Immeasurable Joy

Traveling to the Dominican Republic with Orphanage Outreach was an unforgettable experience that has fueled my desire to continue serving others.  Gaining a greater appreciation for the richness of simple things, one of the invaluable lessons I took away from my time with these kind and generous children was to be present in the moment and live your best life always.  The easiest way to explain this is to describe the first scene I saw as the bus in which I was riding approached the orphanage.  Dozens of children were running along the beach flying these enormous kites with brightly colored tails.  Everyone on the bus “oohed and aahed” as we were amazed at how high in the air these vibrant beautiful kites were soaring.  Once inside the gates of the orphanage and upon closer inspection, I realized the kites were made of sticks, plastic trash bags and bathroom tissue which had been colored with markers!  There was something wonderfully metaphorical about creating a thing of remarkable beauty from the most unremarkable and “unbeautiful” of objects and watching that creation function at a level higher than anyone would have imagined, providing immeasurable joy, not only to the creator, but to others who witnessed the creation in all its glory. 

On my first day at the orphanage, I found myself feeling a bit sorry for the children because of the lack of modern conveniences we take for granted, such as a clean sanitation system, and reliable electricity.  It was also evident that the orphanage did not provide any conventional toys for the children.  Aside from the homemade kites, another popular pastime in which the children engaged was tire racing.  This game consisted of “racing” dusty worn-out tires across the dirt roads using a wooden stick or paddle to roll and steer the tires until the finished line was crossed.  On the surface, it appeared as if the children had so little, yet I soon was shown that, in reality, they have more meaningful possessions than most American youngsters.  The value the Dominicans place on nurturing long-lasting relationships, a deep respect for their culture, and a genuine love for each other was such a refreshing change from the typical self-absorbed American teenager armed with all the latest technological advancements their parents’ money can buy.  In contrast, the children at the orphanage would use their last few pesos to buy candy and snacks during the school recess, not for themselves, but for me and the other volunteers as a way to show their fondness for us.  Despite their lack of financial resources, these children were not concentrating on what we could do for them; they wanted to give back to us.  This mutually beneficial relationship of sharing and learning from each other allowed me to better understand the true meaning of service.    

The main purpose of the Orphanage Outreach trip was to teach English to disadvantaged children, not only in the orphanage, but in the surrounding public schools.  These children do not have the same educational advantages as children in the United States, or even in other parts of the Dominican Republic, as the orphanage is located in a very isolated, rural area.  Becoming fluent in the English language encourages these children to seek enhanced scholastic and employment opportunities.  At the start of my trip, the language barrier (I do not speak or understand Spanish) made it difficult to communicate with the children and I was often overcome with feelings of frustration because I could not understand anything and did not know how to respond to what was being said.  Thinking about the kites the children created reminded me that I need to be responsible for finding creative solutions for the communication difficulty and could not be discouraged with the things that I could not change.  After a couple of days, I came to the realization that a common language was not necessary to effectively communicate and make an impact in these children’s lives.  This dilemma forced me to step outside my comfort zone and find creative ways to communicate that did not involve language.  I was unable to communicate in a traditional sense, such as a conversation, yet I was able to communicate my caring for the children and foster a sense of belonging.  I primarily used my body language, voice inflection, infectious smile, and countless Piggy back rides.

Orphanage Outreach was an experience like no other, and it is my hope that I can encourage others to participate in one or more of these service trips.  I give you my personal guarantee that you will be a changed person, for the better, after your time in the Dominican Republic.