Rodrigo by Jacob Shurer '14

Trying to recount all of the stories and explain the experiences that I had during our trip to El Salvador would easily fill a small novel. However, when forced to condense the week’s happenings into a few short words, one thing that could not go unmentioned would be mi amigo, Rodrigo.

I met him the first night at Padre Rafael’s house in San Salvador, but I didn’t really get to know him until later that week. He is one of Padre’s “adopted” children. He has been separated from his parents, along with his twin brother, since birth. His parents tried to get Padre to take his brother as well, but he simply could not afford to support and care for both of them. Padre Rafael is now raising Rodrigo as his son and giving him an education at the school he started in Agua Caliente. I got to know Rodrigo fairly well after teaching his second grade class for two days while we were at the school. He also accompanied us to the resort, and on some of our day trips. On one of these trips we all piled in the back of the pickup for a 45-minute drive to the top of Serra Grande, one of the highest mountains in El Salvador. Rodrigo hopped in the back with the rest of us without a moment’s hesitation. For half of the trip, on the bumpiest roads you can imagine, he was riding standing up looking straight over the cab. It looked like he was about to fall right over the edge so I had my arm around him, holding him in. Incidentally, it was on that ride home that he nicknamed me “Mucoso,” which is Spanish for stinky, and it stuck for the rest of the week.

I have never seen a seven year old like him ever before. He never once stopped smiling. He was always ready to learn, involved, and energetic. He just radiated pure happiness and joy in life to everyone around him. I found it incredible that in spite of all the adversity that he has faced he still approaches the world with such a welcoming and loving spirit. I can only attribute it to Padre and the others in his household who have played such an important role in his upbringing. It is through relationships and families like these that change is going to be brought about not only in El Salvador but also throughout the world.