July 11, 2022  |  Written by Silvia Wardell.

Today was amazing and enriching from start to finish. We started with breakfast and a devotional with a local pastor and the Solid Rock International staff, then we split up to tackle some painting of the clinic and preparations for afternoon Vacation Bible School.

We prepared our craft (pigs made of hair curlers), practiced our skit (a thrilling performance of the Parable of the Prodigal Son), and learned some songs (“The Sapo Song” and “Cambiar Mi Tristeza”). The skit and songs were difficult with my limited Spanish vocabulary, but I found that putting a smile on my face and approaching it with enthusiasm made it a whole lot easier.

Before lunch, a few of us visited the local barrio. As soon as we got close, younger children came up to us and grabbed our hands. Soon, I had a little girl on my back and my hair was out of its ponytail as she played with it. With such limited common language, it was amazing how I felt such a connection between us.

In the afternoon, I helped run the Vacation Bible School. Although I didn’t feel like much help at first, I realized that just being with the kids was all they wanted. One girl in particular latched on to me and there was never a moment when she was not by my side. By the end of the afternoon, I had gained a pink pipe cleaner ring, a fantastic braided hairstyle, and a new friend. Even more than that, I gained a deeper understanding of what it means to find joy. Having so little (materialistically speaking) has given these kids the ability to find the utmost joy in a group of strangers who can’t even hold a conversation with them. I can’t wait to learn more.

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