Humility

Photo: Luis Enrique, the Peruvian volunteer that introduced us to

Hogar de Vida and one of the children from the home.

This afternoon I had the privilege to visit a small non-government organization (Hogar de Vida) that focuses their services toward HIV+ children and their mothers.

Sitting on the dirty sofa in the practically empty living room of the home, I watched child after child run around and play. The house was filled with mother's and their kids. The Director told us that the house reaches maximum capacity at 21 women and children - but that they routinely take more and have them sleep on the floor or wherever they can fit.

She told us that the organization works with practically nothing. They receive a small amount of food from the government programs - but this food is never enough to feed the more than 70 HIV/AIDS women and children that come to the house everyday for food (this is in addition to the 21 families in the house).

She asked if we could help them to purchase a "milligram" scale so that they could accurately measure the medications they needed to provide to the children every day. She told us that they had been struggling to use the old scale because it failed to provide accurate readings - and "getting the right dose for the child is very important."

She told us of her struggles to gain the financial donations to send all of the children to school. For, although their tuition to school in the public system is free - they needed to pay the extra expenses to keep the children in the schools. She told us that the cost for one child is not great - but when compounded by 21 children, the task becomes almost impossible.

As we talked with the Director a few of the children came to the sofas where we were sitting. They instantly gravitated toward Christina (a wonderful young Peruvian-American woman who volunteers to help translate for our work). They hung on her arms and affectionately hugged her chest.

Watching the little girls made me realize that there is so much more that we can do. It made we realize that the work we are seeking to accomplish will never end. It made me realize that ever little child deserves the best care, love and compassion we can possibly offer.

Sitting on that couch today with two little girls who are both HIV and TB positive - was really humbling.