i realize, however, that i will be experiencing just that in 2015. i am excited to be spending more than 90% of my 2015 in the city of miacatlan, mexico, spending time with the over 600 children that call casa san salvador "home". year after year, while other things in my life change - friends, education, employment, myself - nuestros pequenos hermanos (nph) has stayed a constant. something about it keeps drawing me back.
i'm not one for cliches (okay, maybe i am..) but ever since the first time i set foot in the house, my world was changed. i found myself saying "you don't fully understand it until you experience it" to others, which i NEVER believed until the first time i was there. the atmosphere in this home is different. it doesn't matter how much money you came from, what year your car is, which iPhone you have. all the material things are SO trivial.
my first year, on the last night before i was coming back to america, we were sitting in the courtyard with some of the children. one child saw that my friend was sad to be leaving, and promptly left, leaving my friend more sad and confused. 2 minutes later, the child emerged with their only stuffed animal, as a gift to my friend so she wouldn't be sad (thus making her bawl harder..). these children have really got life down. they understand it's not about the material stuff - it's about the intangible things. the time, energy, love you exude, when all they know is abandonment and pain.
i am excited to be instrumental in these children's lives, but more excited to see how they will reshape my frame of thinking. there's nothing more fulfilling than being taught by a 6 year old. the simplicity, that life really is that easy. all we need to do is love, and be understanding.
i will be continuing to blog throughout the year, so let me know what you're curious about! open book over here (:
much love, many prayers.
