I remember stepping off the plane. The heat hit me like a truck. Five seconds into my first trip out of the United States; I was sweating bullets and eager for the week ahead of me.
I remember the first day. It was Easter Sunday. Along with my 23 other classmates, I carried the immobile, developmentally disabled children of the Hogar Immanuel Mustard Seed Community out of their wheelchairs and onto the bus. After Mass, we arrived at the beach for an Easter picnic - I got to feed one of the children. It was mesmerizing as the child laid on the blanket and instantaneously took my hand and the bottle into his mouth. He had only known me for a day, and yet, had complete trust in me.
I remember our project for the week. I hope the playground we laid the foundation for is now your place to run, jump, laugh, play, and enjoy.
I remember the sweet smiling faces. We taught B. how to skip rocks. We sang & danced to 'Bailando' in the middle of the school house. We received endless bear hugs—- jam packed with love and kisses on our foreheads. We strived to make their joy eternal, when in reality, they had made us feel all the more special.
I remember the dump. I put on my face mask and lathered my body in bug spray— ready to hand out the designated bags of non-perishable food for those who lived at the dump. We formed an assembly line, in hopes to organize the crowd. A child approached a classmate, who was holding a bag of food, and tugged on her shirt. He yearned for the food to feed his family. He had to wait in line. She had to tell him no. Tears filled her eyes and disbelief covered her face as she recollected her encounter. We saved two bags for the gate keepers of the dump. When my chaperone asked our guide the purpose of that— perhaps a toll of some sort? She simply responded, "Everyone has to eat."
I will never forget the bonds I created. To my fellow classmates who experienced this journey with me: Thank you for letting me borrow your clothes, for drying every tear, for creating every burst of side splitting laughter, for watching out for me, and for being my rocks.
To the children, thank you for teaching me that happiness comes from the simplest things in life. Thank you for trusting me. Continue to share your true wholesomeness with every new visitor you meet.
And finally,
Dear DR, thank you for letting me in. You taught me more in a week than I could have learned in a life time. Thank you for your hospitality. Thank you for the amazing opportunity that I will never forget.
Thank you Diego Arellano and Dimitri Mutafopulos for your photography throughout our trip.
