From 5:30 in the morning to 9:00 at night New Hope Village is alive with activity, and I am constantly privy to new life.  Yesterday Natali showed me her new bunny, Melanie had a dog with a newborn puppy outside her house, and as I walked to the office a hen and her six chicks were scrounging for food.

At times this community seems like a utopia, with babies playing under the watchful eye of an older sibling and sunrises and sunsets like you wouldn’t believe.  At other times I am reminded of how privileged my life has been growing up in the states.  I don’t have to worry whether a police officer is helpful or corrupt, I can walk along the streets and feel safe, I can throw garbage in a can and somebody takes it somewhere.  There are infrastructures in place that have allowed me to live a very easy life. 

Living here I am also reminded that although this is a great place for the children of New Hope Village, their lives are not perfect.  There was the situation where one child was acting out and after talking to him the school staff discovered he had not eaten for a couple of days.  Or the situation where a mother had to work in the city and her son spent his 13th birthday alone in their house.

The stories like this continue, but the incredible thing is the resilience of the children here.  They are full of such love and excitement.  Every day as I enter the school I get hugs, kisses and greetings from the kids.  If I am walking down the street (there really is only one street!), I hear kids calling from across the community, “Hola Seño Holli.”  And if I am ever joining them for snack time I am sure to get a portion of at least one child’s snack.

I have been truly fortunate to have spent the past year with the children of New Hope, and I know that their smiles, and hugs, and kisses will be what I remember most.

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