Love letters from heaven

It was a foggy trip up the mountains of Kabayan, Benguet but my heart was as bright as the sunshine, all because I was giddy about meeting the adorable kids of Mongoto Elementary School for the third time. My husband and I bought slippers and toys days ahead. I told myself, this trip would be extra special – it was going to be our post-Valentine treat for the children we have learned to love. And so we went with our hopes high, that we’ll be able to paint a thousand more smiles on the kids’ faces with our little gifts. We thought, they will surely have a wonderful time because we brought along my sister and three of our wedding photographers. Oh, these kids who loved being photographed would have the best time of their lives!

But everything turned out the way I never imagined nor expected. There they were, kids from preschool to sixth grade- handing me flowers and cards even before I could give them the stuff we brought. That day, I got the most flowers I ever got in my life- and read the most number of Valentine cards anyone could probably get. These kids surprised me, more than I surprised them. They handed me flowers they probably picked from their backyards, wrapped them in newspaper and gave them to me with the heart more proud than that who bought the most expensive flowers in the world. Others, who probably didn’t have flowers to pick, instead made flowers out of plastic, tied to a real stem with real leaves. Another made a flower vase out of recycled bottles and decorated it with beads. It was the height of creativity and such testament of what a truly grateful heart can do. And how grateful they were, they wrote in little notes in the simplest of words. There was one kid who wrote, “Happy related Valentine’s,” and I laughed and laughed at the innocence hidden behind his innate thoughtfulness. Another wrote, “Again, happy valentine’s. I know you want it and you like it.” These notes made the bumpy ride down the mountain slopes like a joyful carousel ride at the carnival. I was that happy. But more heartwarming were the sincere letters of thanks from the young ones. Some wrote to say they were very grateful for the notebooks and books we gave, while others said the single book they got was now their favorite reading material in their free time. Others, like Rheljon Lizardo, wrote like an adult and said, “Salamat po sa pagbisita ninyo at sa pagbibigay ng mga libro. Magririgalo rin po kami ng pagmamahal sa inyo.” To this day, these love letters from heaven touch my heart. It was this letter that truly touched my heart and made me realize how the littlest of things can mean so much to children. And in their innocence, they found the words to describe just how grateful they truly were. You see, when I visited them the first time on my birthday last June, I merely wanted to share with them the books donated by generous friends and acquaintances. We merely wanted to give each of them just one book- to give them hope in reaching for their dreams. They were promising little kids who, despite having to walk for hours just to get to their school at the top of the mountain, still manage to sit in a classroom and listen to their teacher with the interest of a kid who got to school on a car. I simply wanted each of them to get one book and have something to read. What I didn’t realize was the fact that one single book can really change their lives forever. It was as if they finally got the toy they wanted so badly after a long time of waiting and praying. Their joy, their smiles, their happiness – all these they showed in written words and expressed in warm hugs. It was by far, the best Valentine I ever had. And then I realized, it was no longer I who was teaching them something about life. Now, it was they who were teaching me some of life’s most valuable lessons. Lessons like, it doesn’t take much to be happy. Indeed, joy can be found in the simplest of things. It doesn’t take so much to make a child happy- give them a candy, a toy no matter how cheap, a book no matter how old, if that’s all they have, they will still be grateful. It doesn’t take so much to help, you don’t need to be rich, you don’t even have to give the most expensive stuff. All you need to make someone else happy is an open mind and helping hand. Sometimes too, all you need to give is a little of yourself and your time. I have traveled across the country and have donated more than 300 books since 2009 on my birthday, and yet, we never run out of children from depressed schools who need help. The country never runs out of children without enough books, enough paper, enough pencils. There are still so many children waiting, praying- that someone will come to give them something to hold on to, to give them a little hope. Wouldn’t it be nice if, like me, you too can get letters from heaven on an ordinary day? What would you do if you knew that one child’s dream depends on you? ______________________ DiksyonaryoAtbp started out as a birthday project of Lia in 2009. To date, it has donated more than 300 dictionaries and over 300 storybooks to different schools in Benguet, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Manila and Davao. For those interested to help, please call/text 0916-5500858 or check http://diksyonaryoatbp.com