The Lord has been doing some amazing things with our older youth groups. Our girls youth group is no different. These nine young ladies ranging from ages of 13 to 16 are learning that it is far better to give than it is to receive. This last Sunday our young ladies were met with hugs from about 20 children who are blind. These children live here in a home during the week and also during the weekends because their families live so far away or they don’t have the resources to come and visit them. This home during the week has 35 children who either go to school in this home or outside in a public school.

Some of the blind children recognized Glenda and I while introducing ourselves which brought us shock in how they knew us. The children said, “You’re the ones who help the children in the Fuerzas Armadas School”. We found out that some of these kids study at the Fuerzas Armadas School under a prototype project in incorporating blind children in public schools. This made it much easier for us and our girls to connect with these kids. The girls started out with a Bible study that was read and acted out with sounds from a computer. The kids loved it. Then the children went and broke a Piñata. That was a challenge. Not that they could not hit the Piñata but that we had to protect the children from diving in for the candy while the piñata was being broke. It was amazing in how the children knew exactly where the candy was. After the piñata, the girls asked the kids if they wanted ice cream. They were so excited that they ran to the benches to sit and wait for something cold and yummy. The girls at first were trying to teach the kids how to eat and I whispered in their ears, they may be blind but they can see. The girls watched how the kids were able to get around. The girls witnessed when each blind child walked by each other, they knew who it was and called out their name. The love that these children gave impacted our girls heavily. So much that some started to cry because of the emotions. As Glenda and I comforted them away from the kids we explained to them that they are not alone. Their Father in heaven was with them. The love that they felt was a gift from Jesus and it was our connection with the children.

The kids shouted that they wanted to play soccer. Our girls asked how? One young boy jumped to his feet and grabbed the ball and started dribbling the soccer ball around the court. The ball had rocks inside so it would make a sound for the kids to hear. I must admit I was totally blown away with the skills that these kids have. While the games were being played there were some who were loners and sat alone. We took turns to sit, talk and let them to feel our faces and hands. They love this because it allowed them to get to know us better in how we look. One boy brought me to laughter as he explained to Pamela that he is respectful to the ladies and he is not flirting but seeing them by feeling their hands. The kids are behind in their education because the government still is working with the families in showing them that these kids can receive an education and become professionals. Example; two young men are 19 and 18 but are in the 5^th grade in the Fuerzas Armadas and 21st of October schools.

Most of the kids love music, computers and cell phones. You can’t take the teenager out of these kids. As the bell rang telling the kids it is time to go, we said good bye and the older kids said, “You can come any time to play with us. You don’t need to bring anything we just want you”. It was silent in the van as we traveled back home. The girls were taking it all in as they just witnessed that you just need time and love in order to love like Jesus did!