you have stolen my heart.

Less than 5 days.

Today is the 5^th full day I have spent with the children here in Benin.

We walked to church. Then went over to the orphanage. (I drove the moto successfully by myself on the dirt road for the first time! Woot woot!!!) Ate lunch. (a delicious rice!) Did some work around the property and for ashley. Painted the girls’ fingernails and toenails. The boys got fish that they’ve grown out of their reservoir for us to eat. Tilapia…mmmm! It was so fun to see them all swimming around working together as they do so well to accomplish a task. (I'll post pictures of this later this week.) The clouds rolled in and it rained some and cooled down like you wouldn’t believe! We ate dinner and then Studied for the upcoming school week. Said goodnight and they went to sleep. Well, that is after I tried to much avail to have them all brush their teeth before going to sleep…impossible task. 

And here I am, realizing something I never thought possible…

It took less than 5 days for my heart to be completely stolen and captivated by their love.

I realize the majority of my adventure here is still ahead of me.

There will be many great days and possibly a few bad days…but I am already dreading the moment my arms hug them for the last time of this visit. 

Saturday night as we all sat in the gazebo together, playing games and laughing; as adjoke would cackle each time she drew a “draw 4 wild card” at uno, Clement was excitedly screaming when the dice would roll his way for left, center, right and Louise quietly sitting at the table, deciding her next big move at skip-bo...

My heart was overwhelmed with joy.

These are the moments I will treasure forever.

I sat back in my chair, waiting for my turn at Uno, and my eyes welled up with tears. 

Never before has my heart been filled with so much love. 

Never before have I witnessed such love so freely given and received.

If only we could all love like that.

If only I could learn to love like them.

Wrap our arms tight around the ones we love.

Look them in their eyes and tell them, “I love you” and mean it with every fiber in our being.

As we pulled away from the center Saturday night, augustin came to the car to tell Ashley and myself goodnight. The backseat of the car was filled to the brim with children, 6 boys and 2 girls. (Ashley and jon have some kids over to their apartment one night every weekend to stay with mama and papa, watch movies, and eat breakfast together.) Augustin leaned down to my window and said, “goodnight tata jill, sleep good!” then he said the same to Ashley. And Ashley looked him in the eyes and said, “goodnight augustin. I love you.” And without hesitation augustin smiled and said right back, “I love you mom.” 

With such clarity. 

Such sincerity. 

It was like he had never been more sure of anything else.

I want to love like that.

I want to be loved like that.

I am so thankful that these children and these people I am with are teaching me how to love and how to love well.

They have, in fact, stolen me heart.