They taught me. They loved me. They made me feel happy and appreciated. This experience began during the summer before my junior year (June 28th – July 10th 2024) when I joined seven other Jesuit students on the school organized Peru Social Justice and Cultural Immersion Trip through the Jesuit Dallas Service Department. Flying from Dallas to Cusco, we landed high in the Andes and drove south to the rural town of Andahuaylillas, where we would spend the next week serving in local schools with students who learned in a completely different culture and environment.
The Mission
Jesuits teach “ad majorem dei glorium,” that work should always be towards the greater good of God and community. So as part of the service, our group interacted directly with the locals, especially the children, to truly be one with their society. One early morning, we climbed to the top of the town, to a school called Fe y Alegria. The sprawling complex served the children who lived in communities bordering the school. Surrounded by beautiful, golden mountains, our service at the school was simple but meaningful, spending quality time playing with the kids and teaching them some English. Paired with another student, I entered a 3rd grade classroom. Walking in, I felt a cool mountain breeze emanating from the two large open windows used year-round as their air conditioning. There was one small chalkboard in the front of the room overlooking the simple, small tables the children used as desks.
I expected younger students to be more preoccupied with eating their breakfast porridge or playing with their toys versus caring about our presence, but to my total surprise all the students jumped up to greet us with hugs and smiles. This warm reaction astounded me. It made me feel seen and welcomed. I felt loved when we were supposed to be there to love them. Culturally in the United States, students would never run up to hug and greet guests, rather as a sign of respect, we sit quietly in our chairs waiting for a teacher’s prompt to speak or move. In Andahuaylillas, though, children were encouraged and expected to make their guests feel immediately welcomed.
One little boy, dressed in his simple uniform and colorful Peruvian hat, eagerly tugged on my shirt, signaling a desire to play checkers with me using an old board and some bottle caps. We played for about forty-five minutes. Although I let him win most of the time, he remained joyful throughout our many games, even the ones he lost. After we finished playing, the boy ran up and embraced me, showcasing his immense gratitude. This surprised me, as I have never been hugged after a simple encounter in the United States. Culturally, these rural Peruvian students seemed more grateful. The children’s gratitude made me feel happy and appreciated, like our presence really mattered, making me want to reflect more thankfulness and love towards them.
Key Takeaways
Back in Dallas, this experience stuck with me. The kids’ gratitude towards my instruction and presence inspired me to appreciate my parents, teachers, and coaches more, realizing that a little thankfulness can greatly impact their day. They also taught me to be more thankful for the seemingly ordinary parts of life, like participating in school activities, through their constant cheer in the classroom. Ultimately, this helped me better understand the Jesuit teachings at my own school: to find joy and God in everything and to be a man for and with others, enabling me to always pursue God’s greater good.
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