75

January 20

I decided to go on a raw diet. For those of you who don’t know, that means I can only eat food that is raw.

(Hence the reason it’s called a raw diet.)

It also means I can’t eat a lot of things. Like rice and beans and stirfried vegetables and vanilla cheesecake and cookie dough ice cream and cheesy pizza.

Sometimes I don’t really make conscious decisions. It’s more like I’m with a group of friends and they’re hey like let’s go climb that mountain and I’m kind of in my own world but they decide to bring me along anyways and before I know it I’m like whoa. I’m at the top of a mountain.

Which is why a passing conversation with Kevin, Miguel, and Candace has since left me several times eyeing the Almond Sweet and Salty bars in the room and thinking about the Nutella hidden in my suitcase or the ten pound bag of pancake mix I brought from America (ridiculous I know I have come to full acceptance) and crying a little bit.

A lot.

But besides those moments of complete and utter despair I feel ABSOLUTELY GREAT. I probably have nutrients the size of this country going through my body right now and also I have drunk (drinked. dranken. dronkted. What is grammer?) a whole three fruit smoothies just today which is one of my favorite things ever next to random free back massages so I’d say it’s not too bad.

I shall now update you on the fabulous happenings of this lugar. That is Spanish for place.

For one, today I think I sweat out a pool. As dramatic and exaggerated as that may sound, I fear I might actually be being honest.

This morning we decided to hand weed the garden. That lasted about thirty minutes. We have now decided to slash the garden with the use of a weedwhacker and gasoline. I definitely voted in favor of that decision.

We’ve had different people and volunteers come through these past couple weeks. It has been so great getting to know new people who all have been so kind and generous and giving. There’s a lot of really good people in this world.

I’ve actually managed to stay on top of my laundry since coming back from America and I’m pretty impressed with myself and say this in hopes that you will be, too. Thanks.

Oh! There are two new boys, Kepler and Jay, who are going to go to school here next year and have moved in early. And they are keepers. I am so excited for them to be here this next school year.

I have decided to make cockroaches illegal.

Also the rule that you can’t eat nutella on a raw diet.

For a little while my bed was on too many mattresses as I stacked them up in order to be more comfortable. But the truth is it made my bed into a little bowl, one of which I was much too big for. So I kind of slept like the opposite of a baby, whatever that is. Whatever it was it was awful. But last night Candace and I took out one of the mattresses and now I am totes comf again. So all is well on that side of things.

And, in far more important news.

We have decided to accept up to 75 students this upcoming year.

Last semester the most we ever had was 49.

This is a huge step of faith. It is a huge leap. It is a huge change.

Instead of living with eight little boys, I will now live with eleven or twelve.

Oh my goodness. It can seem overwhelming.

But whenever we are sitting there together talking about it? Whenever I see new, taller stacks of plates and bowls in the kitchen? Whenever I see bunkbeds being moved and built?

I think of all the kids I have met and gotten to know in these past five months. I think about how much I love them.

And I mean this sincerely when I say it: I love them more than words could ever explain. I love them. So. Much.

And then I think of all the new kids that will be coming, who I get to cook for and tuck in at night and teach and help and be “Teacher Darian” to….

and oh my goodness. I cannot wait.

I just cannot get over the fact I get to be here. I cannot believe I get to be with these kids.

And I can't believe I get to meet and love even more.

I am so thankful.

I am so thankful to be in a place where the gates are open, new challenges are accepted, and every little kid that enters is loved. Even if there's a whole 75.