Here is the article that I wrote, this summer for the Crossings Newspaper.(the Oak Hills Newspaper)



The first time I laid eyes upon the Land of Judah Orphanage on Saturday morning, I saw children jumping up and down. As we drove into the orphanage gates, the children were so excited to see us that they couldn’t stand still. We were excited to see them, too. I quickly jumped got out of the van and walked over to say hi to couple of kids. As I was talking to them, a girl came up behind me and said, “Hello. How are you?” I was shocked to hear one of these kids speaking English. I turned around and there stood my friend Wendi. I met Wendi last summer when I went to Nicaragua the first time. We instantly became good friends. We would walk around the orphanage property and just talk even though, at the time, she didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Spanish. We communicated as if we were speaking the same language.
When Christmastime came around last December, and Journey Fellowship began to prepare boxes to send as gifts for the kids at the orphanage, I chose to send my box to Wendi. Now that I knew her, filling her box was easier and even more joyful. I could imagine her opening her box, looking through things chosen especially for her, knowing that I was thinking about her.
A whole year went by and the only time I had ever been able to communicate with Wendi was through a letter in the Christmas box. As the year passed I prayed for Wendi.
So you can imagine my surprise to hear Wendi speaking English! I introduced Wendi to my Dad. He was glad to put a name and stories with a face and a voice. The whole week Wendi stuck with me. Even though a year had passed it was almost as if we hadn’t been apart! As the trip went on we spent more and more time together, learning each others language, teaching each other new things and becoming better friends. When it came time to sing songs with the kids, Wendi helped me lead them. She shadowed me the entire week.
Now, on the last day, it came time for us to leave. The kids at the orphanage had prepared something special for the team. They sang us a song and danced a bit. Although we were sad to leave, we know we will return, and that is exactly what they are counting on. Just before we left, Wendi gave me a note that she had written. The note said how special my family and I have been to her, how much my dad and I had taught her, and that she was grateful God had sent us to her.
I think about Wendi every day and pray for her, too. I had one week to spend with Wendi and I made a friend for life.

~I showed this article to Wendi this last week when I went to Nicaragua. She was so proud of it! She showed it to everyone!~

Here is a picture of me with Wendi wearing the Shirt I gave her!

This christmas my mom got to return to Nicaragua. She was excited to see Wendi also. Wendi gave me a necklace as a gift. It is somthing I can remember her by.
-emily