Ten years ago while my younger brother was volunteering at the New Hope for Cambodian Children, I decided to visit him. He was a school teacher teaching in a classroom full of energetic children. These children had HIV/AIDS and were living in a village that tended to them 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Right from the start, I fell in love with these kids. They were so pure and so happy.
My brother lived in Cambodia for years dedicating his life to something he loved and believed in. Watching the kids lining up to take their medication every morning, eating breakfast together, going to school, and playing in the playground after. All they had was each other, and that was more than enough for them.
This cute little girl named Kalyan was so precious. Always smiling, always playing, and always positive. She would walk around singing and dancing acting like one of the happiest kids in the world. Anyway, my brother just went to Cambodia again so I asked him how Kalyan was doing. He sent me her wedding photo! OMG, she’s all grown up and has gotten married! That made me super happy!!!!
The day I left Cambodia, Kalyan knew I was leaving so she ran to me, gave me this bracelet, and ran away. I think she knew that was the best way to say goodbye because if hugged goodbye, we would both have cried. I still have this bracelet which reminds me of her, and I still have those precious memories with those kids that changed my life forever…