It's been almost four days since Dovey left and sometimes it's hard to believe she was even here at all. Her stay in India was a whirlwind and those 10 days flew by incredibly fast. On her last night we were invited to a program put on by all the kids. Stanish was the MC, the kids sang and danced and we were once again presented with garland leis from the three youngest. Dovey was given a beautiful framed drawing by Stanish and we were thanked by George and the wardens for all we have done. (He said that the program was a goodbye for the three of us because they couldn't bear to do it again when Nina and I left.) But the most touching moment of the night came from a heartfelt speech made by 16 year old Ganesh.
Siblings Nakshathra (10) and Ganesh (16)
Ganesh is the sweetest teenager I have ever met. He is Nakshathra's big brother and is so caring and loving towards her it melts my heart. He stood up in front of everyone and gave a tearful and shaky reflection (in Kannada translated by George):
'I thank God for this time. I thank God for this precious time.....I thought that I lost everyone and didn't have any relationships in my life. I was all alone. I thank God that God has given me such a wonderful children's home. After coming to this children's home, I got a good father, mother, brothers and sisters. I thank Papa and Mama [George and Jyothi] for giving me a good education. After coming here, I never felt a lack of anything. I thank Diane Aunty for coming in our midst. The three of you [Dovey, Nina, and I] helped us a lot. I thank you for all that you have given. I thank God that you not only came here, you also prayed with us and you ate with us and you played with us. I thank God for this time.'
It was both heart wrenching and touching to watch, especially as Nakshathra began to weep in the front row as she listened to her brother speak. The two have been through so much together and because of George and his family, they now have a home and a family of their own. After the program I sought out Ganesh and gave him a big hug and thanked him for his words. He just held my hand and asked 'When will you be back Aunty?' Others begged 'Please don't go Aunty,' and it was all I could do to not lose my composure.
This is going to be the hardest goodbye I have ever had to make. It certainly is the longest; it seems that we've been preparing and good-bye-ing for the last few weeks. I have learned not to bring it up around Nakshathra because she ends up in tears at the very mention of our departure. She is going to be especially hard to say good-bye to. We have been with her pretty consistently from the get-go and she has become very close to our hearts. She reminds me a little bit of myself, quiet at first, then super silly and rambunctious, but ultimately pretty fragile. I wish I could take her and her brother home with me, though I think I could say that for all of these kids. We have one week left at New Hope and it's going to fly by. Pretty soon it will be hard to believe I was here at all. I have a while yet before I return home to the US, but leaving here is going to feel a lot like leaving home. Because that's really what this place has become.
