Airman spread holiday cheer, learns life lesson

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sara Csurilla
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  By the time a couple Laughlin members, a group from Ruben Chavira Elementary School and I knew it we were on dirt roads with desolate homes in an unfamiliar region of Mexico.

Then there it was, Casa de Hogar Manantial de Amor Orphanage.

This was the home we had set out to visit to help a few less fortunate children have a Merry Christmas Dec.17.

After gathering bags full of gifts, and settling in, we all anxiously waited to meet the children.

Suddenly, there were children flooding the tiny dimly lit room in the orphanage, with joy written all over their faces. Not only for the gifts and food they were ready to receive, but the people that came to see them.

Once the food was gone and the gifts were being passed out I noticed a small girl sitting in the corner patiently waiting for her single Christmas gift.

Right when she turned her head to observe what all the other children were receiving, another little girl from the visiting school came over and handed a gift to her, and just this simple gesture of kindness made her face light up.

"Muchos gracias" was the only words she could get out. Her huge smile expressed her feelings.

After studying the medium-sized box for a moment, she noticed a small red bow that most would bypass as a simple decoration. With a look of fulfillment with the gift, she began to play with it, not even recognizing that she had received so much more.

"Nosotros tenemos suerte" (we have luck), said the little girl after opening her stuffed bear and meeting the new visitors.

At that moment I realized how much appreciation and optimism these children have, despite lack of family and materialistic things.

"The children weren't only grateful for the gifts but that they know there are other people in the world those cares about them," said 1st Lt. Glenn Dahl, 86th Flying Training Wing.

I remember many Christmas' as a child not receiving what I wanted but I could not imagine not having my family by my side on those mornings.

Now at more than 1,500 miles away from Pittsburgh spending my first Christmas away from family, I believe this was probably the best Christmas gift I could have received--a lesson in gratitude and humility from some who have so little.