Updates with Meylin - 3
I start this page on a sad note. When we were at Kamuy's wedding her father was being treated for lung cancer. He became symtomatic while we were in Taiwan and was diagnosed shortly after his return home. Unfortunately, he lost that battle and went home to be with the Lord in April of 2017. We were very fortunate to have gotten to know Jorge and to become a part of his family.
Our latest adventure was with Meylin, her mom Rosa and her best friend Maria. Meylin and Rosa were travelling to Michigan to visit with Kamuy and Phil. They flew to Michigan and spent a week there and then flew to Dulles International Airport where we met them.
March 1, 2018 - March 12, 2018 - On March 1st we met Meylin and Rosa at the airport and about 45 minutes later Maria arrived. We loaded everyone in the van and headed to WV. They slept most of the way home. They were here for only a few days before heading back to Michigan. During that time we got a trip in to Washington, DC for some sightseeing and a trip to Luray Caverns with a return trip along Skyline Dr. The entire time they were here Maria wanted to see it snow. She had seen and been in snow just hadn't seen it actively snowing.
During the middle of the week we all loaded into the van once again and headed to Michigan. It was an 8-9 hour drive but we got there befoe dark. We all stayed with Kamuy and Phil for a couple of days and then we all moved to Phil's parents home for the last couple of days together. Lions Clubs International and clubs across the country support the Leader Dog Institute in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Since we were so close while at Phil and Kamuy's I arranged for a tour of the facility.
The Leader Dog Institue breeds dogs and trains them to become seeing eye dogs. Once the puppies are about 8 weeks old they are fostered out to families with the intent of socializing the dogs and doing some obedience training. At about 15 months old the dogs return to the Leader Dog Institute for further train. Ultimately they are matched to people in need of an seeing eye dog. People apply for a dog and when they are selected to receive a dog they travel to the Institute where they will stay for about 25 days for training with their dog. The Institute pays all costs for the person and the dog to include all travel, room and board while staying on the Institute campus. Of course Meylin and Maria wanted to pat the puppies. As our tour guide, Beth, told us even the staff can't pat the puppies other than the dog handlers and vets. By the time we left the Institute it was snowing! We took a short ride and found a park where Rosa, Meylin, Maria and I got into a snowball fight. Poor Rosa. Those girls descended on her like a swarm of bees but she was able to hold them off.
Another day Rosa, Meylin, Maria, Lorrie and I met Phil's mother, Lynne in Frankenmuth, MI. Frankenmuth is the home of Bronner's Christmas Store. It is THE LARGEST Christmas store we have even visited. After about an hour and a half Lynne took us all to lunch at Zehnder's of Frankenmuth; famous for its fried chicken buffet. The next day we went to the lakeside community of Grand Haven where we walked on the beach and then out on a long pier to a lighthouse. We had dinner locally before returning home. We had so much fun with everyone to the point Maria dubbed me, Henry, the King of Evil! I guess she just wasn't used to having such fun. I'm sure her brother Gabriel has as much fun with her as we did.
The next day was the long drive back to WV. Since Maria flew into Dulles she would be leaving through there as well. She has a cousin who lives in Springfield, Va who drove out to our house to meet us when we got home. They visited with us for about an hour before taking Maria home with them. She returned to Lima a few days later.
Now think about all that we have done with Meylin over the years. We have the Lions Youth Camps & Exchange program to thank for bringing us together. She is our Peruvian daughter and we her American family. When I tell people that you will make life long friends with the youth exchange students I speak from experience. Needless to say, we love it!
