Nicole's Volunteering and Adventures Abroad

Along with the little children living at the Hogar, I have come to be close with some of the older girls in the house.   Ana Flor and Ana Lucero are two very sweet teenage girls that have lived in the Hogar for a large portion of their lives.   They have come to call the Hogar home, and like most of the older kids here, they have a deep love and respect for the home and the people in it.   They always watch out for the younger children by helping them get ready in the morning, picking them up from school, and playing with them during their downtime.   I personally think that without the older children doing all that they do around the house, the Hogar would not function.   This house is a huge machine that runs on the willingness of everyone to contribute, and Flor and Lucero definitely do their part.   Flor and Lucero suffer from the same type of congenital deformity of different extremities.   Despite this, they lead the average teenage life in a hou...

As I sat in the church pews at mass Saturday afternoon, I pondered the meaning of church to these children.   The Hogar was founded on the belief that Dr. Lazzara had a mission and calling in life to help children in need and for almost 40 years, he has been doing so.   This mission is represented in the workings of St. Francis of Assisi, for whom the home is named after, Hogar San Francisco de Asis.   In the patio, there is a large statue of San Francisco that never fails to remind everyone that comes into the home that the work that they are doing is necessary.   I believe that every volunteer, including myself, is doing their duty to the world in helping these children.   This is exactly what Dr. Lazzara was meant to do in this world.   I constantly hear stories about how much greatness has come from his generosity, but just how much he has given up never ceases to amaze me.   The doctor left behind a life as a physician in America about 35 years a...

Lotti, Carla, Me, and Vittoria After only three weeks in Peru, I have made friends with a few fun and free spirited people that have also volunteered at the home.   We have become so close, in fact, that we have decided to follow each other around the world after our work in the Hogar. I think the only bad part about my trip, that I care to admit, would be the loneliness that overcomes me when I don’t have anyone to talk with.   I thought that being an only child would prepare me for being lonely, but it doesn’t prepare you for being in a world where you don’t speak the language and don’t blend with the customs.   During my first 2 weeks at the Hogar, I was working alongside anywhere from 2-4 other volunteers but I became worried that, once they left the home, I would be completely alone.   I developed a great relationship with every one of the volunteers and I found that just like me, they truly appreciated the work that they were doing at the Hogar.   Al...

Josue and Alexis are the crazy troublemakers of the house.   They often run up and down the stairs, throwing their toys around and grabbing anything that comes within their reach.   I guess you could say that’s typical for 5-year-old boys.   They could probably burn the house down if you left the two of them to their own devices for a day.

These two little boys never fail to make me laugh and always bring a smile to my face.   Edson, 2 years old, was born with clubbed feet and had a successful surgical repair.   He continues to live at the house to receive weekly rehab and therapy.   I love hearing the little stomping of his feet as he runs toward me.   He absolutely loves being tickled and hates when your attention is on any of the other babies.   Edson has this little, old-man look to him that is so cute it makes you want to cry.   When he smiles at you (which he refuses to do on camera) you can see his two tiny bottom teeth and it will make your heart melt. Josh, 3 years old, was born with facial palsy and clubbed feet.   He has a limited ability to move his body, but is able to control his trunk and arms.   He was born without control of his facial muscles as well so when he looks at you with his droopy face, it looks like he is peering deeply into your soul. ...