Ensenada Outreach Center - YUGO

So this entry will seem a little bit random, however it will all come together at the end.The first chunk of this entry is more or less an apology to my mom and dad. Growing up I had everything I could ever want, and more. My parents gave their left arm to make things possible for my sister and I. A beautiful home, food, clothing, protection, an education and so much love. The small things that parents do for their children usually go unnoticed as they simply make up part of a normal day. Always having food on the table, driving us to numberless places, always keeping us entertained and keeping us safe wherever we went. Looking back I will admit I was quite the spoiled child. My mom did my laundry for me, cleaned my room and did the dishes. I rarely helped out without a fuss, if at all. Both my mom and dad would drive me anywhere I needed to go, no matter what they had on their crazy schedule. My health was also super important to them. Physical, mental or emotional problems I had, they would do everything and anything possible to make things better. Sick in the middle of the night and my mom would be right by my side, tummy ache? My dad would get out of bed and I would be at the after hours clinic stat. I can think back to the endless school problems I had and my mom would do anything she could to solve my “life problems”.
So up until I was 19 I had been living with my parents, living what I would call, an easy life. Last summer I moved here, to Ensenada Mexico to do long term missionary work. I live with Rhonda and my best friend Brittney. However in great company, I am thus without the parents! First thoughts, Woo Hoo! Second thoughts, well this isn’t so easy. This is where the guilt sets in. Doing my laundry every week, cooking all own meals, being on the ball for appointments/meetings makes me really be thankful for all that my parents did for me. I am not at all complaining about needing to do these things on my own, however it has finally made me realize and appreciate my mom and dads hard work. Every time I get upset with people not doing their dishes, or not putting stuff away, I think how my parents must have felt time after time I argued to do the smallest of tasks. I’m sure most kids are the same in the fact of not being nearly appreciative
as they should be, however being here and witnessing some of these things has really put it upon my heart.
The children in most of these villages have nothing. One pair of shoes, if that, a few pieces of clothing and sometimes nothing to sleep on. Their parents, if both are still around, will work all day in the fields or elsewhere for a few dollars a day just to get by. These kids simply blow me away how thankful and happy they are with what they are provided. There are 7 year olds taking care of the rest of the family while the parents are at work. There are children running around with no shoes, empty bellies, filthy clothes and the biggest of smiles on their faces. Every time I look at these kids my heart breaks. I had it all, and took it all for granted. I am so grateful for everything my parents ever did for me and I can’t express how much I love them. I am who I am today because of them. I’m taking the love I feel from them and from my childhood and expressing it to the kids and family around me here. I want those kids to have the best and nothing less.
Steph Wignall.