Julieth and Angie are going to change the world! Along with spending every Wednesday afternoon at El Bosque teaching the girls there about the theater and performing, and being a Scout (Angie), and part of Jovenes por La Paz (Julieth), and going to school M-F, the girls had time to begin Mision Sonrisa last year. Mision Sonrisa puts on a very nice breakfast for close to 100 children in La Playa. They also plan and execute 4-hours of activities and lunch for over 100 children from El Bosque. Both of these activities are to acknowledge that these children have prepared and are ready to receive their First Communion. As most people know, receiving First Communion is a big deal, which means in most places in the world children have parties hosted by their families and/or schools. These children's families cannot afford to put on a party or really celebrate their child's First Communion, so Julieth and Angie provide the celebration for them. It may not change the lives of these children, but it tells them they are important enough for a party to be held in their honor.
I was lucky enough to join Julieth and Angie for their El Bosque activities. They transported the children via bus to La Ensenanza for the event. They also enlisted some of their friends from the school (and a couple teachers) and some of Angie's Scout friends to help. The volunteers set up several activity stations for the children such as an obstacle course, a Christmas story dramatization station, a craft station, a dress-up station, a team-work station, a potato sack race, etc. After almost 3 hours of the activity stations, the children were given a lunch of hot dogs (made by Julieth's mom), juice, and an apple. After lunch, the Scouts led the children in some fun chants and songs. Then every child got a wrapped present. I must mention that the presents were wrapped because each one was wrapped by Julieth and Angie. The girls all got a Barbie-type doll and the boys all got a slinky or a hand-held game. I so enjoyed watching the children's faces as they each received and opened their gift. I had no idea such a small gift could provide such huge smiles.
At the end of the event, Julieth talked about what a privilege it was to get to be involved in an event like that, and then she thanked everyone for their help. I was incredibly impressed by her humility. She and Angie planned the entire event and during the event they worked tirelessly to make sure everyone was happy and everything was running smoothly. It was quite impressive for her to stand up and thank everyone else for what they did rather than taking credit for the event, which she and Angie clearly deserved.
I wish I were talented enough with words to clearly express the level at which I am in awe of Julieth and Angie. They get nothing more than personal satisfaction from doing what they do. They do not help people because it looks good on their college applications - the college apps here don't even ask about extra-curricular activities. They do not help people because they are trying to fulfill their required school service hours - they completed those long ago. They help people because they cannot see a need and not do something about it. WOW!! If only we all saw our fellow citizens like that. If they were in the US, I guarantee Oprah would want them on her show, but they probably wouldn't want to go. The last thing they want is public recognition for what they do. How do we create more children like them? When I grow up I want to be just like them.
One final comment...I was so impressive with Mision Sonrisa when I heard about it that I sent an email to my family asking them to donate a small amount of money to the cause. I knew before that my family was generous, but to have them ALL respond within hours with pledges greater than I had even asked for brought tears to my eyes. Julieth and Angie were so shocked they didn't even know what to say, but they were sweet enough to put it on a poster. By the way, the girls told me that my family's donation made it possible to give a gift to every single child from both La Playa and El Bosque. Pretty awesome!!
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