Amanda Davis
March 26, 2003

Since we finished all of our survey’s yesterday, we only needed to come to the Center in the morning and walk back around our areas and make sure we had stopped at each house already. So, we only walked around from about 9:00 until 10:15, which was not bad at all. Then after that, some of us went downtown to do some more shopping and the others went back to the place to rest up for the afternoon festivities.

After we had all returned to our rooms, it was time for us to eat lunch. So we went down to the dining room and ate our lunch. We then gathered up all of our coloring books and crayons and headed out to a little village about 20 minutes away to visit a little school and pass put the coloring books to them. When we pulled up to the school some of the older children were outside playing while the younger kids were inside doing their schoolwork. So we went into a 1st grade class first. When we walked in the door, the kids faces lit up. They were so excited to see Americans in their classroom. They immediately began wondering why we were there and what we wanted from them. Once they found out that we were there to give them coloring books and crayons, they were so excited. We decided to go ahead and pass out the books so that the children could go ahead and start coloring in them while we were there talking to them. As soon as we gave the kids their own coloring book and crayons they began to color. As the children diligently colored, the teacher began talking to all of us in Spanish. I understood most of what he said. He told us that at the beginning of the year, the school only allows the class to have two boxes of crayons. The teacher said he broke all of the crayons into little pieces so that each student could have a little color for their papers. “Now,” he said politely, “each student can be as creative as they wish and use all the colors available to them!”

We walked around and tried to visit with as many of them as possible and make sure they had received the coloring book that they liked. None of them seemed to be dissatisfied with what they had just received. The teacher then made the students sing us all a song. Of course they sang in Spanish, but it still meant so much to me and everyone else. We were so glad and satisfied with our efforts, our experiences, and what we have accomplished on this trip. The kids really made this trip for us.

After we left the school, we went to the village from which the kids in the school live. This small village was, surprisingly, much more nice than the villages we have been working in all week. The houses were about the same as far as size and construction, but there was not as much dirt and garbage lying around like there was in the places we had been in earlier in the day. Everything seemed much cleaner.

There were a few very young children in this village at the time of our visit and so we gave them some of the coloring books and crayons that we had left over. They were so cute and sweet and enjoyed our gifts very much. What joy it gives me to see a twinkle in a child’s eye when I hand them a coloring book and a box of crayons. How humble I feel after the things I have done on this wonderful trip. I would have never imagined how big of an impact this trip would have on me. I have a new perspective on life after coming to these impoverished places.

As we walked around this small village, isolated by space and sugar cane, I reflect about what is important to me. Here, these people only have their work and each other. An old man smiles at me as I stroll under the shade of the banana trees. How can these who have so little, smile and laugh as if they have so much. I think that they do have much more than we realize. Material wealth may not be wealth at all. I learned as a girl in Sunday School that “blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God.” I have been humbled on this trip and believe truly that I have seen God. I have been humbled in spirit by the power of these people.

Also, I love meeting with all of the other students in the focus group meetings (Dr. Lucas calls them debriefing sessions). I am able to express to everyone else what I have experienced so far this trip and to hear all of the other stories that the other students have to tell. The times we meet with the focus group is a very emotional and moving time. I am having so much fun on this trip and I am so glad I came.

Dr. Lucas teaches us that all people have a story to tell and that we must learn to listen and observe what they are teaching us. I have learned so much and truly believe that this class has let me apply all I have learned over that past four years and use the education in a real way. This trip…well, I have to admit, I have heard the voice of the people!