I am richly blessed...

Bridget and I were invited to visit Los Quinchos today by our friend Jane. Los Quinchos operates two homes in San Marcos (about 1 1/2 hours from SJDS) for boys and girls who have been abandoned or mistreated. They keep children, whose homes are more dangerous than the streets, off the streets. The children (boys and girls on different properties) are given a safe place to live, food, shelter, the opportunity to go to school and the love of their caretakers and each other. We went to the girls home first and had time to play, help them serve lunch, and spent time with them reading and drawing pictures and writing letters. Our visit to the boys home was shorter and we served a snack and visited with them for about 45 minutes. I was richly blessed today by these amazing kids.

There wasn't room in the truck for Joe and the boys on this trip so they will go next time (in November). Edwin, who works for Jane, drove Jane, Bridget, Heather (who is also volunteering with Jane) and I to the residences of Los Quinchos. Edwin and Jane make regular visits but it was a first time for Heather, Bridget and I.

As soon as we drove up to the girls home Jane said "Get out your cameras, quick!" As soon as Jane got out of the car the girls swarmed her with hugs! As we got out of the truck we were the recipients of many hugs as well because any friend of Jane was a friend of these girls. The girls range in age from 6-16 years old. The older girls help care for the younger girls and while we were visiting we saw no signs of discord among them. I am sure they were on their best behavior but I think of how my kids behave "on their best behavior" and they still have squabbles. I did my best to capture the love these kids have for Jane but the pictures do not fully capture the experience. After we all received at least on hug from each girl they introduced themselves to us and asked our names and showed off one of the new kittens which Bridget immediately fell in love with and hardly put down the whole time. They shared cookies with us shortly after we arrived. These kids get one decent meal a day and cookies are a very special treat and even though they have almost nothing, they wanted to share with us. I was not a fan of the cookies but I took it and took a bite and thanked them and then passed it off to Bridget when they weren't looking. It is very insulting to a Nicaraguan to turn down a gift and we have been told that we must accept gifts that are given even when it is difficult to take something from people who have so little. I am so glad I was told that or I am sure I would have said "No gracias" to the cookie today.

We helped them get lunch on the table. Today's lunch was special; chicken with vegetables and a larger portion of rice because it was one of the girls' birthday. We brought chocolate milk and stuff for ham and cheese sandwiches and cookies but they will save that food for tomorrow. After lunch Edwin read a story to the kids and they had the opportunity to color pictures and write a story. A couple of children were copying from the books Jane brought but most of the children wrote letters of gratitude to Jane and the rest of us (blessed by association) and made pictures, many of which Bridget got.

These kids all seem very happy and well adjusted and loved. It is hard for me to comprehend what I saw today. I was the one who was blessed today. I did not sacrifice anything today. I gave my time but I received so much. As we were leaving the girls were asking "when will you come again?" and I wanted to yell "tomorrow!". We didn't bring them gifts or stuff. Jane left some clothes for the girls to be sorted out by the caregivers and we did bring food which will be eaten tomorrow, but the real gift to these girls was spending time with them, sharing books and giving them the opportunity to color and write out their feelings of gratitude. When Jane arrives in her truck she is not Santa Claus to these girls but friend. She shares her heart and her time. Jane was also there to get size information and a wish (AKA need) list for Christmas as her church in Colorado will be giving each child a backpack for Christmas with some clothes and other items. Jane does give materially to these kids but, from what I saw today, it's her heart that matters most.

After all that, we weren't done. We all hopped back into the truck and headed over to the boys home. Jane told us to get out our cameras as we were greeted with many hugs from the boys as well. They are a very energetic bunch of guys. These are boys who do not have a safe home to go to and would otherwise live on the streets. Jane told us that one of the little boys there had a relative in his home who tried to kill him with an ax and because of the injury he had headaches for a couple of years. How can I even fathom what life in his short life has been like?

Bridget and Jane passed out a snack of chocolate milk, a banana and 2 Oreo cookies for each boy. The boys were all fascinated with having their pictures taken and taking pictures with the camera. The one picture of me was taken by one of the boys. The boys also wanted to have their picture taken with Bridget, who was very accommodating. They showed us around the property to see the new kitchen (with tile and running water), the old outdoor kitchen (which they still use) the library building, and the salon which is a big room with a TV and chairs. We enjoyed our time with the boys and left with lots of hugs and questions about when we were coming back again.

We then drove to Granada where Jane was picking up her dog from the dog sitter, who has been caring for her while Jane has been traveling and helping volunteer groups. Granada is much bigger than San Juan del Sur and has lots of expats living there. It also has a large population of street kids. Some sell their wares to foreigners in the Central Park but sadly most of the street boys from about 12 and up are begging for money to buy glue to sniff. This is what the boys we just visited are being saved from. When we arrived in Granada, Jane's dog sitter wasn't home so we went to eat a delicious dinner at El Zaguan (one of the best restaurants in Granada) before getting the dog. We had planned to eat lunch with the girls but because it was a special birthday lunch, and not the sandwiches we brought, we didn't want to eat their food. So we had been out all day with only cookies and milk so we were starving! After dinner we headed over to the dog sitter's house. She is a single Dutch woman living in Granada who doesn't like to give the street boys money but she feeds them. As we were collecting Jane's dog, they were calling to her from outside the door telling her they wanted food. It was very different from any experience we have had in San Juan del Sur. When Jane was walking her dog to the car, the boys wanted to say goodbye to her dog as well as they had gotten to know her during her time in Granada and one of the boys had been scared of dogs but Negra had cured him of that. We were all standing as the boys said their goodbyes...each holding their jar of glue up to their noses as they were talking with us. Looking into their vacant eyes was so sad and really made our time at the boys home that much more meaningful. There were a couple of boys who were new to Los Quinchos and they were less social but almost all the boys we visited with were engaging in conversation, making eye contact and smiling. The boys on glue in the streets of Granada were vacant and slow with no emotion.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet the kids I did today and feel truly blessed. Now my body is exhausted and must rest...