I met the boys first. Upon my arrival to El Girasol, the boys were digging into the packed dirt to make a parking lot. They paused to greet me and continued their work. We chatted, understanding little of what each other said. Even so, I managed to communicate my desire to try this shoveling dirt thing for myself. One of the boys handed me a shovel. It was more difficult than I expected. I could hardly break ground! The boys laughed, took my shovel, and continued to work. Even the smallest boys were putting me to shame.

I met the girls shortly thereafter. They had clearly just been showering as their hair was wet and smelling quite fruity. They were also a cheerful lot, asking me questions, and giving me a tour of their home. There was no running water or electricity at that time, yet it was clean and every child had a bed, clean bedding, clothes, and a place to put personal belongings.

I went to bed that night wanting to adopt all of those smiling faces. They had a clean home and hot food, but I didn't see them with all of the things I had growing up. They didn't have two biological parents who loved them unconditionally. They didn't have shopping trips with Mom and ice cream treats with Dad. I noticed their lack of hide & seek with neighbors, a room full of toys or visits to grandparents. That first night, I went to bed feeling sorry for the children of El Girasol.

It didn't take me long to see how much these children did have. After eating with the kids, learning with them, laughing with them, and working beside them, I began to understand. That December, Maria and Profeta arrived for the first time, smiling like they had just won the lottery. It was then that I realized that this home was magical. In a country where hopelessness reigns and poverty abounds, these children have hope, hot meals, a warm bed, school uniforms, and more than they ever dared to dream. They are free from the tragedies that defined their younger years. They have more supportive brothers and sisters than anyone else I know. They have parents in Juan, Delia, Leo, Eunice, and Laura. They are surrounded with aunties and uncles. They are educated, cared for, and loved. El Girasol houses some of the luckiest kids in all of Peru and perhaps even in the United States. After all, the children of El Girasol can find joy in a game of marbles. They'll use rocks if they can't find the marbles. I hope these children find a way to bring more hope and smiles to Peru and the world beyond. I believe someday they will.

(Colleen Burns hails from Madison, WI and first interned at the Sunflower Home in 2006. Today she is our educational consultant. "Auntie Colleen", as the children call her, visits the children on a regular basis and will be heading the Educational Expedition in Feb.)

For more information regarding our intern opportunities, please go to www.southerncrosshumanitarian and see our intern page.