The Christmas Gift Bag effort not only spread joy among children of very poor families in Nicaragua, it rewarded Tin Roof Foundation volunteers with unforgettable images of the children's happiness. Although the gifts were, for the most part, practical (hygiene items, school supplies), a few precious toys managed to show up in each bag, too.

Here s a personal account of a Christmas encounter with a delightful little girl named "Theyling."

Christmas Joy with Theyling
I first met Theyling in October, while visiting the public school in the community of Buena Vista. Buena Vista is a rural community in the municipality of Las Sabanas, a six hour ride from Managua, and just a stone's throw from the Honduran border. Las Sabanas is located in the northern province of Madriz, one of the poorest areas in Nicaragua. The region is mountainous, arid, and difficult to access, even with four wheel drive vehicles- all factors that have contributed to conditions of chronic poverty.

Back to Theyling... There are some kids that just catch your attention and enter into your heart instantly without rhyme or reason. Theyling is nine years old, and I met her in the first grade class at Buena Vista, while supervising and education project. There was so much enthusiasm in her smile, so much pride, and so much happiness radiating from her. Even after twelve years of working with some of the most destitute families in Nicaragua, I am still awed at the way children are so content with so little. Perhaps it is because they have no real sense of poverty and wealth, no way to compare their lives with children in other communities or other countries where excess is the norm. Theyling's face was etched on my mind from the first encounter, and has served as a reminder of the value of how education and nutrition projects can transform lives in Nicaragua.

When we visited the community education center supported by the Tin Roof Foundation in Las Sabanas on December 22nd, we were met by a sea of timid but excited children. There were at least three hundred children waiting anxiously to celebrate Christmas with the Tin Roof crew. Although the children had not yet seen the gift bags, they knew it would be an exceptionally special Christmas.

Once at the center, the children performed music and dance, before receiving their gifts. After many hours of riding in the old school bus, the children's voices were magically refreshing. Despite the apparent chaos that three hundred children could represent, orderly lines were formed to receive gifts, with patient faces peering over shoulders out of curiosity. Although it was exciting to watch the expressions on the kid's faces as they received their gift bags, the real looks of wonder could be found outside, when they started to open them and explore the contents.

As I stepped outside, I was immediately met by Theyling's smiling face. I hadn't seen her inside, but I found her in the garden outside, carefully examining the contents of her bag. She was easy to recognize, since she was wearing the same clothes as the day that I first met her, a common occurrence for kids that don't have many changes of clothing. She also had the same rubber flip flops on, and without question, the same radiant smile. I watched her marvel over her gifts, which I knew was the greatest joy I would experience throughout all of the Christmas activities. Before she left, Theyling came up to say goodbye with her mother, who told me that the children in the community had never received Christmas gifts before. She was so grateful to see her daughter and the other children in the receiving the gifts, her gratitude was visible in each gesture.

I know I will see Theyling again in the coming year, and I'm sure that she will greet me again with the smile that has twice revealed to me the infinite love of God. As I watch her grow, and move from one grade to the next, I will always remember the wonder of spending those few minutes of true Christmas joy with Theyling.

By Peter Schaller