Volcano

A month before my trip to Costa Rica, I did quite a lot of hiking. However, all of those hikes did not seem to prepare me for hiking the volcano. When we drove up to the volcano it was so interesting to see the greenery along the rode as I am used to seeing concrete paths, and buildings and homes. We passed by fruit trees and what they called a living fence where plants grew around the barb wired and created a barrier of plants. When we finally got to the hiking spot it had started to drizzle and there was a deep fog that hung down but that didn't stop us from venturing off. Another things that didn't stop us were the " in case of eruption signs". When we started off on the hike it was pretty simple. There was a section where there were steps which made the hike pretty easy. However after those sections it was a continuous uphill climb. There were a few times where I can to stop and readjust myself to the steepness and the altitude, but I persevered nonetheless. As the fog rolled in more and the rain drops danced down from the sky, it seemed the elevate the colors of the plants growing along the trail. Various shades of green, brown , red and gold shimmered through. Some of the plants grew outward, as if they were boldly expressing who they were and showing off their color and diverse shape. Other plants were more humble and grew low, folded over and blanketed the the earth. Our hike not only brought us a diversity of plants but a diversity of people too. French, German, American, South American, families, children, people young and old all walked over each other footprints on the path up the Volcano. When we got to the crater we looked over the edge to be amazed and all we saw was fog. The fog that had rolled in when we started our hike had beat us to the top and claimed the crater for no one else to see. A slight disappointment but the victory wasn't just in the destination but the journey of making it to the top. When headed back down we had to make a quick stop to this small little shop that sold delicious strawberries that grew off the volcano and the wine they made from the strawberries. Our final stop was too a restaurant where I had one of the most delicious meals I ever had. I order the chicken with rice and beans and the chicken so was soft and tender that is was practically falling off the bone. Very flavorful and filling. After our bellies were we were off to our shoe distribution for the day. Our shoe distribution this day went by very fast, as the children were very close to be let out of school for the day. However a short distribution led to us being able to play with the children. Right after the distribution a soccer game was started. I felt a little guilty jumping into the game, although I was invited I am a horrible soccer player. But although I kicked the ball a grand total of one time, I could not stop laughing and smiling.Seeing the interactions the children had, and the excitement and energy that flowed through them filled me with such joy.Even though I didn't understand everything they said but I studied their body language and watched their mannerisms and could see the bonds the children had within each other. Through watching them I felt welcomed and honored to be accepted amongst them. After playing a few games and running around, we decided to take some of the extra shoes we had to a school in one of the squatter communities. As we drove up , we passed by a wall that was built around the school. This was no ordinary wall, this wall was specifically built to prevent outsiders from giving the children drugs to sell. A wall that could only hide a small portion of the tragic things the children are exposed to. When we set up our supplies, the children rushed over. The line was so long you would have thought they were waiting to get on a Disneyland ride. The children were filled with anxious energy, and they tried their best to hold in their excitement as they waited to get their new pairs of shoes. When we took a break from passing out shoes the children loved to be in front of the camera. Many of the rushed to be in a group photo and enjoyed making silly faces and exaggerated poses in front of the camera. It warmed my heart to see the smiles and hear the laughter from the children knowing that outside of their school's walls they faced many challenges, and temptations that robbed them of their childhood.

Costa Rica: Smile

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.