Today’s schedule was a little strange because of Liturgy this morning, but it’s so nice to start the day that way. After breakfast we went straight to arts and crafts where we made matchstick crosses. We had some that turned out really good and some that turned out not so good.
The big event of the day was the first round of the Hogar World Cup soccer tournament. I was proud of my team for winning their game in order to be in the championship match.
My favorite part of the day was spending time with the littlest girls on the playground. We were having a total blast. It was me vs about 6 little girls and we would chase each other around and I was usually the one being caught. They would put me in jail “por siglos” (forever) and when I would fake cry they would let me out, I’d take off running, and we’d start all over again. It’s so much fun to scoop them up and hear them laugh.
Later we had more komboskini lessons with the teenage girls and I continue to be more and more impressed with them every day. They are generous, humble, patient, and always willing to help. There are some that would look at the way Mother Ivonne disciplines the kids and say that she is too tough on them. But when you see the fruits of tough love that is manifested in the teenage girls, you realize that she does everything for the benefit of the children. It might not be evident to the younger ones when they are being disciplined, but it s clearly evident in the lives of the teenagers, who whether they realize it or not, have learned to become like Christ through obedience. They have no doubt made an impression on a countless number of people and I feel privileged to be one of them.
Photo by Larissa
Our last order of business for the evening was to go to the Hogar gift shop. I was happy to see a few of our crafts from last year for sale. I bought a book of the Divine Liturgy in English/Spanish so I could learn a little more church lingo and I bought 3 komboskinis. They were made by three of the girls who are no longer here. It’s a way to remind myself that they need prayers more than the children who are here. It is difficult to see several of the kids gone from here. You spend an entire year in anticipation just waiting to see them and hug them, hear them laugh and see them smile. I know that they are safe here, but outside of these walls I don’t know what their lives are like. I don’t know if they are still smiling and laughing every day. I don’t know if they are safe or if they are happy. That’s a hard thing to deal with when you’ve heard a little about life outside the Hogar. All I can do is pray for them.
