One of the beautiful girls trying on her new clothes and hat!
Growing
up, we sometimes took family vacations to Mexico over our Spring
Break. We got to fly on big planes, spend entire days in the ocean
and practice our limited Spanish over cheese filled tortillas. I
have hundreds and thousands of good memories from these trips and I
got to re-live one of them this week.
up, we sometimes took family vacations to Mexico over our Spring
Break. We got to fly on big planes, spend entire days in the ocean
and practice our limited Spanish over cheese filled tortillas. I
have hundreds and thousands of good memories from these trips and I
got to re-live one of them this week.
See,
when we would pack for our Mexican adventures, we also brought along
extra suitcases of clothes, backpacks, shoes and soccer balls. We’d
collect these items throughout the year and keep a stash of available
things in my dad’s office, in the back of the garage or wherever we
could find room. Then, during our vacation we’d take a day away from
the crystal blue waters to find families in need. It always
surprised me how little we had to travel to get away from the shiny
resorts and into the shanty towns, but once we got there we’d spend
our day handing out clothes to families, buying the kids shaved ice
and laughing with the locals like we were old friends.
when we would pack for our Mexican adventures, we also brought along
extra suitcases of clothes, backpacks, shoes and soccer balls. We’d
collect these items throughout the year and keep a stash of available
things in my dad’s office, in the back of the garage or wherever we
could find room. Then, during our vacation we’d take a day away from
the crystal blue waters to find families in need. It always
surprised me how little we had to travel to get away from the shiny
resorts and into the shanty towns, but once we got there we’d spend
our day handing out clothes to families, buying the kids shaved ice
and laughing with the locals like we were old friends.
Although
these memories are at least 15 years old, our team has spent the past
couple of days doing this very same thing. We sorted through
truckloads of apparel, filled totes to the brim and headed out to
poverty-stricken villages. Here we set up a receiving line where
kids could walk through and each select three items of
clothing-anything from shirts, socks, pants, dresses, hats and
underwear.
these memories are at least 15 years old, our team has spent the past
couple of days doing this very same thing. We sorted through
truckloads of apparel, filled totes to the brim and headed out to
poverty-stricken villages. Here we set up a receiving line where
kids could walk through and each select three items of
clothing-anything from shirts, socks, pants, dresses, hats and
underwear.
Helping the kids find clothes.
At
best, it was organized chaos! But the countless giggles of
two-year-old girls in crisp new dresses, the shy smiles of young boys
receiving shorts for the first time and the gaze of the proud mommas
sitting in the background made these days some of the best yet. Many
of the children’s current clothing were held together by mere strings
and had fist size holes in all the wrong places, but now they had
clean, fresh clothes to wear. For some of them, these few new pieces
doubled their current
wardrobes.
best, it was organized chaos! But the countless giggles of
two-year-old girls in crisp new dresses, the shy smiles of young boys
receiving shorts for the first time and the gaze of the proud mommas
sitting in the background made these days some of the best yet. Many
of the children’s current clothing were held together by mere strings
and had fist size holes in all the wrong places, but now they had
clean, fresh clothes to wear. For some of them, these few new pieces
doubled their current
wardrobes.
When
the lines should have been dying down, a massive backup started
accumulating near the end of the queue. The kids were getting
excited about one of our clothes items and they were doing everything
they could to get one. They attempted to trade with others, give one
of their items away or simply ask us for a switch. See, they wanted
underwear. Underwear.
Most didn’t have a single pair and they were quickly lining up to be
sized. Some weren’t even sure how it should fit.
the lines should have been dying down, a massive backup started
accumulating near the end of the queue. The kids were getting
excited about one of our clothes items and they were doing everything
they could to get one. They attempted to trade with others, give one
of their items away or simply ask us for a switch. See, they wanted
underwear. Underwear.
Most didn’t have a single pair and they were quickly lining up to be
sized. Some weren’t even sure how it should fit.
Trying to figure out what to do with the underwear!
Growing
up, I took so many things for granted: my incredible family, the
education I received, the food on my dinner table (not to mention
breakfast and lunch), the presents under the Christmas tree, my full
underwear drawer and the myriad of opportunities that surrounded me.
It is moments like these, when three year olds beg for
underwear, that I realize how utterly good my life circumstances have
been. And that’s when I start
asking the question: why.
up, I took so many things for granted: my incredible family, the
education I received, the food on my dinner table (not to mention
breakfast and lunch), the presents under the Christmas tree, my full
underwear drawer and the myriad of opportunities that surrounded me.
It is moments like these, when three year olds beg for
underwear, that I realize how utterly good my life circumstances have
been. And that’s when I start
asking the question: why.
Why
me God?
me God?
I
may never have an easy or absolute answer to this question, but I am
realizing that I have the ability to do something with what I have
been given. To use my knowledge, education, money, time, two hands
and two feet to step out into this world and make it a better place.
may never have an easy or absolute answer to this question, but I am
realizing that I have the ability to do something with what I have
been given. To use my knowledge, education, money, time, two hands
and two feet to step out into this world and make it a better place.
So,
why me God?
why me God?
“Because
I want you to go, to move, to love, to act. I want you to CHANGE
this place, bring hope to this people and transform this world around
you…each and every single day.”
I want you to go, to move, to love, to act. I want you to CHANGE
this place, bring hope to this people and transform this world around
you…each and every single day.”
Another first encounter with underwear.
