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Playing a game with the girls. I honestly still have no
idea what this game is or how to play it. |
God gave each and every one of us a special gift to share with the world, and that is the gift to love. A little while ago, God gave me a special place and opportunity in which to share my love. With the activities surrounding Christmas over and with a few weeks until school starts, we had an opportunity to explore Bolivia and see some more of God's creation. I set out with two other SLMs whose sites are near mine. Of course, since I had the time, that also meant traveling to Cochabamba to see my Bolivian family that I had stayed with while studying at the institute. That also meant that I would be able to see my friend and fellow SLM Charlene at the Hogar (orphanage) near Cochabamba.
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| Playing ZOMBIES! |
The day began with a bumpy trufi ride to the Hogar followed by a stampede of girls once inside the door. We had lunch with the girls and as soon as I received my food every girl was shouting for me to come and eat at their table. We decided to divide us up so each table had an SLM. After lunch we played a game of Zombies (zombies for some reason is pretty big with the kids in Bolivia) and enjoyed running around the Hogar with the girls playing other games as well. There was so much joy and love it was overwhelming!
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| She always has a smile on her face! |
I definitely think that this year so far has been a lesson in love, and God is teaching me this lesson through the kids. I've begun to reflect on how many opportunities we have every day to show others love, and how many times we don't take advantage of every single one of those opportunities. Here in Okinawa I'm given a chance to love those in my community every day through teaching the children, asking them how their day is when they yell "TICHER!" at the top of their lungs from their houses as you walk by, visiting friends in the community, and going to soccer games my kids are playing in. You don't have to go to another country to love, you can do that anywhere. It's simply taking time out of the busy schedule of everyday to give others time, even if for the briefest moment. The giving of time shows someone you care, shows someone you love them. My challenge to everyone is to take a little time out of their day for someone. You never know how much 5 minutes will impact someone.
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| SLM reunion at the Hogar with some of the girls! |
