I was looking through foggy lenses. I saw the world for what I knew as true, but my eyes were restricted and my vision was blurred. My eyes had only ever known one way to see, that is, until I was given another.

Day by day, as I lived a life outside of mine, my lenses were cleaned. I went to Guatemala for one week, and in that one week, my eyes had been opened.

To the little girl who spent the day with me playing in the rain:

you are inspirational. I taught you how to do cartwheels and handstands and you taught me the very best way to get completely soaked by jumping in puddles. You ran into my arms and I spun you around at least 24 times. Each time, you we’re more excited than the next.

I’m sorry you don’t have the life you deserve. I’m sorry your family spends every day sorting through trash in dumpsters to make the minimum. I’m sorry you aren’t always fed when you’re hungry, and I’m sorry you don’t have the resources I do. I am sorry I had to leave you.

Playing with you all day was probably one of your most cherished memories— I still remember your smile, your laughter, and the pure joy in your eyes. I remember hugging you goodbye 12 times. Each time, we both didn’t want it to be the last.

I will always remember you, and I know you will always remember me. Thank you for letting me love you and thank you for loving me, a foreign stranger, with every bone in your body. Thank you for wiping off some of the fog from my blurry lenses.

You had nothing compared to me, but because of that, you gained everything. Your heart was pure and your love was infinite. You grasped the little moments and took off flying with joy and laughter—the moments so little that I lost sight of their magic before you showed it to me again.

You live the only life you’ve ever known. Your day, you are surrounded by garbage and flies and the most unpleasant smell but these factors you were oblivious to. You still had happiness in your heart and a smile tucked away in your pocket for anytime you could put it on.

You have shown me what my life looks like without the ridiculous ‘problems’ I so easily let get in the way of my happiness. You have shown me what is and what is not important when I saw everything from a first-world country get stripped away. You have healed me from my helpless state of mind that constantly whispered in my ear “you need more.”

You have carved a special place in my heart where my love for you rests; You have cleared a path of vision for my eyes to follow. You’ve shown me truth, and now I know what must be done. Big things are building.

I promise you, sweet girl, I am coming again. I will be back, and I won’t be alone.