Their mothers are beautiful

I almost missed one of the most marking memories for me from this last trip.  On Saturday we were in a rush to get prepared for the graduation ceremony.  Following the graduation, we had less than two hours to get ready for the pastor's conference.  It is pretty easy for me to get caught up in tasks, but thankfully there were some kids around.  Kids have an incredible way of slowing you down.

During the graduation I was looking around at all of the kids present.  They had their best clothes on as they cheered for their moms.  The smiles on the faces of these children represented much more than I will ever realize.

It isn't just that their mother's graduated.  When it is time to go to bed, each child sleeps knowing that their mother will rest as well.  When the boys and girls go to school, their moms now go to cut and style hair.  For the first time in many of their lives, there is peace and hope.  There is no shame in telling where the money for their food came from.  There is no reason to hang their heads.

The smiles on the faces of our friends on this graduation day were unforgettable.  Their old lives were now gone and it was time to celebrate all that was new.  Thanks for believing in these women.  Their families will never be the same.