When I Was Scared Short Story

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There I was, in mid August, on the humid, old fashioned bus. In the heart of Nicaragua, where you pass nothing but rundown houses, small huts and shacks that fit anywhere from five to fifteen people. Dozens of people wandered the side of the road, searching for a place to stay. Poverty was everywhere, and it broke my heart. Seeing little kids roaming freely, with little to no clothes and no parents in sight. It was the crack of dawn and I knew I had a busy day ahead. I was surrounded by high schoolers from my church. Scared was an understatement. I didn’t quite know how to feel. I was here to serve Jesus and for some reason all I could think about was myself. On the first day, we went to a nearby school and worked. I remember this day so vividly, the second we pulled through the entryway of the wire fence the kids went berserk. A hundred elementary schoolers piled around the front door of the bus, screaming “HOLA” and jumping on top of eachother. Waiting to throw their arms around us and drag us to come play with them. Second graders clinging to you, never wanting to let go. Four of them dragged me over where they were …show more content…

Her name was Francesca, she spoke very little English and wore the most beautiful purple dress her grandma had made for her. She began to tell me how her mother sold her to prostitution when she was little and she now lives with her grandma. She doesn’t live in a house, but in a small shack off the side of the road with lots of other people. That was her home, and they were her family. The language barrier made our conversation very difficult but with lots of hand signals and laughter I knew what she was saying. Francesca poured her life out to me. She trusted me, a messed up highschool girl from the United States, and she chose me. She radiated joy, love and hope. She was content and found the simple joy in everything she did. There was plenty to be learned from

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