AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico - Something prompted Len Slagle to get out the little green book. He opened the journal to the page where Lorenna had written him a note in Spanish. He was glad the girl from Rainbow Children's Home left him a memento.
He took it out Thursday, April 9, 1998, the night before leaving Aguascalientes, Mexico. Slagle and 24 others from First Christian Church in Port Charlotte returned Friday from a mission trip. They helped build an orphanage in Santa Rosa, 25 miles from Aguascalientes.
When Slagle learned the translation of Lorenna's words, he cried. She wrote, "I hope you can come back with your daughters."

Slagle stood up, walked outside and then returned to his seat.
"We weren't able to talk very much," he said, referring to the language barrier. "Lorenna resembles my daughter when she was 13. Her being, her inside, her expressions ... her build."
Slagle said the time he spent with Lorenna made him realize how much time he has lost with his own daughters.

"She is so neat in her hand writing," he said, pointing to Lorenna's note. He went through the rest of the book. Other kids had written him letters.
He went through them one by one. Most of them thanked him for helping build the new orphanage. They said they love him. One boy had written the words to "Jesus Loves The Little Children" for him in Spanish.

Earlier, two church youths stood looking at a picture of the group of orphans. Tears tricked down the cheeks of Stephanie Welch and Sarah Hernley as they pointed to the picture, murmuring to each other.

"It's really hard for the children to see you leave," said Marcela Diaz-Hermosillo, who is a housemother at the orphanage. "They get accustomed to seeing you everyday. They learn your names.
"Mayra still remembers a boy from Illinois. She hasn't seen him in six years. They still write each other."

D.J. Butcher took out a note from Blanca. He also wanted to know what it said. He smiled when he found out she thanked him. He tucked the folded notebook paper in his pocket.

Diaz-Hermosillo described the children the night before the church group left.
"They're excited. It's hard to control them," she said. "They know you're leaving (Friday)."
Thursday, kids pushed notes into the church member's hands, and hugged them tightly around the neck. They only wanted to know when they would see the church group again.