How quickly strong connections can form which make it so hard to leave! Were we truly only there for 3 or 4 hours? Somehow even beyond the tours, the assembly and the planned activities, there was time to talk, to share, to build relationships. The time spent waiting for lunch was filled with football (the REAL football), with conversation and with getting to know each other. Especially compelling were three new, younger children who were left with Gomez and YouthCare “temporarily” by city authorities who could not trace their parents and had no other way to care for them. Mada, the little boy in the yellow shirt, and his two older sisters Brandina (in the white dress) and Natasha (in the maroon dress) have now been at YouthCare for five months, and Gomez is working with the city to have the children formally given into the care of the ministry. Both Mada and Brandina enjoyed learning how to take pictures with my camera, and several of those photos appear below (including the one of me taking a picture of Mada taking my picture!). Brandina quickly grew attached to Char, and as you may notice in one of the pictures, was very emotional when we were giving last hugs and saying goodbye. Siena was a real hit among the older kids, since she speaks the international language of football quite fluently! I think the boys were a bit surprised at watching a girl who could really play. And all of us – Team UPI, Gomez, his school staff and operational staff – really appreciated the incredible hospitality of the delicious lunch prepared especially for our visit, as well as the devotional time that followed. What an AWESOME day!