It is not suppose to be easy

Boys at the Casa Girasoles participating in school lessons during COVID-19.

Things are really tough. I am convinced this is true for all 7.5 billion people on the planet. The challenges are, however, more profound and impactful for the poor of this world. This is especially true for the people we serve in Perú. The families living in extreme poverty with children living with disabilities and medically fragile conditions are really struggling. They are hard pressed to figure out how to make each day manageable.

The boys in our Casa Girasoles homes are safe, well fed and protected, but the challenges of social isolation are starting to weigh heavy on them. For a child who has lived so much of their life on constant hyper-vigilance, always ready to protect themself from injury our harm – the current state of the world can be too much. There are more outbursts. More temper-tantrums for the little ones. More strong words from the older boys. Things are tough.

Sometimes all of this new “normal” feels overwhelming. However, in spite all the challenges and feelings of overwhelm . . . there is so much hope. There is so much opportunity.

Our staff have been amazing. We have daily calls, and I’m so impressed with everyone’s continuous ability to stay present. This is not an easy thing. Our staff in Peru are under so much stress. And yet, they continue to show up. I am so proud to be in collaboration with these amazing people.

The future, no one knows. But one thing seems really clear, whatever challenge we find ourselves in – there is also great opportunity. We’re capturing those opportunities to better serve the marginalized, underserved, and disenfranchised people living in deep experiences of poverty. We’re capturing these lessons to be better bridge builders in the world.

No one ever said life was suppose to be easy. And, now – more than ever we are called to be the bridges that assure the poor, underserved, and marginalized of the world are not alone or forgotten.

Thank you for all of your continued support. Thank you believing in HBI. Thank you for continuing to hold optimism.