January 23 - Adios Milagro!

A fun day is planned for the children with supplies purchased by American friends -thank you! Colored pencils, coloring books, and construction paper aplenty. The photo project is met with excitement as each child sees himself in full color. I wonder how many have ever seen photos of themselves. We set to work with colored pencils, decorating the paper border surrounding the photo. Some are minimalists - just their names and a flower or star placed strategically on the perimeter. Others fill the paper with super heroes and thunderbolts, animals and other unrecognizable figures. We tear pages from the coloring books - the girls choose pages from the princess book, the boys gravitate toward the dinosaur and animal books. Some things are predictable, even in Milagro. 

At dismissal, Lourdes tells them that it is my last day with them at San Martin de Porres; I fight back tears as they warmly applaud. Those with backpacks place their artwork in them for safekeeping; the others hold their masterpieces carefully for the walk home. They rise from their chairs and form single file lines, a few running back for a goodbye kiss.  I take one more photo - this time, a mental one that will remain with me always.