You can survive!
I remember walking into this community where the homes were brightly colored and looked barely put together. The children surrounded us with smiles and looked at us with curious eyes. Hugo, the founder of the children's center called Smiles with Hope in which we were visiting, greeted us as we came in. Before knowing his title I could tell he was a person who was loved. For as he walked in the children ran up to him with glee and attached themselves to his arms and legs, and began swinging and dangling from his limbs.
Walking into the center we walked across a small bridge over a ravine. We walked into a large room that was very hot with a small stage in the back in which we were brought to. We gathered on stage with a group of children and suddenly music started to play. The song was in Spanish of course so we all just went along with the movement of the children. They would move to the right we'd move too. They would raise their arms up and do a silly dance and we would mimic their moves. Then, to our surprise, we were bombard with laughter and little hands tickling us. After realizing what was going on we started tickling back. For those 2- 3 minutes the song was going on I couldn't stop laughing. Not just because of what was going on but because there was this energy of love in the room. These children welcomed us, not knowing our names, not really knowing who we were but simply trusted us.
After the song and after some playing around the children had to leave to go to school and we were invited to sit down and listen and learn more about the place we had just entered. The place we were at was built as a safe haven. The children of the community at a very young age are exposed to drugs, violence and prostitution. Their childhood is filled with distress and chaos. Sonrisas con Esperanza , Smiles with Hope, was built for children to have a place where they can be themselves. To smile, laugh and be children. Not only does the center provide a safe place for the children but for the mothers as well. Teaching them crafts, and skills to such as doing hair and nails, so that they can make better choices in their lives and have a opportunity for success.
There is always hope, even in the darkest of places. But you have to believe in that hope to be elevated by it. Hugo's life was far from pleasant, and saying it was difficult may even underestimate the struggles he went through. Orphaned at the age of 5, for most of his childhood he lived on the streets, ate our of garbage cans and was constantly surrounded by drugs and prostitution. He even tried taking his life at a very young age. Fortunately, one day a friend told him about the Lord and his faith was renewed. He followed the word of God and was cared for in a safe environment. When he got older he started working as a clown, because he wanted to make children smile. And as time went on he created the center where many smiles pass through every day. What is also more inspiring about Hugo besides his triumph over his childhood experiences, is that he works for no income. He works by faith and every month himself along with his family is taken care of, through the generosity of others.
Whether you believe in God or not, it is vital to always believe in something better. Always have Hope. I think to myself what would have happened if Hugo had given up? The the children of La Cuenca, Guararí,Costa Rica may have walked amongst the streets without a smile on their faces. They would have been trapped in a world that would ultimately destroy them. But it is because he didn't give up and let is struggles overcome him that many children and families can find peace, love, hope and a second chance.
"This ministry was born as a result of God seeking to put smiles of love and hope in the hearts of these families, especially the children who have tears in their hearts"
Fore more information about Sonrisas con Esperanza, visit their facebook page at :
https://www.facebook.com/SonrisasConEsperanza?fref=tsm
Children are born with hope, and it radiates through their smiles. Even when children have experienced or seen horrible things their hope still flows and exist through them. Sometimes when we get older we see so much evil that it kills our hope. But if a child can believe in the good out there, why can't we let out minds do the same. It's not because we know more or that we are wiser, it's because we stop believing and appreciating the little good that is there.
I remember walking into this community where the homes were brightly colored and looked barely put together. The children surrounded us with smiles and looked at us with curious eyes. Hugo, the founder of the children's center called Smiles with Hope in which we were visiting, greeted us as we came in. Before knowing his title I could tell he was a person who was loved. For as he walked in the children ran up to him with glee and attached themselves to his arms and legs, and began swinging and dangling from his limbs.
Walking into the center we walked across a small bridge over a ravine. We walked into a large room that was very hot with a small stage in the back in which we were brought to. We gathered on stage with a group of children and suddenly music started to play. The song was in Spanish of course so we all just went along with the movement of the children. They would move to the right we'd move too. They would raise their arms up and do a silly dance and we would mimic their moves. Then, to our surprise, we were bombard with laughter and little hands tickling us. After realizing what was going on we started tickling back. For those 2- 3 minutes the song was going on I couldn't stop laughing. Not just because of what was going on but because there was this energy of love in the room. These children welcomed us, not knowing our names, not really knowing who we were but simply trusted us.
After the song and after some playing around the children had to leave to go to school and we were invited to sit down and listen and learn more about the place we had just entered. The place we were at was built as a safe haven. The children of the community at a very young age are exposed to drugs, violence and prostitution. Their childhood is filled with distress and chaos. Sonrisas con Esperanza , Smiles with Hope, was built for children to have a place where they can be themselves. To smile, laugh and be children. Not only does the center provide a safe place for the children but for the mothers as well. Teaching them crafts, and skills to such as doing hair and nails, so that they can make better choices in their lives and have a opportunity for success.
There is always hope, even in the darkest of places. But you have to believe in that hope to be elevated by it. Hugo's life was far from pleasant, and saying it was difficult may even underestimate the struggles he went through. Orphaned at the age of 5, for most of his childhood he lived on the streets, ate our of garbage cans and was constantly surrounded by drugs and prostitution. He even tried taking his life at a very young age. Fortunately, one day a friend told him about the Lord and his faith was renewed. He followed the word of God and was cared for in a safe environment. When he got older he started working as a clown, because he wanted to make children smile. And as time went on he created the center where many smiles pass through every day. What is also more inspiring about Hugo besides his triumph over his childhood experiences, is that he works for no income. He works by faith and every month himself along with his family is taken care of, through the generosity of others.
Whether you believe in God or not, it is vital to always believe in something better. Always have Hope. I think to myself what would have happened if Hugo had given up? The the children of La Cuenca, Guararí,Costa Rica may have walked amongst the streets without a smile on their faces. They would have been trapped in a world that would ultimately destroy them. But it is because he didn't give up and let is struggles overcome him that many children and families can find peace, love, hope and a second chance.
"This ministry was born as a result of God seeking to put smiles of love and hope in the hearts of these families, especially the children who have tears in their hearts"
Fore more information about Sonrisas con Esperanza, visit their facebook page at :
https://www.facebook.com/SonrisasConEsperanza?fref=tsm
Children are born with hope, and it radiates through their smiles. Even when children have experienced or seen horrible things their hope still flows and exist through them. Sometimes when we get older we see so much evil that it kills our hope. But if a child can believe in the good out there, why can't we let out minds do the same. It's not because we know more or that we are wiser, it's because we stop believing and appreciating the little good that is there.
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