Our recent move brought many changes to Love & Hope Children’s Home. Most of these changes were welcomed. We have a beautiful new living space. We are within walking distance to a lot of things to do, and a short-bus ride away from the schools that our kids attend. We have a flower garden and thick grass in our yard. A wonderful, spacious park is literally steps away from Love & Hope’s front door. Our new neighborhood is one of the safest in San Salvador. There are so many things to be excited about.
The move also brought one big relational change that was difficult. Because our new house is located inside of a gated street, Love & Hope no longer has to employ guards. The layout and locations of our houses in Nejapa and in Los Planes de Renderos made having 24-hour guards a necessity as they recorded every person and vehicle coming and going from the houses, amongst other responsibilities. More importantly, these three men were “tios” to our children, positive male role models that were there to protect them, play with them and instruct them. To say “goodbye” to and celebrate Love & Hope’s three beloved guards, we had cake and made each of them a scrapbook containing a picture of each child with a personal note.
Anyone who has visited Love & Hope Children’s Home since it was founded (10 years ago this month) will recognize Hermano Gilberto’s (“brother” Gilberto’s) kind face. Gilberto actually became an employee of Love & Hope before Rachel moved to El Salvador permanently! Gilberto was so much more than a guard; during the 10 years that he worked at Love & Hope, he also served as a caregiver and pastor.
Gilberto is gifted with wisdom. It was rare to walk over to the guard’s desk during his shift and not see an open Bible. If anyone in the house had a spiritual question to ask, Gilberto had a sure-fire answer. The children often went to him for help with homework because of his history expertise. “Tio Gil” seemed to know a little about everything and he was always willing to impart his knowledge to a listening ear.
Hermano Paulino worked at Love & Hope Children’s Home for almost four years. We could always count on him for a friendly greeting and smile upon returning home. Paulino is a worker: never idle, always moving, always helping, always fixing, always doing. It wasn’t uncommon to see Paulino helping the kids with their chores, cutting up vegetables for the cook and generally going above and beyond his duties as a guard to bless others.
Paulino clearly enjoyed being with the Love & Hope kids. He constantly played with them, teased them and enjoyed movies in the kitchen with them. Paulino is also a good friend to so many of the caregivers and volunteers at Love & Hope. His rare sense of humor kept everyone laughing.
Hermano Daniel, who worked at Love & Hope Children’s Home for three years, was better known as just “hermanito.” Hermanito is an affectionate way of calling someone “brother” in Spanish. Daniel earned this nickname because it was his greeting for just about every person that lived or worked at the house in Los Planes de Renderos. Daniel is gentle and willing. He was a quiet but consistent, humble and comforting presence in the house, very appreciated and valued by our Love & Hope family.
The Love & Hope kids also said goodbye to a very special volunteer, Sara. Sara had been volunteering with us since January. While she mainly helped with the little boys, Sara also filled in as a caregiver for the little girls. During her nine months here though, Sara was able to form a meaningful relationship with just about every child. The older girls were especially fond of her, seeking her out for late night dance parties, movies and sleepovers on the roof. The older girls even planned, baked for and payed for their own farewell party in Sara’s honor.
On the evening before she left, Sara presented all of the children with character awards. As she read a characteristic for each child, we all had fun trying to guess who she was talking about. By the end of her ceremony, everyone felt special and unique; this is one of Sara’s talents. During her time at Love & Hope she took special care to love everyone, kids and adults alike, exactly the way that would encourage and comfort them most. Sara’s selflessness, friendliness, and uninhibited nature were qualities that we all adored and learned from, and her sense of humor kept us very entertained!
Love & Hope Children’s Home has been so incredibly blessed by Gilberto, Paulino, Daniel and Sara. It would be impossible to fully describe in words how very special you all are to us. Thank you for faithfully answering God’s call to serve “the least of these.” Visit us soon!