iBlock: Who Are The Children of the DR

At breakfast on Thursday morning, Rach told us that Rebecca, Bethani, Emily, Erin, Erica, and I would be going to Esperanza. I was extremely excited to go back there, as I'd been hoping to go there at least one more time this week. I fell in love with Esperanza not only because of the crazy and wonderful children, but because of my siestas there. Each siesta, from 12-2, we would go and explore the surrounding village, meeting and interacting with local children. I was especially hoping to see Reynaldo again, a boy that I've bonded with over my various visits to Esperanza, along with his brother Ronaldo. (Reynaldo and Ronaldo... their parents are pretty creative.)

The morning was pretty typical, Rebecca and I taught a fourteen to sixteen year old class while Bethani and Emily taught a class of ten year olds. Erin wasn't feeling well, so she walked around with Erica, checking in on us and socializing with miscellaneous people.

At 12 we quickly had lunch, and then began our walk. I requested that we went towards Reynaldo and Ronaldo's home, so we went that way.

As we stepped out of the gates if Esperanza onto the road, a little 1-2 year old baby speed waddled up to us, running straight into Erin's crotch. We named her crotch baby. (We later learned that her name is Becki.)

We walked past a group of children bathing on the side of the road, pouring water on themselves with buckets and jugs. I didn't pay much attention, wanting to get to the home. Outside was the boys' father, and so I asked him where they were. He pointed back towards the children bathing and yelled something in Spanish. Sure enough, Reynaldo came out of the crowd shirtless, wearing soaking wet shorts. He saw the group of us, smiled, and ran into his home. Within a minute or so, he burst out of the doorway wearing dry clothes. And so we were off.

However, on the walk, I saw a boy about my age sitting on the side of the road. He was shirtless with a very short pair of shorts on, and stood as we approached. He began to wave and say, "hola", but I could tell by his movements, his voice, and his appearance that he had some sort of mental disability. Reynaldo calmly turned to me and told me that the boy is "loco", meaning crazy, which I don't judge him for saying. He's just a little boy growing up in a village and country that treats disabilities much differently than we do in Canada.

Erica also had a lady take her into her home, pulling out two pills, explaining that they're for her son. Apparently he goes crazy without them, and she can't afford more.

I saw that boy needing pills the next day, Friday.

And suddenly, it hit me.

That boy would probably be better off in the orphanage.

It made me think; the kids at the orphanage are not the entire population of disabled children in the Dominican Republic. There are both children and adults in countless villages that require special attention.

The rest of the day went by smoothly, and playing with the kids was a blast. But I couldn't stop thinking about the orphanage.

First of all, I'd just like to say that I do not hate the orphanage.

I do not dislike the children there.

I don't think that the orphanage is a sad place.

However, that doesn't mean that I love it.

My first two visits weren't enjoyable.

I felt uncomfortable there.

I hated how I felt so distant with the children there compared to children at other places we visit.

But I tried to focus on the fact that it's a wonderful place where great things are done.

Coming into the orphanage, I thought that it would be some terribly depressing place where we all cry all day. Some of the past groups weren't that dramatic, but were closer to that end of the spectrum than we were. I didn't cry. Not many of us did. The orphanage isn't an evil place, and I knew that. But even though I knew that in my mind, my heart still didn't like going to the orphanage. But during these past few days, starting on Thursday, I think that I've realized and finally felt in my heart just how much of a blessing the orphanage is.

And today, Saturday, on our final visit to the orphanage, it definitely clicked for me.

I suppose that sometimes it just takes some time, some patience, and perseverance. But I can honestly say that I actually enjoyed this visit to the orphanage. I spent a lot of time with a boy named Jolito, who is deaf.

But he's one of the happiest kids that I've ever met in my entire life.

It was odd at first, not being able to ask him simple questions in Spanish like where he wanted to go or if he wanted to eat more food.

But I got used to it. He took me upstairs to the older boys area, which is typically an uncomfortable place to be. However, he just walked up the stairs, I asked the nurses if it was alright if he came in, and they said it was as long as I kept an eye on him. So he led me around fearlessly, joyously showing me the lights and how he could turn them on and off.

I was happy. I was having fun.

Finally.

And I think about the other children in the Dominican Republic that we've interacted with, and the way the interactions have occurred.

The way Guimel ran around in the kitchen with me and Monica on our very first night in the DR, pretending to play with little guns going, "pew pew pew!". (We couldn't even introduce ourselves in Spanish at that point!)

The way that Christian happily showed me his favourite possessions from his small wooden shack; his toothpaste, his toothbrush, a small piece of a mirror, and then even went outside and pointed out his grandpa.

The way Darlin, who's lost his mother and has no father who cares for him, jumps onto me for a hug or a piggyback ride.

The way Ruth jumps into Megan's arms each time we enter the gates of Compassion, never wanting to let her go.

The way that Cha Cha from Ina's village perked up when I ask her if she remembers "Becki" from last year's group.

The way that little Javuer ran up to me within seconds of entering the schoolyard at Sabana, screaming in Spanish. I asked Rach what he was saying, and she said, "Um... 'go back to your home.'"

And although those are children of the Dominican Republic, the ones running around yelling, laughing, and getting piggyback rides... they are not the only children of the Dominican Republic. The children of the Dominican Republic are also the ones who are less physically and mentally able. The ones who are special in the ways that they do their own things.

The way that Rosa threw up because Emily and Zach excited her too much after lunch.

The way Dominga just wanted me to take her out of her crib so that she could sit and touch the grass outside.

The way Mary and Ava ran around with Emily and Megan, giggling and laughing, singing about where they wanted to go.

The way Ricardo played guitar with Brian and Zach, having curled up hands and no previous experience.

The way that Freddie smiled and laughed at each of Jordan's movements when he took him out to the lawn.

The way Jolito laughed and clapped when he turned the lights on and off, showing everyone upstairs.

The way that Elizabeth couldn't stop giggling when Sam would peek out from under her crib while playing peekaboo.

So when Erin has a baby run straight into her, or when Emily sits with a girl with 12 fingers, or when I'm watching Reynaldo and Ronaldo play with their friend Fadiel, or when Tomei is showing us all his baby chickens at the orphanage, we can all enjoy and cherish those things. And of course we all prefer different places and situations, but none is more special than the other.

The kids who run, the kids who laugh and sing, and the kids who dance are all a part of this beautiful country. But the ones who sit, lay down, smile, and giggle are just as significant. They are all the children of the Dominican Republic, and the children of God. And although I find it difficult interacting with a lot of children at the orphanage, I know and now feel that they are just as special, and just as loved as the loud and wonderful village children.

"At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.'" -Matthew 11:25

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.'" -Matthew 18:1-5

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” -Matthew 19:14

I now know and feel that they're all what makes the Dominican so special to me. And I also know that they're even more special to God.