Working in Quija Quieta continues to show me how big God and His love really is…seeing these kids smile just brings so much joy and I can not help but smile myself. The kids in the neightborhood just crave attention and desire to be loved. By the grace of God we are able to share our love with them everyday whether its though dancing with them, playing praise and worship music, or sitting talking to them and holding their hand. These are things we often take for granted back home in the states. Kids back in the states have their parents take care of them everyday and here the parents are out working just to keep the simple roof over their family’s head. They just lack the constant affection that many of us are accustomed to back in the states and once someone pays attention to them and shows them that love they hold on to it for dear life.
I have made friends with many of the kids, but one in particular has stood out the past several days, his name is Calvin. Calvin is very liked among his peers and he is very talented in many different areas. He loves to play baseball and when we have the opportunity to
organize a game his face just lights up with excitement. Not only is he good at sports, but he is very outgoing as well…he comes from this neighborhood and has almost nothing, but he wants to give some much. We were sitting around in a circle during VBS and Calvin had been sitting next to me and disappeard for a few mins, but then returned with two juice-pops and some garlic bread bites (almost like a cruton). He gave me a juice-pop and shared the garlic bites with me and the look on his face was priceless, he was so proud to be able to share something with me…in the midst of having next to nothing he went out of his way to buy this for me so we could share a snack together.
As we approached Quija Quieta one morning our team saw Calvin on the street and Julian yells his name wanting to take a picture, but Calvin did not seem interested. What we then saw was that there was a dog in the gutter and one of our team members asked if it was dead. Calvin replied yes and that it was his dog and like any person he was very upset. He had the dog for about 2 years and like we all say, dog is man’s best friend. It is never easy to lose a friend and I would say especially in the slums of San Juan for it was probably truely his bestfriend and companion. Calvin went home for a moment and return
ed with a plastic bag and then picked the dog up from the gutter and placed him in the bag. He then walked down the street bag in hand and took it down to the river to say his good-bye. This was heart wrenching for I know what it is like to have my dog die, but I never had to handle it like this by taking care of the remains. I don’t think any 8 year old should have to do this, but this is the reality of life here and around the world. Kids are forced to grow up much faster here in the slums…having to work or just take care of what we would call simple things back in the states.
Our lesson for the day for VBS was Jesus wants to be your best friend and how appropriate it was in this situation. Although Calvin was upset he still did come to VBS for a bit and I am not sure how much he had heard, but I pray that God just comfort him and be ever present in his life. As he sat to the side crying, I sat next to him and put my arm around him to comfort him the best I could and show the compassion I know Jesus would share.
God continues to open my eyes everyday and I pray God continues not only to open my eyes while out on the race, but my family and friends back home. That God my be at the center of their lives and they know His love and peace.
God is Love
