Have I ever been this happy?

Everything has gone about as perfectly as I could've hoped.  The flights were long but the boys never complained.  They slept through the entire second flight.  All our bags arrived and we got to Anna's house around 11:30pm.  The boys had trouble sleeping that night.  New smells, darkness, and unfamiliar territory.  I stayed up with them playing shoots and ladders and then we read a little in our book (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian).  I didn't sleep at all that night.
In the morning the boys took a shower via a bucket and I made them eggs.  Again, they did not complain.  I had to laugh a little remembering times when Darren bawked about putting up chairs after Advisory. 

When we arrived at St. Mary's yesterday around 1:30pm, it was like we had reached home.  Brother Dominic is now the head brother at St. Mary's-- Brother Paul transferred but is coming to see us on Thursday.  Brother Dominic is from NYC!  The Catholic order is Brother de la Salle.  Their brother schools in NYC are St Peter's in Staten Island, St. Raymond in the Bronx and..............Bishop Loughling in BROOKLYN where both Kahlil's parents graduated from and which is around the corner from my school RELC .  Coincidence?  I don't think so.

So Brother Dominic has us set up beautifully.  The boys have their own room and bathroom (shower with hot water), and I am nearby.  He's cool.

Seeing the boys from the Rescue Center, specifically Benson, Godfrey, Simon and Dennis is competely surreal.  Those four are the ones I worked with the most when I was here in 2008.  It's hard to even express.  They are SO happy, and have completely taken Darren and Kahlil under their wings. They wanted to tell me how well they are doing in school; and we will go with them one day this week so I can speak to their teachers.  They have two more years in primary school and then they hope to attend Secondary School at St. Mary's. 

 Darren played his first soccer game our first day.  Basketball is non-stop- the boys love watching them play. 

The rooster outside Darren and Kahlil's room is a newness, as is the food.  I can't get them to eat anything.  Thank God they prepared hamburgers last night.  This will be a bit of a challenge.  Everything they have tried so far, they have liked...but they are resistant. I made eggs this morning after church which was AMAZING (church I mean, my eggs were not bad).  A huge hall of boys SINGING and DANCING.  There are about 140 boys at the Rescue Center but about 400 at the Secondary School (which for most is a boarding school), so the weekends are FULL of boys. 

We now just walked into town with my six sons :-).  I looked back to see Kahlil laughing with Dennis, and Simon had his arm around Darren.  They haven't stopped smiling, and Kahlil and Darren have been extremely outgoing and friendly.  I can't get over how improved their English is! 

I have started a page in my journal called "Things Darren Says"....
on the plane he asked, "will we be up by the sun?"
on the plane he said, "how about we do a foreign exchange; I give you my fruit for your roll"
Darren calls me a hippie and at one point started singing, "Say it Loud; I'm a hippie and I'm proud."

Certainly there have been some rough moments (mostly due to a lack of technology and soda), but not many.....I'm completely impressed with how Darren and Kahlil have transitioned so far.  Darren in particular seems completely at home, and I know Kahlil just needs a little more time.  My motto has been just not to make things a big deal with them.  To give them space....and lots of affirmation.

Basically, I feel absolutely happy here.  Seeing these kids playing together is priceless, as is their discovery that they have much in common.  We are beginning to think about how we want to help the Juniors (the orphan boys at St. Mary's).  Darren and Kahlil think we need to get them shoes immediately..so that will be fun. Honestly, quite a few are wearing exactly the same clothes I remember them in from 2 years ago). Walking around town, Kahlil got a little mad at people staring at me, but he'll get used to it.

We have not handed out the t-shirts yet....but of course the balls have been a big hit.  
Well, we are off to find Kahlil a mango. 
Tomorrow they can see what the one room school house is like and perhaps try a little teaching.

Peace.