By Erika Guedez, Community Integration Manager
A few days ago, I celebrated two years since I arrived in this beautiful country as a refugee. During this time, I have shared with you some of my fears, challenges, and what it has meant to begin a new life far from my home country.
A few days ago, I also celebrated my first year at Mission Adelante.
And as I look back, there is something I want to say from the bottom of my heart: more than everything I have been able to give, I feel that I have received so much more.
I am deeply grateful and truly amazed by the team, the participants, and every volunteer who is part of this community. I am constantly inspired by the love, dedication, and care with which so many people serve and support others.
I believe there is a reason God blesses the United States. There is a reason this nation is great and wonderful: because of its people, because of those who open their hearts, and because of those who are willing to serve, welcome, and help people who arrive looking for a new opportunity.
And among all those people, God allowed me to meet someone who has become very special in my life.
Her name is Cindy Smith.
Cindy began serving as a volunteer during the winter session. That is where I met her, and almost without realizing it, we began helping each other with something we both needed: language.
I helped her with Spanish, and she helped me with English.
When my husband first heard us having a conversation, he said we sounded very funny.
And he was probably right.
Between Spanish, English, and a lot of mixed-up words, we ended up creating our own language: Spanglish.
Because Cindy volunteers with the citizenship classes, we started setting aside time during the week to talk and practice both languages. What began as a way to help each other with language slowly became something much more valuable: a friendship.
I have learned so much from Cindy.
She is a Christian woman with a heart for serving. She is always willing to help, and whenever you need something, she is ready to do whatever she can.
Her Spanish is also really good. Recently, one of my coworkers heard her speaking Spanish and was amazed. And, I could not help but feel proud of her because I know how much effort she has put into learning.
But Cindy is not only a wonderful volunteer.
She is also a great cook. She is always telling me about her delicious dishes, which, from the way she describes them, sound like they belong in a professional kitchen.
She loves taking care of her garden and, when summer arrives, she enjoys harvesting her delicious tomatoes.
And there is one more thing you definitely need to know about Cindy: she loves her cats.
A little while ago, I decided to make her a small gift. I painted a mini picture of her five cats.
I am definitely not Picasso; that much is clear, but it was my way of saying: "Thank you for your wonderful friendship."
I think many times we arrive in certain places thinking that we are only going to give.
We come to help.
We come to serve.
We come to teach.
We come to encourage someone.
But sometimes we discover something unexpected: we end up receiving so much ourselves.
And I am not talking about material things.
I am talking about the things that warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.
A conversation.
A word of encouragement.
A prayer.
A shared meal.
An experience.
A person who comes into your life and becomes a friend.
That is what Cindy has been for me.
Our friendship began with two languages, continued through conversations, and has grown through service, faith, and the small moments of life that often become the most meaningful.
And perhaps that is one of the most beautiful things about serving: when we reach out our hands to help someone, God can also use those hands to build bridges between us.
Jesus gave us a beautiful example:
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."
John 13:14
Serving is about much more than doing something for someone.
It is about drawing closer.
It is about sharing.
It is about learning.
It is about walking alongside one another.
And sometimes, in the middle of that service, God gives us something we never expected to find:
a friendship.
Thank you, Cindy, for your service, for your patience with my English, for letting me help you with your Spanish, for all our Spanglish conversations, and most of all, for your friendship.
Thank you for reminding me that when we serve with love, we don't just leave something in the lives of others. God also leaves something beautiful in ours.