Halfway Home

I am writing this from the airport in Tokyo. I made it safely here and have two more flights till I reach home in St. Louis sometime this evening. I can't believe I'm sitting here waiting for my plane and that six months has already passed. My last night at the Home was as perfect as could be. Because it was also Ted's birthday, a bunch of the older kids that are in college or living elsewhere on the island came home to celebrate. It was a celebration even bigger than Chinese New Year. So many gifts, so much food and laughter, such a great testament to how much Ted has blessed the children and how much they love him.

So my last day was filled with celebration and thanksgiving. Jhong Hau was home and he took me on a scooter ride up to the tea fields on the other side of the mountain. Every turn he made, he leaned back and asked if I was scared. :) He also didn't have a helmet for me, so he told me not to tell my father because he might be angry at him. :)

After devotions, I gave cards/letters that I had made out to all the kids and got to watch more birthday festivities for Ted. The littlest girls put on a song/dance combo for him and the night ended with a ton of pictures and everyone spanking Ted's bottom- a birthday tradition at the Home.

Of course, I cried when saying goodbye to Show Hwa and to Meredith, but they were tears of joy as well as sadness. One of the older girls, Chyou Rho made me a card and gave me a milk tea for my ride to the airport the next morning. Such a sweet girl!

I have been so blessed by my experience here in Taiwan. Memories I will cherish forever and heart changes that I pray will last as I figure out the next steps for my life. Leaving the Home, I can say with a full heart that some day I will be back there again.

Looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family in a few hours and in the upcoming weeks!