It felt like a hundred degrees. With a thousand percent humidity. And somehow, I found myself running laps around a dusty courtyard in Mexico, a laughing child on my back.
My job in Mexico was not, in fact, head piggyback-ride-giver. But that was certainly my role that afternoon.
I was there with a team to gather media content for some upcoming projects. I was quickly drawn in by a gaggle of giggling girls, though, and after the piggyback rides we settled in the shade. For 30 minutes we conducted an impromptu language lesson.
I pointed at my eyes.
“Ojos!” they shouted!
I pointed to a glittery butterfly on a little girl’s T-shirt.
“Mariposa!”
I pointed at my arm.
“Blanco!” they said, dissolving into giggles. Yes, I was certainly white. More like “rosa” though in the hot sun.
Then we went around the circle and each girl told me her name, and I clumsily repeated them back, much to their delight.
“Katia!”
“Mareli!”
“Cesia!”
“Areli!”
“Maria!”
There’s a reason I tell you about my Tuesday afternoon encounter in a dusty courtyard in Mexico. It’s because I know that each of those little girls has her face on a child packet somewhere.
Some of those faces smile from under a refrigerator magnet. Others are propped up on a desk or tucked into a Bible.
And then there are the ones that still sit in a plastic sleeve somewhere, waiting.
And by participating in Release3, you can end that wait. You can take three little children and introduce them to a sponsor. A sponsor who will write them letters and pray for them.
Because these are real children. Looking for real hope. And you can play a real part.