Monday, Wednesday and Friday: the children come to eat: babies, families, 16 year old mothers with their 2 year old babies, barefoot boys who live on the streets…there are usually anywhere from 20 to 35 children who come to eat. 3 out of the 27 meals there are in a week seems so little in comparison to what they need. Speaking to a very skinny little boy the other day, I asked, “When you are not at the comedor, how many meals do you eat a day?” His response was, “one…sometimes two” It was sad. There is not much else to say about it-I would like to do more, but cannot really give food or money. From how I have described this boy, you probably have a picture in your head of how he looks and acts. You may be picturing one of those children from the heart-wrenching TV ads for the Feed the Children program. At first glance, from the eyes of a stranger, you would be correct. But once you introduce yourself, you will receive a huge hug, lots of laughs and a beautiful smile. Once you start playing with him, you will realize that he has so much energy and creativity. You’ll find out that at the age of 8, he can make you a kite that actually flies, dragging its long tail behind it; or weave you a giant fishing net. This child, while small, has a big heart. All of the children who come to the comedor do. They show it by helping to clean before and after meals, by stacking chairs or by passing food out to the other children. They draw pictures of beautifully rainbowed houses by flowing rivers, spaceships and aliens attacking the world (in the most positive way possible) and eating me and Christian (they do actually like Christian and me-the kids that is, not the aliens). While they may sometime say means thing, ask too many questions or do things that they shouldn’t, they are children and they deserve a childhood. Some days I do get frustrated-having 10 jovenes asking at the same time for their toothbrushes, while another 5 are busy throwing rocks-my patience is tested. Always closely following an annoying episode, a child will ask or do something so child-like, so hilarious, that I cannot help but laugh and continue to dole out brushes and paste. Although I cannot personally give more food or money, hopefully with the help of toothbrushes, aliens and games; I am giving something.