Andrea and Lúcia started as volunteers in caring for the Migrant’s children in the Kehilla, which is the Hebrew- speaking Catholic Community in Jerusalem. We are looking after the babies ranging from 6 months to 3 years. We go twice a week and the children are from different countries such as the Philippines, India, Ecuador, Israel and Ethiopia.
Every week we have a special topic to work with them, so we have been learning some Hebrew words so that we can communicate with them in the various activities and games. These activities include painting, dancing, drawing, learning the colors, movement of the body, etc. Also, we give them their food and take care of their needs during the day. We do everything with joy and love because with the little and simple things that we do with them, we are helping them for their future. It is like the butterfly effect, with a simple flutter of a butterfly, it can be felt on the other side of the world, that is to say, there is a minimum change.
Really, this experience has been a wonderful and a blessed opportunity to share with these children since they give us a lot of energy, joy and love. We feel very happy, when we share with them because it is necessary to see their faces, laughing, singing, dancing and their incredible imagination. We can see God´s face through them.
“Jesus said: Let the little children alone, and do not stop them from coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of Heaven belongs.”(Matthew. 19,14)
Father Theodore said that we must leave ourselves so that the love of God enters into our hearts and that is why we are giving our time and gifts to them. We thank God for this wonderful experience. We will save this experience as a precious stone in our hearts so that it will help us when we need a precious stone to walk and to live out the plan of God.
Father Theodore said:
“To find out if a person is good, it is important to find out if she loves art, flowers, birds and little children.” (Book 3, pg. 41)
Andrea Chacon, Novice NDS
Ein Karem