In Costa Rica, we got to stay and work with a nonprofit called Transforma. They’re in the business of transforming women’s lives by teaching values. I chuckled a bit when the Executive Director said it’s like a karate kid program. I mean have you seen my profile picture? It’s a picture of me from training camp doing the old school karate kid crane pose. This pose is in the epic fight at the end of the movie. But wayyyy before the kung fu, Mr. Miyagi taught values. Wax on, wax off!! More than teaching a skill, more than building a habit… teach and build values.
The women come to Transforma to learn skills like sewing, massage, manicure and pedicure. We woke up early around 6:30am to get things setup before their arrival for class. A huge part of our setup and daily upkeep is cleaning the house (yes, chores). We are setting an example for the women to respect the home, the spaces, and people who work and live there. The way you got it is the way you put it back. The women attend class, hang out afterwards and then put the house back in order before they leave. The kids had a one-toy policy. They had to put back a toy to play with a different one. Let’s just say they had a hard time complying :).
What value have I learned? Honoring and respecting my host, my teammates and myself by ways of doing chores. At home, my room is in a forever state of messiness. I was working so much that cleaning was at the bottom of my list. It’d usually fall on my family to help me. Now, chores are becoming second nature to me because I know it’s more than just a task… it is a reflection of how I treat the owner of the home, the people I’m living with, myself and our guests that come over.
Don’t just give a man fish, don’t just teach him how to fish… engrain values. Values build character and it doesn’t change no matter where you are and it doesn’t change no matter what you’re doing.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Matthew 6:21
Pspsps::: I got to be a model for Transforma’s merchandise!! The photoshoot was a blast!! Chores and modeling… all in a day’s work.
