Here’s something sweetly ironic about working with kids. In class time, play time, and beyond, my team and I spend focused energy working to teach important “life lessons” to our kids, such as how to share or how to treat each other with love. We often think we are the only teachers in this scenario—and then, unassumingly, the kids find a way to turn around and teach us right back.
This past weekend, two of my fourth graders showed me a little bit about love and service to others. It was 7:30 at night and my leaders and I found ourselves in the Nueva Esperanza neighborhood, walking some of the Camp Hope kids home after a special day that had gone especially late. In Copán, no matter the season, 7:30 pm means almost pitch darkness, and hiking up a mountain at this time of day would be no easy task. But that was exactly where new camper Olga lived: at the top of the mountain that looks over Nueva Esperanza. So Olga, youth leader Johnatan, and I set off on a nighttime trek.
I will not sugar coat this one: I was not happy about our luck. I was tired and hot from the day, and was supposed to be meeting some friends to watch a movie that night. But just as I was getting really whiny in my own head, I heard two little voices yell from behind us, “Hey guys, wait up!”
It was Ruth and Brayan, equipped with flashlights and an energetic bounce in their step, coming up the path behind us. Ruth and Brayan both live in the center of Nueva Esperanza. But instead of going straight home to their houses to eat dinner or watch TV, they chose to accompany us and light the way on our walk to Olga’s house—and why not? If you have a flashlight and someone else has a long dark walk ahead, why not take that chance to love and serve them?
As for me, I might not have chosen to show the love that they did that night; at least not with the attitude I was carrying. But these two fourth graders certainly changed my grouchy perspective in 2 seconds flat. We had a wonderful hike. We laughed and talked happily together the whole way, and Olga’s family was very thankful for our effort. And best of all, together we were able to share the joy of seeing God’s glittering, miraculous creation laid out before us from the top of the mountain.
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