Dia del Padre

I love it when I get the chance to see these kids smile. Today was “Dia del padre” (Father’s Day) here in Bolivia. Apparently fathers go to their children’s schools to be honored or just to eat a little something with their kids. The coolest thing happened though; Felix, Marius and I got to go to the school where 3 of kids from the home go. We each got to visit one of the kids and be their “dad” for a little while. I got to go hang out with my buddy Victor (who is my favorite, even though I shouldn’t have favorites…). To see his face light up when I walked in the room was beyond priceless. I’m close to tears in writing this – I don’t know if me leaving soon has anything to do with it – but they’re the kind of tears that matter. For me to be able to fill the role of a dad for him in that moment I will never forget it. For all I know he was worried that he would be one of the few kids in the class who wouldn’t have a father come and sit next to him. He would have had to just sit there and see what the other kids had. Instead he got to be one of the kids who had someone come specifically for him and sit down next to him and joke around a little bit. He got to laugh and he got to smile. And he didn’t have to be left out. I’ll never forget it.