First, thank you to all of the students here with our team! They helped Despina start her day with so many birthday wishes, kisses and hugs and they all sang to her in Spanish. They are all so great.
We started our day at the shelter again where many patients were already taken to the hospital nearby for surgery. The ones still in the shelter have surgery scheduled for another day this week. It's so amazing when the bus pulls up in front of the shelter and the kids instantly light up. They cannot wait for Despina and the high school students to get there. They run up and greet us immediately with hugs and smiles. We're starting to get to know many of them by name and they like to hold our hand wherever we go... Including Yionni Becker... The boy who's mom we couldn't find the first day.. How he got the last name Becker... Well that's a mystery. We always find him wandering and he's known by name. It's quite funny actually... "There's Yionni Becker".. We always say his last name because it seems so odd and funny for him. I'll post a picture of him when I take one. Such a rebel! Our hearts continue to be touched today as we bring toys out of our bag the children crowd around you. We've had 2 of them cry already because this is the first time they've ever had a toy. That's it... Just a small toy. Not an iPhone or a PS3 or a surf or skate board... A small ball or 3 crayons and a piece of paper. The Bishop of David came to the shelter today and we all... Patients, mothers, students, volunteers,... All... Held hands and prayed for the children receiving surgery and he told them they are all in God's hands. It was amazing looking around at all of us holding hands and praying together despite our differences. It literally made me cry.
Later in the day Despina, Jack and I went over to the hospital to check on patients coming out of surgery. Their parents were all holding them and didn't seem to want to put them down. They couldn't believe their children now had normal beautiful smiles. It was a short visit but we will go again this week and spend more time. On the way back we stopped and printed all of the pictures we had taken to give to the mothers. When I pulled them out they all crowded around me to see if I had one of their child. It was as though I was handing out money. It was crazy. They literally have never seen a picture of their child or of themselves. They wanted this more than anything. If I did not have one of their child they begged me to take one. It was so touching. I hope to have one for all of them by the end of the week to take home.
Now we're off to a dinner with the team where they have something special planned for Despina.
We started our day at the shelter again where many patients were already taken to the hospital nearby for surgery. The ones still in the shelter have surgery scheduled for another day this week. It's so amazing when the bus pulls up in front of the shelter and the kids instantly light up. They cannot wait for Despina and the high school students to get there. They run up and greet us immediately with hugs and smiles. We're starting to get to know many of them by name and they like to hold our hand wherever we go... Including Yionni Becker... The boy who's mom we couldn't find the first day.. How he got the last name Becker... Well that's a mystery. We always find him wandering and he's known by name. It's quite funny actually... "There's Yionni Becker".. We always say his last name because it seems so odd and funny for him. I'll post a picture of him when I take one. Such a rebel! Our hearts continue to be touched today as we bring toys out of our bag the children crowd around you. We've had 2 of them cry already because this is the first time they've ever had a toy. That's it... Just a small toy. Not an iPhone or a PS3 or a surf or skate board... A small ball or 3 crayons and a piece of paper. The Bishop of David came to the shelter today and we all... Patients, mothers, students, volunteers,... All... Held hands and prayed for the children receiving surgery and he told them they are all in God's hands. It was amazing looking around at all of us holding hands and praying together despite our differences. It literally made me cry.
Later in the day Despina, Jack and I went over to the hospital to check on patients coming out of surgery. Their parents were all holding them and didn't seem to want to put them down. They couldn't believe their children now had normal beautiful smiles. It was a short visit but we will go again this week and spend more time. On the way back we stopped and printed all of the pictures we had taken to give to the mothers. When I pulled them out they all crowded around me to see if I had one of their child. It was as though I was handing out money. It was crazy. They literally have never seen a picture of their child or of themselves. They wanted this more than anything. If I did not have one of their child they begged me to take one. It was so touching. I hope to have one for all of them by the end of the week to take home.
Now we're off to a dinner with the team where they have something special planned for Despina.
This boy laughed endlessly when I put my sunglasses on him. It was so funny. Everyone with a camera was taking pictures of him!
This is the bishop of David talking to all of the patients.
Natalia, one of the students with me playing with a child.
Holding Despina's hand all day. If she let go he'd grab it again!
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