"I was talking with one of the workers today about
a little boy in her class. He was about two year old and the most adorable
little guy I'd ever seen, but he was quite hard to understand. At first I
chalked it up to me not knowing Spanish but as I talked with this worker I
learned that he actually is hard for even the most fluent Spanish speakers to
understand. This is because he doesn't really know how to talk. This really
shocked me because the other kids his age could speak pretty well so I decided
to asked her more about it. I learned that this is his first year at the
daycare and he came into it not even knowing how to say his name. This was
heart breaking to hear because at 2, or even almost 2, he should definitely
know how to say his name and many other words as well. But it all turned around
when he started attending the daycare. With the workers' help he now can say
his name and he knows his colors. He is well on his way to catching up with the
other kids. This is just one of the many cases that show what a necessity this
daycare is to its community. The things they do for these kids is just amazing
and they deserve so much praise and gratitude for it. They are making a change
in these children's lives. A change that will impact them greatly and stay with
them for a life time." - Chelsea
" I can't believe how fast this week has
went. Time flies when you are having fun, right? This statement is
definitely true for me. Not only did I have a lot of fun working with the
kids, I also got the chance to learn about their culture- I even got to learn
some Spanish! I am sure many of the kids enjoyed our presence as much as we
enjoyed theirs. Overall, it was such an awesome opportunity!"
-Kim
“Having one baby on my hip while pushing another
baby in a swing made me realize how big of an impact time and love has on a
child. These children were so excited to play and have fun despite the struggle
of their family’s situation. This experience truly brings meaning to the saying
"enjoy the little things" because those little things, such as the
simple gift of time and presence, can make a big difference in the eyes of
someone else. I will cherish this day and the smiles on those children's faces
forever." -Shania
“During this trip we dive into deep social
problems and our desire to fix them. A lot of people purely focus on the
logistics of these problems and not the people that they directly affect.
Spending time at the San Jose mission really helped me connect with these
problems on a personal level and the people directly involved. We often don't think
about the immigrant children and their lives, because when it comes down to it
they're just kids. They run and laugh and play just like every other kid and it
was a pleasure to see each and every one of their smiling faces. It was an
absolute joy and pleasure to be able to interact with these truly amazing and
strong children and essentially just be a kid for a day." -Meagan H.
"Working with the kids melted my heart. I got to thinking that
who knows when someone just takes the time out of their day to hold these
children, to love them, to tell them they are loved. It broke my heart that
every time a little kid would walk away they would make sure I was still in the
same spot and if I moved they would find me and cling right back on to my
finger. I loved it. Today really opened my eyes that when God says go, go! -
Megan A.
"This was a different cultural experience because several of
the children were bilingual. One girl stood out in particular as she was able
to translate for some of the other children." - Jennifer
"You know when you love what you do so much; it doesn't even
feel like work? That's what today felt like for me. Even though 12 hours is a
long day, playing with kids who made your heart melt instantly made the hours
fly by. With a day spent like that, it wasn't a day of work; it was a day full
of fun, laughter, and memories." –Veronica
"Make sure you take your heart with you! A little girl in
the three year old room shouted this as I was leaving. She made me a purple
card with a large purple scribbled heart on the front. Her reminder really struck me, as I
left. There are so many parts of our days that demand the presence of our
hearts. Today was a reminder of the importance of bringing our hearts along.
The heart behind the mission truly changes things. I hope that you all make sure to
take your heart with you each and every day." - Katie
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