Today we got to the school about 1 minute before the bus and got to greet all the kids getting off the bus which was so much fun and so exciting. I was then assigned to work in Yahoska’s classroom which only had two kids from the first bus. Ansley was also with me and she worked with Zulema while I worked with Julio. Over the next half hour more and more kids started to trickle in and join us while we colored and played with play-dough. I began working with Astrid a 9 year old girl who never really talks but more just stares straight at you. I showed her how to roll the playdough and she started doing it after me, every time she finished rolling it she would show me with a huge grin all the way across her face. I then started doing these little cards the teacher gave me with her. They had a picture of something on them and we would say what it was and she would nod or point to whatever was on the picture with a huge smile on her face every time he got it right. The teacher then told the translator to tell me to take her outside to play because they thought she was lazy. I took Astrid outside and we played for awhile passing the ball and swinging. Lisa Marie asked me if I wanted to go with her to see one of little boys houses and I said yes and took Astrid back to the classroom. Once we got there and she realized I was leaving she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed so hard and would not let go. In the end it took 3 people to tear her off me and try to get her to sit down. When I got in the car my heart was torn, a picture of Astrid's poor little face filled with sadness that I was leaving was stuck in my head.
We started driving with a translator and Jesus’s dad to their house because Jesus who was blind had told LM he lived outside in a tent. That obviously bothered LM so we went to go see what he meant. Jesus had long, long ponytail because his father said they would cut his hair when he could see again. We pulled up to a circus tent with tiny tents surrounding it and Lisa Marie and I just looked at each other because of the conditions he was living in. It turned out his family worked in a circus and moved around town every month with the circus. He had a little cousin named Ana who attached herself to LM and I until we left. The family was so sweet and cared so much about Jesus it was so relieving to know that there are some families who really do care. Their tent was about the size of a large bathroom and had 3 beds for 5 people. They had a huge family and not a lot of money so we took them to the store and filled the cart to the top with food and supplies they needed. The feeling I got when I saw the father crying with joy because we had gotten him food to provide for his family is indescribable.
You do the tiniest things for these kids and their families and they are so grateful for you. Every time you hug a kid at the school you are probably changing their week to their month because of one hug. One touch and they love you and want to be around you all day. The kids value everything so much more than I have and more than anyone I’ve met in the US. It makes me want to change my views and perspectives on everything and appreciate everything I have a 1000 times more than I already do. I cannot believe we are almost halfway through our trip, it breaks my heart. There is no other way I could learn this much about life in 4 days if it weren’t for the kids teaching me.
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