The morning started early with miracles like our bus arriving on time to pick us up at 6:30 am sharp AND our breakfast ready before the bus arrived. Arriving at the La Concorde it felt a little like Uncle Jed and Grannie throw back. We had a bus, moving truck and van. They were all filled to the brim. With belongings and people. Some like Connor Rick and Genevivie were sitting in the back of the open air moving van on some belongings. While others were in the van holding the younger ones on laps. Then there was a bus filled with children in yellow LTR tee shirts and Doug. The neighborhood was buzzing with excitement. As we waved good bye and headed to drive over the mountains. All was well except for Doug passing the kids "the bucket".
We arrived at the new site of La Concorde to be greeted by a long line of all the workers that had worked at the building site over the last 6 months. The children lined up and walked through the workers into the new dining hall. They then had a celebration of song and prayers so heartfelt not a dry eye in the room. The praise for gratefulness was an overwhelming expression of joy. Mama had her arms raised in praise to The Lord.
We then toured the site, the kitchen,the boys cottage, the girls cottage named for Eleanor Ochylski, the staff house and the great outdoors! There were beds for all, toilets, sinks with water running, showers, a bedroom and porch for Mama and Papa. The kitchen is spacious with stove, refrigerator and deep freezer! Missing some content like fork, spoons and plates but we are on our way to a new future.
We all wondered if the children we all know and love so much would be over whelmed and quiet or go wild with the joy of the experience. WELL they went wild! They ran and ran and ran all over the outdoors. Interesting many fell multiple times because they had never had room to actually run before. We had scrapes and lots of dirt. The older girls not having had a shower were all striped down in the bathroom taking a shower or two. They were truly singing in the shower. The talking, laughing and smiles were like nothing we all had ever seen before.
We then all gathered for a late lunch. ALL the children, all the guests and all the workmen! It was about 150 people eating a feast. We learned the workmen have gotten a noon meal daily working on the site that is part of their pay. It was wonderful chicken, hot dog, rice and juice!
The children continued to explore every inch of ground. They walked in the tall grass out back. They saw a cow over the fence and watched it munching grass, they learned about shade trees!
As those of us honored to be a part of something so much bigger than all of us we jumped in the back of the pick up to find our hotel. It is remains a miracle that so many people with the love to care made such a difference in the life and future of children who are our future.
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