During these last couple of weeks we’ve spent here in Azua, the children here have blessed me more than I could have ever imagined. They radiate with joy and innocence, free of troubles.
The other day, Raul (the pastor we’re staying with) took a handful of us to the school to assemble some of the desks that they were going to use for the teachers in each of the classrooms. Ashlee and Karen started assembling the desks, I washed them clean as they got assembled, and Monica finished painting one of the partitions between the classrooms.
I hadn’t even finished cleaning the first desk before a wave of neighborhood kids flooded the building. Without hesitation, they took the sponge and towel from my hands and began washing the desks. They created an efficient system of cleaning the desks, basically ousting me from my task.
With nothing to do, I spotted a couple of brooms leaning against the wall. I picked one up and began sweeping the floor of the school building. Not a second later, one of the neighborhood boys, Manuel, picked up the other broom and began sweeping with me. He even showed me the “correct” way to hold the broom.
Not long after that, another boy comes up to me and takes the broom from my hand. I am left standing empty-handed with nothing to do. As I stand back and look at the scene, a dozen children cleaning and sweeping and painting with such thoroughness and speed, I can’t help but think that you would never see this in the US. These kids are so selfless, so willing and eager to help, and so happy!
At heart, I think Jesus was a lot like these Dominican children. Every word, every action, every thought was pure selflessness. His sole purpose on earth was to sacrifice himself for others. We say we want to be more like Jesus, and looking at the example set by these kids is a pretty good place to start.
“And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.'” – Matthew 18:3-5
