We have departure info – Sahar and friends will be departing from Jacksonville International Airport next Wednesday evening (July 14) around 10:00 PM. The host families will be arriving at JIA with the children around 7: 30 PM. This time next week, the children should be back in Afghanistan – that’s tough to comprehend right now – that these children to whom we’ve grown so close in such a short time will, once again, be a world away from us in a matter of a few days.
I hope this has been a good experience for Sahar – she’s so tough to read much of the time. For us, I believe and hope we will look back on the experience as an extremely positive one for our family – especially the challenges we encountered along the way.
Sahar has one final dentist appointment tomorrow (Friday) morning, at which she will once again have teeth pulled and cavities filled. She’s endured a significant amount of dental work in a brief period of time, and has handled it like a real trooper. She’ll be taking some cool zebra-striped retainers back with her, and we keep reminding her that she better wear them back in Afghanistan!
On Tuesday night, we took in a Jacksonville Suns baseball game downtown with the other children and host families. Sahar learned she doesn’t really care for baseball, but that she does enjoy buttered popcorn.
In the coming days, we’ll be pulling together what Sahar is going to take back with her to Afghanistan – clothing, gifts she’s received, mementos, etc. We’ll be sending the group of children back with goods and supplies for their families, schools, and orphanages. Caroline and Sahar are currently working together on scrapbooks of Sahar’s experience. Each host family has been asked to write a letter to our child, which an interpreter will read with the child on the return flights to Afghanistan.
There is a chance that Sahar could return with the Solace program again next summer, provided she has continuing needs which could be met through the program. We would love to have her with us again, but we understand it’s difficult to predict what life will be like for us and for Sahar a year from now. Thus, the Solace program advises us against making promises like “We’ll see you next year”.
Feroza, the girl with the severely burned arm who resided in such a remote area, had surgery performed on her arm today, and we understand that she remains in the hospital tonight. Please keep her in your prayers. Hussein is a five-year old boy being tested and seeing various doctors for severe heart and lung problems – he is a precious child who has a tough road ahead – please say a special prayer for him, his host family, and his family back home. I could put forth many more prayer requests for these precious children – there are so many incredible stories.
Some have asked how Sahar refers to Sara and me – it’s pretty simple – “mom” and “dad”. And, when she calls us from across the room in her sweet voice and with that accent, I have to admit it’s pretty darn cute.
Bryan
This blog chronicles the experience of the Coker family in Jacksonville, Florida, with Solace for the Children, a humanitarian organization of volunteers, committed to demonstrating God's love by providing medical, dental, & optical care to the children of Afghanistan. Our 'Solace' journey began in June 2010, and continues...
Sweet Soman
