Finally on the road

Today Raja and I left Colombo for Matara with our driver Gayan.  The load was so big for this trip that I needed to hire a van to carry all the goods.
 Travelling out of Colombo and connecting with Galle Road which took us to Matara and the Metta Training Unit where the girls from the Methmal Orphanage at Hambantota are staying.
That drive took us 6 hours, we did have a small stop for tea and toilet but the traffic conditions is what delayed us the most.
We arrived at the Matara centre and was met by the Chief Monk, Rev. Ratanasiri.  After a quick linch, we immeditely went to the orphanage where the children were staying. 
We were surprised by a traditional welcome by the children.  I was almost in tears as I got out of the van and went to where the drumming had started, I had never expected this type of welcome.  It was wonderful to see the girls from Methmal in traditional Kandyan costume and excited to perform for us.
Raja and I were presented with floral sheaths and then followed the children as they walked us to the entrance with the beat of the music. 
Again we were present with a floral stem and asked to enter the orphanage.  All of those familiar little faces were staring at me with half smiles. They knew me and I was overjoyed to see them.  They'd all grown so much and had even put on some weight.  The last of the rituals was to take a plate of flowers over to the Buddha shrine as an offering.  Raja and I did this and then returned to be with the children.
I was literally mobbed by all of the girls.  It was so nice to see them so delighted at having me visit them.  I asked Raja to explain how sad I was in January when I went to see them at Hambantota and they had all moved and this visit, I wanted to make sure that I came to see them at Matara.
Six of the girls were fighting over who was going to hold my hand as they showed me around the orphanage.  I decided to make them take turns.  I felt like the Pied Piper....
As I entered each of the rooms, each girl was excited to show me their bed and cupboard.  Everything was pristine.  The conditions here at Matara are good, so much better than at Methmal.
After viewing all of the sleeping quarters, we were asked to come and have tea in the library.  The library was amazing, it had a large number of books, both in English and Sinhalese.  They also had a number of computers which had been purchased at a reasonable price in Singapore and shipped to Sri Lanka.
After tea was finished, we unloaded the van and brought all of the goods in so that we could start to give them to each of the children.
We had underpants, dolls, games, children purses, teddies, toiletries, hankies and a number of other small items that girls love.
It took about 2 hours to sort and distribute everything, once finished, we took lots of pictures and bid them farewell.
The biggest hit of all were the dolls.  A lady in Australia had collected dolls and knitted outfits for them.  The girls loved them.  I even saw them hugging them like babies.  It was gread to see.  They were happy and so were we.
I asked Raja to tell them that I was very happy to see them again and to be able to bring them some small gifts.  After that, we bid them farewell and left as they were saying "madam Julie, please come again".  As I walked away and turned to look at them all again, they were watching me and waving.  I left with a happy but heavy heart.