This past week was the service portion of our month here in Ecuador. We as 19 GlobalLEAD students spent the past week at private school on the outskirts of Quito called "Honrar La Vida" which in English means "Honor Life." We were divided up into three groups and we were each assigned a different groups of students. One group had 5-8 years old, one had 8-13 years old, and one had the 13-16 year olds.
Honrar La Vida is a school that is dedicated to helping children who come from hard family lives or are potentially living at risk. The school is such an incredible establishment. Each and every one of these kids has an incredible life story and they all taught me so much. Some go and serve to give back as much as they can. But for me, this past week was all about learning as much as I could from these incredible students. They all had so much life and love in all of them. From the spunky 10 year old girls who climb all of over us and do our hair, to the 9 year old boys who would not stop talking about futbol.
We went to the school every day of the week from 8-11 and worked on English with the kids, and tried our hardest to give them as much love and compassion as we could. So many of these children are simply neglected at home that many of them hardly ever are loved or cared for. We as GlobalLEAD students would do arts and crafts, story time, alphabet songs, and dances with the children to create a light-hearted and loving environment.
There was not a second when I didn't have a children wrapped in my arms or sprawled across my lap. Every second I got with those kids I made sure that I was there for them to love on and hug. One kid especially had a soft spot in my heart, and his name was Kevin.
Kevin is 10 years old and is very shy and very conservative. For the first three days of school Kevin came in the exact same outfit. I would find Kevin leaving class very often, and when I asked him where he was always going he would say he was going to check up on his sister. Kevin was very nervous at the beginning to receive affection from any of us, but as the week progressed Kevin and I established a special bond. He would run and greet me with a hug first thing every morning and would give me a heart made out of pip cleaners. I would be working with another student and Kevin would come up to me, wrap his arms around me without saying a word, and then stay there for at least ten minutes. I helped Kevin with his English and he helped me with my Spanish. All though we could hardly ever understand what the other was saying, it didn't matter. He understood that I loved him and was so proud of him, and I understood that he was so thankful I was there for him, if only for five days.
Leaving Honrar La Vida today was very hard. Saying goodbye to Kevin was unbearable. So many tears and so many hugs. One little girl Laura was just standing on the stairs staring down at all of us waving goodbye and was just sobbing - needless to say I lost it. I was so thankful how easy these children accepted me into their lives and all they taught me about simplicity and strength. I will never forget all the amazing children I was surrounded with this week.
Being at Honrar La Vida made me so incredibly thankful for my fortunes and my upbringing. Special shout-out to my mom and dad for giving me more than I could have ever imagined. I know you are both reading this, so I want you to both know how incredibly blessed I am to have the both of you as parents - for multiple and different reasons. Mom - thank you for inspiring me to take advantage of this incredible trip and teaching me that there is so much to give in this world. Dad - thank you for showing me what it means to be a "people person" and teaching me that no matter what, there is a positive side to every thing. I love you both so very much and miss you more than you know. If it weren't for the two of you I would not be here having the most amazing month.
"As we loose ourselves in the service of others we discover our own lives and our own happiness."
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