Distribution One! My first day volunteering for Sleeping Children
Around the World. I'm excited and nervous, hoping to do a good job and be
useful and not mess up. As we roll down the rural roads in our van, I wonder
what to expect when we arrive at our destination and soon enough, I know:
throngs of children and their parents, waving green, red and blue balloons in
the air as they shout out their greetings to us. Oh, my. I try to stay
composed, but I am overwhelmed and inevitably the tears roll down my face.
We drive through the gate, into the compound and go to say
"Hola" to some of the girls and boys, who are beautiful and sweet.
Ranging in ages from six to twelve, each child is patiently waiting to receive
their mattress, pillow, sheet, pillowcase, t-shirt and shorts, backpack, school
supplies and mosquito net.
But now we have to get to work. It's my job to line up the kids
for their photos. What a pleasure to meet them and have fun with them! One adorable little girl crosses her arms
over her chest when she is about to be handed a bedkit, because even now she
cannot believe that she is getting this precious gift. The day falls into a
pattern and everything goes smoothly, even when I send one little
"nino" for his photo wearing his old shirt and not the one he has
received from SCAW. But that is quickly fixed.
And now we're done. All of the photos have been taken and it is
time to pack up and go back to our hotel. I wonder how today's four hundred
children are doing with their new bedkits.
