Ok. So for my whole two followers, here is my blog about my trip to Mexico. I figured if nothing else it gives me the chance to reflect on my trip, so there is some good in that.
Tribu De Jesus. I think this small orphanage in tijuanna is one of my favorite places in the world. It now in a small part of TJ called “La Gloria”, though it is often relocated for whever they can afford. The last time i went down, I was robbed at gunpoint on the way home and my passport was stolen. My parents were not trilled about me going back but finally eleven months later I convinced them. There was never any doubt in my mind that i had to go back. Like a deep breath of fresh ocean water, whenever i am back here i feel like i can really live. Now if you have been to tijuanna you will find this analogy ironic, because the smells are anything but freeing or enlivening but the thing that really envigorates me is the simple opportunity to give. Here is swarms of kids have a very simple and apparent need: attention. Their basic needs, food, shelter, education, and clothes, are met by the lady who operates the orphanage and support from Spectrum Ministry who i go down with; however, they can not give them the thing that growing nijos and nijas need the most: someone who loves them, listens to them, and plays with them.
Driving down with the small group of me, Dave, Scott, and a group of three from a church in semi valley, Dave told us stories about the many trips down he has taken. I know these stories well because i have been down with him many times myself and I have meet with him about every other week for this year. I have helped build house; i have helped with wash days; i have gone to the dump to help those who survive of what they can scavenge for there; I have gone down for a week on two occasions to do special activities with groups. However, my favorite place is always the orphanage. I am a guy to loves to give. I am the first one to try to reach out and help my friends when i see a need. It breaks my heart to see people suffer. Therefore, to be given the opportnities to reach out and love these kids and just see their faces light up is something i will always hold closely and is part of the person i want to become. I warned one of the girls in the group that i would give them any help they wanted now, but once I was down at the orphanage, i am just one of the kids playing along.
Rojo, Rojo! Last time i was done in Mexico, I was running around giving piggyback rides so much that i feel down and the children danced around me pointing at my face and laughing at the white boy. This time was only a little different, the cries of one boy who particularly enjoyed my company and rides was always, “Otra Vez”. As always I was sweating in the hot Mexican heat but the joy on his face was enough to run around again like the kid i still am. After collapsing with exhaustion and playing some catch with his new ball, mi amigo brought me inside for a drink. There is noticed how dirty my knees were. He promptly got some hand sanitizer and started trying to rub the dirt away, only smearing it more. I laughed and told him no. They neededthat for themselves, and here was this boy ready to clean the dirt off the rich American, rich because i own a home with more then one room and I probably make as much as his parts with my part time job. His generosity is something that i think we all could learn from. He didnt even know me before i meet him a couple hours ago, but he was ready to share, to give anything to help me out, just because i had played with him and showed him some love. Yet in our lives, we don’t even take the time to say, “thank you” or “I love you” or “You know you really mean a lot to me and I am always here for you” to the people who we see everyday. I am just a guilty and I hope i really apply the lesson i learned for this little boy. I want to learn to give, like I do to these children, to the people in my life everyday; I want be have the soft heart to love and be loved like mi amigito who always breaks my heart by his situation and his love for life.
