There was quite a crowd outside the orphanage. And, most of them were wearing matching shirts. We were all there. All were jittery with excitement to experience what was about to happen.

The school kids were getting off the bus at the gate of the orphanage soon. And, we were there to greet them. In that group of school kids were kids we’d all love by the end of the week. But, that day, there were two boys we already loved.

We responded like children ourselves when we saw the yellow bus arrive and a group of kids in orange jackets walk off. We clapped our hands and jumped up and down and started yelling their names. And, we saw them smile from a distance when they realized who it was at the other end of the drive waiting for them.

Our team held back a bit, cameras and tissues out as they experienced it with us. M.Y.’s buddy showed us off to their friends who clearly understood who we are, calling me Ayi and Ashlyn “ash-a-lyn” right along with him. But, M.Y. stood back, as we expected he would, smiling but still, clearly working to process the fact that there we were. And, moments later, taking in the fact that there was someone I needed him to meet.

I had practiced it over and over before we left home all in preparation for this moment. Ta shi Josiah de gege. Ta shi M.Y. de gege. (He is Josiah’s big brother. He is your big brother.) He looked at me. He looked at Kyle. And, his smile got bigger. He nodded his head. I don’t know if he recognized him from the photo album he had already received or not. But, I know he got it. This tall boy was his brother. His brother. It’s really happening. He has a family.

I never imagined this scene when we brought a scared little boy home from the airport late at night, when we taught him to play Uno and laughed when he cheated, when we taught him to pray and tucked him into a bottom bunk bed, when we clapped and cheered at him conquering his fear of the pool, when we held his hand and showed him the ocean for the first time. We committed to hosting him to help find him a family. But, I never imagined I’d have the privilege of being hosted in his space 6 months later and being able to physically take his hand and put it into that of the boy who will do all those things we did and much much more everyday of the rest of his life.

Oh happy day. Oh happy happy day.

First two photos credited to Nicole Renee of Living Out His Love. Last photo credited to Ashlyn.