La Palma and Jesuit High School Portland- Courts WITH Kids
Our school did not have a court, which is vitally important for the integral development of our children. We had the dream of having it, until we made it, thanks to Courts For Kids and the people from Portland Jesuit High School. During the week that they were here with us, I felt very happy and grateful for such a beautiful gesture of generosity; they are a group that is contagious with their joy and charisma. At first, I thought that there would not be so much communication due to the difference in languages, but this was not an obstacle to connecting and establishing good conversations with them. I told them that with this work they were going to put a beautiful smile on our students, but the big surprise was they also put one big smile on me as well. Moreover, they filled my heart with joy. When I said goodbye to them, I felt very nostalgic. I hope that God blesses and prospers each of their lives, that they can continue to bring more smiles to the whole world. -Joel Contrera Rodríguez, School Principal
On this trip, I did not learn that my lavish and busy lifestyle in Oregon must be replaced by the simpler and relaxed La Palma lifestyle. Nor did I conclude that life in America holds greater value than life in La Palma. And I did not learn that poorer people or richer people are happier or more fulfilled. Instead, through challenges, conversation, common interests, dancing, and much more, I learned that shared culture, language, or economic status are far from essential for genuine human connection.
After first arriving to the community, I quicky realized my insufficient Spanish abilities. Inconvenient? Definitely. But this did not stop a little girl in a fluffy pink dress and a massive smile on her face from hugging every single person in my group. From then on, the Dominican children hugged, played with, fist bumped, and danced with our team for the entirety of that afternoon. We played games like soccer and kickball that we all grew up with, despite living a quarter of the world away. We used actions and basic language to begin what would be a week of connection.
We woke up early the next day with bug bites and puffy eyes, ready for an authentic Dominican breakfast cooked by locals. After chugging Pedialyte and Gatorade to somewhat compensate for the gallons of liquid we continuously sweat out, we put on our boots, work pants and shirts, gloves, hats, ample sunscreen, and bug spray, and headed down to the work site. The contractor and his team had already been hard at work for hours, and 48 new hands increased productivity. Our work consisted of scooping rocks and sand into buckets, then passing them down assembly lines until they reached the cement mixer. Carrying buckets full of rocks or 80 lb pounds of cement powder is a daunting task for one, but through the help of our group, the workers, and locals, we moved efficiently. Even so, long sleeved clothing and intense heat took a toll on us Oregonians, but when one of us went down, the locals jumped to her help with ice, fanning, and support. This loving gesture brought our baseball coach/chaperone to tears. We continued to work through the heat, brought together by a common goal despite our age, language, and cultural differences. Teachers and mothers made everyone smile with loud music which inspired dancing. We learned that lively dancing is a large part of the community’s culture, and it truly pushed us through the more difficult workdays.
After finishing our work each day, we enjoyed games with the children, played baseball and soccer with local teams in town, visited a nearby national park, and explored a local palm oil plantation, continuing to grow closer as a group. I went knowing none of our chaperones and with two friends. Funny enough, the intense work, uncomfortable living conditions, and an entirely new world had a way of bringing strangers together very quickly. I not only befriended the locals but met and learned from classmates and teachers to whom I had never spoken.
This opportunity has allowed me to both help a community in need and to learn from people living across the world from me. Rather than us coming to “save” the community, this trip was an equally beneficial exchange between two seemingly vastly different groups. On a final night of reflection, one of my classmates said it best, “It didn´t feel like Courts FOR Kids, it felt like Courts WITH Kids”.
-Livvy Reger, Jesuit High School student
What a wonderful week this has been! Not only did we get our long awaited court for the kids of El Valle but it was done by working along with the wonderful kids and teachers of the Jesuit High School of Portland, Oregon, Marlennis and Fenix from Courts for Kids, and our own kids, staff and members of the community. Work was truly joyful. God bless all those who made this court a reality!
-Josefina Mendez, Community member
When I return to the U.S I will implement this kindness to others the same way la Palma did for me. -Calvin Hansen.
The largest thing I got from this community is to celebrate everything, not let small things get to your head. -Charlie Austin.
One thing that I learned from this trip is the vastness of our world. -Thomas Downey
I learned about the world that everywhere are good people and that people don't care about your nationality, they will always be here to give you some help. I also learned that if you want to speak with someone you can, even if you don’t speak the same language. -Tenmy Wangpo
The biggest thing I learned from the community is to be myself and dance like nobody's watching. One thing I learned about myself is that I can do hard things. -Kenny Dice.
What I learned from the community here was that fulfillment and happiness is not found in wealth or prosperity but rather in love for your neighbor and supporting those around you. -Courtney Vogt.
A stereotype I had prior to this trip was that people you don’t know will be hesitant to welcome you and to make you feel like you belong, couldn’t be more wrong. -Connor Gewant
Prior to entering this trip, I had a preconception that the language barrier would have been hard to break, however, I was proven wrong. The differences in language brought me closer to the community being able to learn the personalities of many kids. — Tiana Takayama
My high point of this trip is when we had our opening ceremony and all the kids were playing on the court. This was my high because just seeing all the kids laughing and smiling made my day. — Tenmy Wangpo
This community taught me that happiness comes from our friends and family, and it is something that can be shared but not bought. True happiness comes from the people around us, so we shouldn’t take it for granted. — Maura O’Scannlain
