The story of Leidy...

While in Guatemala this last year, I was matched with an incredible little sponsor child. She has the most contagious smile I’ve ever seen and had captivated our group from the moment we entered the premises of the Dreamer Center. The area is incredibly lively, as there are hundreds of kids running around freely and happily. The center acts as a refuge from the violence, poverty and sadness that runs rampant in the streets of Guatemala. The center's beauty is indescribable if it's never been witnessed because not only is it visually beautiful, the significance that it holds symbolically to so many young people is more than its physical worth. There was a young girl with a big beautiful smile that was running around with our students on that afternoon. She was fun and bright and really had something magnetic about her. The students played with her for much of the afternoon, and it wasn't until the next night that we learned of her home life. A group of us volunteered at the project's homeless shelter. We weren't expecting this beautiful little girl to run up and greet us when we got there. Leidy (pronounced Lady) had just showered and her hair was neatly combed. She wore her smile so wonderfully and joyfully. It made it hit home to all of us just how real it was for these kids in Antigua. Here was this wonderful little lady who was living in the homeless shelter... which is nothing more than a tile-floored room. There are no beds, no pillows, no blankets. There aren't doors on the showers and there aren't stalls for the bathrooms. The showers, toilets and wash facilities are all open air and completely visible to anyone within the center. It's humbling and heart-crushing to know where she goes each night.

When I was finally told I would be matched with a sponsor child, standing there with her infectious smile and sweet face was Leidy.... my heart melted and she just grabbed me and hugged me and held me for the next 20 or so minutes. It was incredible... I am so incredibly honored to be her "madrina" or her godmother, as they are called by the Nuestros Ahijados. I can't describe how wonderful it was to actually get to meet her and interact with her... she's truly an incredible little girl that I am so eager to get to know as the years go on.

I’ve stayed in close contact with her over the last months and have received numerous drawings, cards, and letters from her. Through friends in Guatemala working with the program, I am able to hear about her daily adventures.