La Aldea Infantil: A Positive Attitude is Contagious

Elliot, an intern at La Aldea Infantil, gives us some positive thoughts about his experiences from last week:

One thing that has stood out to me was how positive the kids are. Despite all of the trials and difficulties that they have they always seem to laugh and have a good time. One of those children who has an extreme ability to be positive is Gabriel (above). He is always laughing and most importantly he makes those kids around him feel better. Everyone loves to be around him and he has a large heart. One night while making pizza at his house, he told me that we should go and check on Fabricio (below) because he was probably lonely.

Fabricio is a baby that is 1 ½ years old and suffers from many illnesses. Some of the few illnesses that he has are epilepsy, blind, brain damage, and lame. Amongst all these issues Fabricio still manages to have a smile on his face. He is especially ticklish under his neck and around his waist. He is always laughing and having a good time. We take him to Trujillo for physical therapy twice a week for his legs and eyes. Although he is not very talkative his good heart makes him always someone you want to be around. It is a blessing to know that even amongst all the trials we have in life (and in the USA we have very few compared to 3^rd world countries) that these children can still find joy and happiness. Just another witness to me that happiness, joy, and fulfillment in life comes from within ourselves, it is something we decide.

How to help a child like Fabricio.

More info on La Aldea Infantil.

More posts on La Aldea Infantil.

Flashback Friday

Checking back through old posts, I found these from Joy when she helped with the blog. She inspired me to do my own today while we are in-between interns at La Aldea and El Bichito.

Last summer, I kissed my new fiancé good-bye and headed off on an adventure I will never forget. When thinking about my internship, I often think of Miguel who needed extra help in reading. I remember sitting with him while he slowly sounded out the words and wishing I could help him more. He seemed happy and encouraged that I was willing to sit with him and help with his homework. His tia was very loving to the children in her house, but often did not have the time to help each child with their homework in addition to making their dinner and getting them ready for bed. I am so grateful that interns are still going to the Aldea and helping kids like Miguel. We are excited that the interns leaving this summer will be helping raise money for tutors that will help the kids in the afternoons! This will be a great blessing to the kids and their educational futures!

We have interns arriving on site by the end of next week, so check back soon for more updates on the efforts at La Aldea and El Bichito!

Sponsoring a child at La Aldea and El Bichito info!

Oh Happy Day! (Carrie)

February 20 post from Carrie:

Our little Flor was adopted

Last week Flor, the baby from House 10, was adopted by a really nice couple from Southern Peru. This sweet little girl was so excited to be starting a new life. Even at 3 years old she knew something big was happening and that she was going to her own new house. As we were waiting to say goodbye to her at the office, she literally ran circles around us and showered us with goodbye hugs. Flor will be missed by the volunteers for her warm smile and way of brightening your day by running to you with open arms. One thing that I was greatly impressed with was how smart she is and how talkative she can be. One time when we were watching her last week she told us lots of different stories in her half real words half mumbling stage she’s in so we couldn’t really understand her but that didn’t faze her! She kept right on going blabbing about this or that. This girl will be missed but we’re all so happy for the opportunities she will now have away from the Aldea. She can grow and become her own person. I know we’re all grateful for the interactions we got to have with her and the interactions we still get to have with the other children at the Aldea. It is through them that we are learning how to become better people and how to truly be happy with the way life is.

Flashback Friday (Natalie)

My sister's clothes dryer broke down this week and she's been having a hard time getting someone out to fix it. On a normal basis, she tries to do at least one load a day. With 3 kids and a husband, you can imagine how her laundry is piling up. After spending almost 3 hours in the laundromat her first time, we decided she'd use our dryer.

I can't convince her to just drop off her dirty laundry and let me do both the washing and the drying so she washes a few loads, puts 2 loads of washed clothes in a hamper thing (what IS that called??), loads them into her SUV and drives them down to me. I dry them, fold them and she picks them up when she drops off her next 2 loads of wet clothes.

It's quite a process, but we've got it down. And it's fun seeing my sister every couple of hours throughout a day. We laugh and say things like "how did mom do it with SIX kids?"

So what does this have to do with my Flashback Friday you ask? Well...

Have you ever done laundry for 30+ kids in a third-world country that doesn't have a washing machine, clothes dryer let alone RUNNING WATER?

Let me tell you, THAT is a process. I remember just getting all the kids together with the laundry bags and their laundry tubs was an exhausting task. Then we paraded down the hill about a mile carrying these heavy bags of clothes. Then we washed EACH piece of clothing one by one in freezing river water. The first time we didn't even have enough tubs or hand brushes to go around. And let me tell you, it goes a lot quicker when you have brushes. When you don't, you just hold fabric in each fist and rub the fabric together. The kids would laugh because my fingers were all cut up.

After we got the clothes all washed and rinsed in the (not so clean) river water, we twist and twist the clothes to get as much water out before we hauled the wet clothes back up the hill a mile. Did you know that wet clothes are MUCH heavier than dry clothes?

Then we'd hang the clothes out to dry for the day.

So yes, it's a total pain for my sister to bring her wet clothes to me, but she's got nothing on those Peruvian kids.

Flashback Friday (Natalie)

Next Monday my husband and I as well as about 25 other people are getting together to see two special little people. I've been waiting for this reunion for a long, long time.

There are two boys from an orphanage we worked with in Peru who were lucky enough to be adopted by a loving couple earlier this year. Their mom tells me they are adjusting very well. Apparently they LOVED Halloween. But what kid coming from an impoverished third-world country wouldn't? You dress up and then walk around to people's houses and they give you candy??

In fact, I wonder what else they found fascinating about living in the U.S. Once in a while I try to see my world through the children of Peru's eyes. What would they think about Costco? I'm sure they'd love the free samples as much as I do. But what would they think about the giant packs of food? About the Christmas displays already set up? I'm sure they would stare with eyes wide and mouth open at people pushing enormous shopping carts overflowing with food, snacks and a ton of non-essential, non-important STUFF.

As I watch Christmas advertising, I have to stop myself from judging our commercially-minded society. I have to remember that even though a child may have more toys than they will ever need and still want more, that's just how things are here. It doesn't make us bad people - just amazingly fortunate and blessed.

And given the chance, I know every poor child would do the same if given the chance. I guess that's what I want for Christmas - for every poor child to have more food, more toys and especially more LOVE than they will ever need.

reflections (brian at aldea infantil)

When am I really going to realize how incredibly blessed I am?

I was born to parents who love and teach their kids. I am going to school at an elite private university where education services and opportunities are available without parallel elsewhere in the world. I know how to access the truth and have a long long long long long long long ways to go before I will understand and comprehend how to use it, though I am trying to scratch the surface now.

I belong to a family where quarrelling, anger, spite, contention, and hate are not fostered; rather, love, charity, respect, patience, long-suffering, tolerance, brotherly kindness, forgiveness, faith, hope, service, selflessness, positivity, and sympathy and empathy are taught among many other values. I have family and friends who love and care for me without being asked. I am prayed for daily on multiple levels. I have a family who is willing to sacrifice for me to provide the brightest kind of future for me that it can.

I am currently learning how to love more than I thought I could before.