You're finally here

One of my favorite moments from the trip was traveling from the local museum to a small shopping center. There were a few CI staff members and a few other sponsored children riding with us in CI’s van.

Daichela wanted me to sit next to her so she had me sit in between her and her brother and she had a few other little girls sitting beside her.

No one was really talking much on that short ride to the store but there was plenty going on and I tried to soak it all in. Jose was on my right looking out the window watching everything and everybody in the streets as we drove by. Daichela and Jose would look up and give me inquisitive looks every so often.

There were two little girls to my far left sitting on the other side of Daichela. They were neighbors and knew each other well and were singing a song the whole way to the store. I really wish I knew the words to it. It was an upbeat, chanting type of song and it sounded beautiful.

Daichela was sitting directly next to me on my left with a smile on her face and both of her arms wrapped around my left arm. She was holding on to me very tightly, as if to say “I’m so glad you’re here”.

The memory of this short van ride is very special to me.