Volunteer Global

Today's blog entry comes courtesy of Millie Sanchez, who volunteered with children in Guatemala in November 2009. She recently revisited Guatemala solo, and was able to spend an afternoon with the children again. You can view her blog here, and her photo album here. Thank you, Millie!

When I was last in Guatemala back in November of 2009 – I fell in love with the children.

The children were amazing. So loving… so smart… so everything.

I didn’t have much time with the children this time around when I went to Guatemala. I only had one short afternoon with them.

And I only saw a few – versus the hundred or so that I saw in November. But I saw one of my favorites, Heidy – the daughter of Alicia – who is a 5-year-old spitfire. I also saw sweet Carla – with her beautiful eyes and beautiful smile.

I saw a few more children that I recognized but unfortunately didn’t know their names. I also saw one little girl who is sponsored by my good friend Suzanna through Compassion International.

The short afternoon I was with them – I was able to go to sit in class with the younger kids and saw them sing songs, play games, color and do some drawing. I was able to watch them as they waited in anticipation for their snack time – in which they were being treated to a bowl of ice cream. I was able to sit outside with them and hold their hands, give them hugs and kisses and run around and play tag with them. I was able to show them my love for one afternoon… and it breaks my heart that I only had one afternoon to give to them.

When I’m with them, I can’t help but compare them to the children in the United States. These children in Guatemala… most will never know a lot of the privileges that many American children know. Such as new clothes every year… knowing what it means to get three healthy meals a day… knowing what it means to have a computer to access in your home… what it means to have carpet or hardwood floors… not having to work on a farm as soon as your able… not having to be a young 15-year-old girl and contemplating marriage….

I’m not saying every young Guatemalan child lives in poverty or has to deal with the hardships of life – and I saw all sorts of children from all sorts of life in Guatemala… but a child living in poverty in Guatemala is much more prevalent than it is in the United States.

But of course when I was with the children… they were just children. Beautiful happy children, who wanted to play and were happy to see me because it meant that it was one more adult they could have fun with.

The children were also of course very happy to see me and my camera. They posed most happily for the camera… although many were not sure whether or not to smile or not. They were also pleased to see instant results of their pictures. While I most definitely have their pictures… all their smiles, all their hugs, all their kisses will forever be etched into my heart and into my memory.

All I can do is share with you the pictures that I took of children while I was there.

Enjoy!

Photos and story are the property of Millie Sanchez. Please do not duplicate without her permission.