My first "smile"

Yesterday Jonathan and I got the opportunity to go deliver some "Smile boxes" in the community of Santa Barbra. What a treat! This community is not reachable by vehicle so after about an hour of driving we had a half hour walk to the school. Since we knew we'd be carrying the gifts in, the guys in the warehouse sent us with gift packs in big bags instead of boxes.

yes, the bridge was swinging and yes, I was visualizing an Indiana Jones movie

A few minutes into our hike, the teacher met us--and brought a man who had a horse. Jonathan said it was the second most grateful he had ever felt to see a horse. (for the most grateful, see here.)

thanks, horse! now nobody has to carry two boxes. whew!

It was a very different landscape then anyplace I'd been in Nicaragua. Less mountainous, less jungle-y, in places almost desert-like. Trees 20 feet tall that look like prickly-pear at the top, strange flowering vines with huge thorns that embed themselves in the trees. We crossed and re-crossed little streams as we headed further into the valley. Down in the riverbed huge trees blocked out so much light that we walked on bare ground through a silent cathedral-like space. 

We arrived at the village to find all the students and some parents waiting for us at the school. The school year has ended, so this correlates to "summer vacation" time, and they certainly had no idea when we might arrive--but everyone was there waiting for us. 

A very shy group, even Jonathan's most reliable jokes and goofs brought only tentative smiles that quickly ducked behind mom or sister's back. And the camera lens brought about wide eyed and stoic faces along with plenty of silence. But when the gifts were placed in their hands--faces lit up in smiles they just couldn't hold back. 

I've been blessed to be part of toy, clothing, and food distributions many times in my life. And I have always been grateful for the special privilege of seeing that smile of gratitude. But these smiles were different--special. Deep, serious smiles. Quiet, not-for-the-camera smiles. Joyful, completely contented smiles.

So, how far would I go for such a smile? How far would you?

Walk a few miles with a box on my head? Yep. 

Pack up dozens and hundreds and thousands of toys and candies and socks and ship them across a continent? Yep.

Spend hours in warehouses labeling, tracking, and organizing? Yep.

Walk the aisles at busy stores, buying the whole bin when you find that great deal? Yep.

Spend Saturdays selling brownies and cupcakes to raise money for a shipping container? Yep.

All for a special smile. 

To each of you who had a hand in the smiles at Santa Barbra--or elsewhere--Thank you.