LIFE AT THE HOGAR :]

Following my heart...never felt so good :]

So, I arrived at the Hogar on Monday night and had my first official day here on Tuesday. Words cannot explain how much I love it here! I am going to try and describe what life is like here, but I may not be able to do it justice.

The Hogar currently houses 55 children ranging from 2 months to 25 years. The children have various issues...cancer, disabilities, missing limbs, cleft palates/lips and burned areas. These kids are amazing. Never have I seen children with such horrible problems, smile so much! I'm up by 7:00 am to help shower and dress the younger children. Breakfast is ready down stairs for all of the children. All 55 children, the Doctor (Doctor Tony, I'll tell you about him in a minute), cooks, social workers, physical therapist, nurses and volunteers eat together in the dining area. Before every meal, the children pray the Our Father, Hail of Mary and a thank you to the Doctor. Watching them eat is magical...that sounds creepy, but it really is. Victor, who only has one leg (no other limbs), eats with his toes. Esmerelda eats with a bionic, prosthetic arm. Absolutely amazing. It is hard to not cry watching these kids overcome such obstacles.

After breakfast is baby hour! We can take some of the babies out of the nursery to play with them for 2 hours. Everyone knows I am not a fan of babies, but these babies are an exception. Never have I been so attached to a baby before! The babies all have different issues, from webbed hands and feet, severe mental retardation and leukemia. They are all just so happy to play for a few hours rather than be in their cribs.

Once we are finished with baby hour, it is time for lunch! Lunch is crazy. Let me say it again, lunch is crazy. A handful of children visit Lima hospitals every day for treatment so children come in for lunch at all different times of the day. The cooks here are amazing! They have been working for the Hogar for almost 20 years now, cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. The food is great! It's traditional Peruvian food but a lot more kid friendly :]

A have a bit of free time before baby hour again! Afternoon baby hour we can take a few of the babies to the park to sit in the sun and play. Yesterday, I took Miguel. He is such a handful but so amazing. Miguel has the most infectious laugh I have ever heard! Love him. Coffee hour with the doctor is right after baby hour, and all the volunteers go with the doctor to a cafe about 10 minutes away. This is such a nice time to talk have coffee, eat cake and talk to the doctor without 50 kids hanging on your feet! The Doctor says he loves coffee hour just as much as the volunteers do because it's his only hour to de-stress and reflect on the day.

Dinner happens right when we return from coffee hour and is a huge production because all of the kids are home. What happens before we pray is my favorite part of the day by far. All of the children have their hands and feet washed...in a bucket of soapy water. Last night, I got to wash everyone's hands and feet (we wash their feet because the children with missing arms eat with their toes) and it was the greatest thing I have ever done. This sounds so stupid, but I felt empowered washing the hands and feet of these children that are so grateful for just being alive. I said that I have never felt more unity than the Britney Spears concert I just went too, but I definitely feel more unity here :] hahahahah

The Doctor, Dr. Tony, attends Mass every single night after dinner. Mass is unreal. Tons of people, in a small church, all speaking spanish...what's not to love?! My connection with God has grown so much already because of the children, other volunteers and Dr. Tony. I can say without a doubt, the Doctor is a saint. For the last 30 years, he has been practicing medicine at the Hogar and has taken in thousands of children. Everyday he eats with the children, dresses them, showers them, plays with them, evaluates new cases and uses every part of his heart for the children. I have never met anyone in my life that is so passionate, caring, loving and a true servant of God. The physical therapist told me that for the last 10 years, Dr. Tony has cried every single night at Mass while praying for the children. There is no better feeling than seeing someone serve the world with their talents.

Once we come back from Mass, we help the children with their homework, play with them (UNO is a favorite here too) and share traditions. Tonight I learned some Peruvian dance that all of the teenagers do in the discotecas. Obviously, they laughed at me when I tried to dance! At the end of the night, I am beyond tired. Typing this blog post has taken me forever because all I want to do is sleep!

These children make me want to dedicate my life to service even more. They have so many issues but they laugh and play is if they are on top of the world. I can't even describe how much these kids have already changed my life. I feel brand new and ready to start the day every morning when I see their smiling faces. I wish everyone in the world could feel the way I do right now.

Saying prayers, washing dishes, going to mass, cooking, helping with homework, playing kick the can, cleaning burns, hospital visits, cleaning baby barf, showering paralyzed children, brushing teeth, laughing, meeting a saint, washing hands and feet like Jesus did, learning to color with my toes, teaching a boy to walk, dancing, sharing a meal with 60 others, great conversation, coffee and cake, learning spanish and teaching english, 2nd grade math, wiping tears, braiding hair....THIS IS WHY I CAME TO PERU :]

Life could not be any better right now! Thank you to everyone who supported my decision in switching organizations. I could not have had the courage to do so, without all of you!

I'll end this post with lyrics to one of my favorite songs, Page 811, "The Summons", that just made me want to follow my heart because I know this is what I was called to do!

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

LOVE WITH ALL MY HEART :]
-tean