Bolivian Dreams Day 2- Surprise child visit



Jimmy and his dad

I was very nervous about meeting my sponsor children before this trip, but when I received my itinerary in the mail it stated that we would be meeting our kids in Cochabamba on tuesday, day 5 of our trip.  I figured this would be perfect as would allow me a few days to settle in and allow my sleep deprived brain to recover from the travel.  I nearly swallowed my tongue when Sean pulled me aside on the first day and told me that for those who had children living in Santa Cruz they were adding a second child visit on Saturday, DAY 2!!!  I was super excited but all of the sudden my nerves took over.  What if we didn't have anything to talk about?  What if I couldn't recognise my kids?  What if they didn't like me?  The original plan was for the kids to come to our hotel and for us to play in the hotel pool all day.  I for one hated the idea of being in a bathing suit in front of a group of strangers and I don't swim well.  Also, noone had really thought out whether our kids actually had swim suits and since this was a surprise I hadn't bought any as gifts.  Luckily we were able to convince Greg to change our outing to a zoo trip instead and it was wonderful.  In the morning after the rest of our group was off to their project visit I changed money and sat in the lobby waiting for my children.  I suddenly noticed that Susan was sitting with her child Reyna and her family and I felt like a total DOPE when a friend pointed out that the lovely Bolivian family on the other side of the room that I had vaguely noticed was actually my Noemi and her mom!  Our translaters had not yet all arrived but I hurried over and in my broken Spanglish and with the help of pantomime was able to convey that I was her sponsor and that no, I was not ignoring her.  Noemi arrived with her mother Isabella and a project worker.  Once the translater was there it was explained that Noemi's project has only been open a year but her mother had started as a kitchen helper and risen to the position of project director!  Noemi was very shy and it was like pulling teeth to get her to talk at first, the closer I leaned the softer she spoke until I basically caused her to go mute. The worker actually said she is known at the center as the quiet one and rarely talks.  She has a few close friends and loves reading, just like me!  Noemi is in the dance troupe at church however and is not shy there.  Her mother was quite talkative however and I learned Noemi is indeed the youngest of 11 and that all her adult siblings had finish high school.  Her mother is actually currently enrolled in University and hoping her children will follow her example.  This wonderful woman is a dynamo and actually had played soccer until 4 or 5 months pregnant with her 5th child.  Isabella made me a beautiful necklace, bracelet, and keychain.  

Jimmy the Brave

 

After chatting for quite a while I turned and noticed a quiet, sad little boy sitting with a man and woman.  I saw a name tag and squinted to read "Jimmy".  Since this child looked nothing like his picture it took me a second to realize he was my sponsor boy and I felt so bad.  I grabbed the translator and ran over and introduced myself to him and his father.  His father is 33 years old and works as a driver.  Jimmy is his oldest and has 3 younger siblings, his baby brother being 15 months.  Jimmy was shy and didn't say alot in the lobby.  I kept running back and forth between groups before I realized I was going about this all wrong so I called everyone together, introduced them all to each other and introduced the kids.  The bus soon arrived and drove us to the zoo.  Noemi sat near me but only because her mother also sat next to me and Jimmy sat with his dad.  It was at the zoo that Jimmy finally relaxed and started to enjoy himself.  We soon had  a game of "follow Jimmy" going as he raced from exhibit to exhibit as our impromptu tour guide.  He was so cute and apparently decided that because I didn't know Spanish, I also could not read because every time we came to a sign describing the animal he would read it to me very slowly in spanish and would not move until I repeated it back to him.  Jimmy apparently loves animals and wants to be a vet when he grows up.  I actually wanted to be a vet when I was his age but settled for practicing human medicine because schools are cheaper and easier to get in than vet schools.  Of course Jimmy's father also wants to send him to "football school" so that he may become a professional "footballer" and has also started the process of building a farm that he hopes to leave to Jimmy in another 15 years or so.  One thing that is not advertised about Compassion.  Not only does it give hope and the ability to dream to children, it allows parents like Jimmy's father who were not able to follow their dreams, to live them through their children.  You can tell that Jimmy's father is extremely proud of his son and though he made it clear that he has missed birthdays and holidays for work, he made sure to be present for child visit day.  He also told me that since Jimmy is so tiny (yes, even by Bolivian standards) that he is called "baby" by his classmates.  Though I am average height in Bolivia I am small by US standards and have been since the first grade, falling further behind by the year so I SO know what this child is going through.  It is amazing how God picked both these children for me and that we have so many similarities.  At the zoo Jimmy's sweetness came out and he kept giving hugs.  Noemi even got brave and at one point I had walked ahead with the two of then and they were chatting and I noticed Noemi's mom way up on the hill behind us.  Noemi's mom and the project worker had bought tortilla chips and wafer cookies and while everyone took one a piece my funny Jimmy took 3 and while he ate one he quietly slipped the others into his pocket which I thought was hilarious and SO 9 year old boy!  We bought him a small tub of what looked like dog food to feed to the ducks and very large fish in the moat around monkey island and it was like treasure to him though he did share with Noemi.  He was funny in how he rationed them and while the other kids were throwing handfuls he would throw in only one nugget at a time.  We had lunch after touring the zoo and while most of us had leftovers, tiny little Jimmy ate about everything on his plate.  We soon traveled back to the hotel and it was time for the kids to open their gifts.  They were super excited and so grateful and it made me so happy to see them happy.  Of course they both asked me when I would be back.  Jimmy's father who was quiet much of the day had the most touching thing to say however in his final statement, that I was part of their family now and that he would keep Jimmy in the project forever because that was the only way we would stay in contact and since we are family we cannot lose contact.  I love these kids so much and know without a shadow of a doubt that if something were to happen and they were dropped by their financial sponsors I would pick them both up, no matter what I would have to sacrifice.

 

Me and my kids with their gifts


 

Noemi and me



 

Me, Jimmy and his dad


 

Me, Noemi and Jimmy


 

Jimmy and a new rodent friend



Jimmy convinces Noemi the critter is tame

He was impressed with the big fish

Noemi and her mom Isabella

Me and Jimmy at lunch (yes, his mouth is full)

Jimmy and his gifts



Saying goodbye





Nearly too short to see over



Toucan Sam, I mean Jimmy



Our group with all our sponsor kids