As we loaded up in our white panel van, cramming in all 22 of us, our towels in hand, we had grins of anticipation on our faces. This would no doubt be a day to remember.
We were going to visit some very dear friends at the local pool in a nearby city, Santo Thomas. After the brief 15 minute ride, we arrived at our destination, hopped out of the van, and waited in the parking lot.
After a few minutes passed, one of my teammates exclaimed, "Oh, there they are," as a little minibus with the words "Escuela Especial" (Special School) pulled up. That's right! We were about to spend a day at the pool with 20 kids from the special needs school we have visited several times since we began our work here in Puerto Barrios. It would be a day to remember!
The kids streamed out of the bus and then each of us was assigned one of them…And we would be their buddy/temporary parent for the day. I was paired up with a smiley wide-eyed 11 year old kiddo named Reuben. To be honest, I never found out what Reuben's disability is. He spoke clearly and could swim, and run, and jump like a champ.
The first thing that struck me about Reuben was his giving heart. As soon as we sat down next to each other before entering the swimming area, he pulled out a banana (my favorite fruit) and then pointed out a second one in his backpack and offered it to me. In the rush of the morning I hadn't eaten breakfast, so I was blessed to have it.
The second was his goofy, yet trusting spirit. He was happy just to be himself, and crack little pre-adolescent jokes as he hid underneath my towel because he was "freezing" (in Guatemala?!) while asking me to go check on the water to see if it was suitable swimming temperature. He was so willing to hang out all day with me, a 20 year old gringo who he'd only seen a handful of times.
The third thing I noticed about Reuben was how he treated me with so much respect and kindness. While we were swimming I kept challenging him to swim a little further in one breath. "Swim there," I'd say, pointing to a line in the kiddie pool. And he'd try! Much to my amazement, he was talking with one of our ministry contacts later and told her what a great swimming teacher I was…I didn't even think I was teaching him anything!
Without a doubt I can say that Reuben for the entire day I was with him did one thing. He was simply himself. The giving, trusting, goofy, respectful, and kind person that God made him to be. My question to you, family and friends, and to myself is: Are we being who God made us to be?
Love y'all!
-Joey
