PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida -The children lined up, crying on the sidewalk outside the orphanage's door. The Americans hung out of the bus windows, their hands reaching downward.
The group of 25 with First Christian Church of Port Charlotte said goodbye to the children of Rainbow Children's Home in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The Port Charlotte group spent April 3 through April 10 helping build a new orphanage in Santa Rosa, about 25 miles from Aguascalientes.
The goodbye was a tearful one.
"It's time to go," yelled Richard Adomatis, an organizer of the trip. No one made it to the bus until about 15 minutes later.

One orphan wasn't satisfied with the goodbye. He climbed the bus steps, found who he was looking for, gave her a kiss on the cheek and stood on the sidewalk waving.
Stephanie Welch boarded the bus, but left because she wanted one more hug.
After the bus pulled away, the children held each other and on the bus some of the church group did the same. They were seemingly in a thoughtful trance as the bus headed to the airport.

Everything went smoothly: customs, immigration, changing over in Houston for the Tampa flight and baggage claim. Everyone loaded up on the church bus in Tampa - a former school bus.

Later down the road, clouds of steam came out of the hood.
A broken hose.
Some of the men fixed it - cut and attached the hose.
"We'll be fine now," one of the makeshift repairmen said.
Five minutes later it happened again, but it was a different hose.
It was fixed.

"On our way now," another said.
Two minutes later, it happened again. It was a broken thermometer. It can't be fixed.
"Who should we call? Does anyone have AAA? WhereÕs the number to ... ?"

Although a 9 p.m. return was planned, the group didn't get home until around 1:30 a.m. The bus broke down on Interstate 275 near the Sunshine Skyway bridge.
Figuring out what should be done and who should be called was slow. Everyone had opinions. After throwing all the options on the floor, someone was called to bring another bus and to tell waiting parents about the delay.

"You'd expect this in Mexico ... " said Ron Berfanger.
"At least this didn't happen in Mexico," said Richard Adomatis. "Can you imagine being stranded on the way to Santa Rosa out on the countryside?"
"It could be worse," said Sandy Adomatis, Richard's wife.

Attitudes were light.
"We're going to be here for at least four hours. I recommend sleep," said youth pastor Todd Thomas.

Ron Berfanger, who sleeps about three hours a night, was known for his late nights and early mornings.
"Todd, what am I supposed to do?" he asked. The bus roared with laughter.
"Ron, do you have a bed?" someone asked.
"No, I have a corner I stand in," he replied. Only those who lost sleep due to Ron's sleep schedule during the week really knew the truth to this statement.
"Well, I have an idea," said Thomas. "Let's roll out the suitcases and have a yard sale to raise funds ... "

After 45 minutes, a police officer showed up.
"I asked him if he had pizza. He said no," said Thomas. The last time the group had eaten was on the flight from Mexico to Houston, and some skipped the meal of fish, cold corn, rice and cake.

"I bet Domino's would deliver," said Thomas, as if he really wanted to place an order. When the second bus showed up, transferring the luggage went quickly. They were soon on their way home.

Perhaps Ashley Nesslar's words summed up how many felt about the trip.
"I want to go back," she said as soon as the plane's wheels touched ground.