kimberlie.  Thankfully, it turned out that Jason's boy had been able to get there.  Becca and Jeannot were still telling me they weren't sure about Kimberlie.  They hadn't really been able to get much information because the cell towers in her area were without electricity.  I told Becca I was not going to come to lunch.  It just seemed like it would be too hard to be there by myself, while the other sponsors had their kids.  I said, "I'm okay, I'm just going to skip lunch". 

I went back to my room, in my damp, salty-watery bathing suit and found that the maid had come in and taken my towels!  I saw a maid working nearby, so I tried with my very limited Creole and by pantomiming, that I needed a towel.  It was rather funny but also kind of the "last straw".  Plus, about that time, Becca stopped to see me and she was so kind that I just lost it and started crying.   She didn't have any news but said she would let me know as soon as she did.  She asked if I would be able to stay longer in Haiti if they couldn't get Kimberlie there in time before the group's flight home tomorrow (Becca was staying the following week to escort another Compassion group so I wouldn't be alone).  I said I would be willing to do that if possible.  I also said the main thing I was concerned about was Kimberlie's safety. 

Becca returned in a few minutes with some towels... so I was able to get cleaned up and dried off.  Then I lay on my bed and prayed and shed some more tears.  I had been looking forward to spending this day with Kimberlie for about 7 months; so to say the least it was disappointing.  I was exhausted from the lack of sleep the night before, so I fell asleep at some point while praying.  The next thing I knew I was awakened by knocking at my door.  Slightly groggy from my nap, I opened the door and there was Becca, saying, "She's ON HER WAY!"