Day 4:

School is cancelled… again. Have you ever had those types of days where you’ve had something perfectly planned but, suddenly, things change last minute; and, then, that excitement turns into stress, but at the end of the day that change of plans turned into an amazing day? Because that’s what happened day four in Nica! We went to La Virgen and volunteered at Los Pepitos.

This little “barrio,” like Nicaraguans would say, is 45 minutes away from Hotel Hamacas. We arrived and met the people who improved this branch of Los Pepitos! They were very appreciative of our arrival; right after we said our “hello’s,” the team got straight to work. We all split up. The patio was very clean! We hardly found trash. Then again, Eddy and Jessica are constantly keeping track of the property and making sure it’s neat.

The place where Los Pepitos is located is in a very poor and rural area. As we were passing by, their neighborhoods, we were able to see their homes: what they had, how they showered, everything was in plain view. There were some that barely had a roof on top.  It got to me; I’m not going to lie. I thought I knew what I was going to be seeing, but I seriously can’t believe that there are people living in these conditions.

My family, all my life has been telling me that the lives of Central Americans was brutal. My family is from Honduras. They all come from different barrios; but they’ve lived the same struggles. “Money,” my mother has always told me, “isn’t the most important thing in the world. It shouldn’t be your main focus. You should be taking the time to create an image that you want to be known for.” But I don’t get it. I still don’t get it. I don’t want to seem like a clueless person, but I feel like money is always going to be a main issue. Our world revolves around money. If there’s no money, there’s no roof on top; if there’s no money, there’s no food on the table. Without money, not everyone has the opportunity to get an education.

Throughout my trip, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of poverty-stricken families who have it hard. As we were volunteering at Los Pepitos, we each gained a friendship with Pedro and Alejandro. They each had Down syndrome. The minute I laid eyes on Pedro, he immediately greeted me with a hello and a big old bear hug. Pedro is very much into arts and crafts, while Alejandro is more athletic. Despite their different interests, they share many characteristics. They love having the company of others and are full of love! I felt happy as soon as I heard of Los Pepitos. Jessica, Eddy, and the volunteers along with the community have built an amazing environment. No matter the wealth, the place, or situation the people are very generous. I felt very welcomed, these families don’t have much, but they still put the necessities of other first.

Day 5:

School is back! Wow. W-O-W is what I have to say after my first day of school. I can’t begin to express to you how in love I am with the kids at Escuela Especial. The desire and passion these kids have for school is incredible. I noticed two completely different worlds on “Day 5.” In the states all these kids have everything: the support, the resources, the transportation, but they don’t take advantage of it because school is just something you have to do as a minor. It’s somewhere you can be while mom and dad are at work. But in Nicaragua, the kids are woken up at 6:30 a.m to get to school by walking, bicycling, or riding a motorcycle. I saw a family of four on a single motorcycle: no helmet, no protection, no nothing! Unlike Americans, these kids have no air conditioner, run out of supplies, and are only in school for five hours if they are open.

 I had the opportunity to teach in the autistic classroom and meet Yaferi, a twelve year old boy with Autism. He hardly speaks, but still knows his numbers one through ten. As I was teaching him how to write and better his grip I noticed that he loses interest rapidly. I had to put together different lesson plans with my limited supplies in order to keep him busy. He was definitely a handful.

I was able to teach with Professor Lidia. She’s an amazing teacher; she has so much patience and knows her kids well. Despite only spending little time with her, I learned how much of a big heart one must have in order to be a special ed teacher. I learned how hard the teachers at the school try to gain the parents trust since the conditions are truly extreme. Further, I’ve witnessed how much love the students receive from their teachers. It’s been one of the most beautiful relationship developments I have witnessed.

Day 6:

 I went from being a teacher on Day 5, to being a little bit of everything Day 6. I was in the physical therapy room; I was a doctor’s assistant and a psychologist for the moms who needed a shoulder to cry on. All of the kids the doctor saw today have a disability. Most of the mothers said that their pregnancies were normal; the ultrasounds detected no disabilities. All the moms at the doctor’s visit mentioned the word “fe” meaning faith. Our Spanish culture depends on God. We have faith in everything we do, because we have faith that God will do his miracles. The moms I met today were ages 18-40, but they each had the priority: to be there for their child. A mother’s role is a very selfless one. Everyone depends on their mom and everything is left for mom to do. This holds true across the world.

Many of us including myself are blind enough to not realize that we don’t give our mothers the proper credit they deserve. These women are truly warriors because more than anyone, they’re suffering the most and they don’t have the support that they need. I am such a blessed person to have had this opportunity to be a part of this unique experience. I learned how to value things more, how ungrateful I truly have been. However, more than anything, I learned how important it is to help those who are less fortunate.