There’s Nothing Purer Than The Heart Of A Child

What I am about to tell you focuses on what my two nephews, Enzo and Evo had experienced when they joined the INC World Wide Walk To Fight Poverty, last May 6—in Manila, Philippines with an aim to help people in Africa.

_{To begin with before you continue reading, I hope you’ll have an open mind. As a member of INC, we have doctrines that we firmly believe in and we steadfastly follow and hold on to. For the record my nephews were not forced, threathened or harmed. To date both of them are happy as a bee.}

Just this afternoon, I chatted with my parents and siblings, and obviouly are main topic was how are day went during the said event. As usual my parents were the first to reply back. They told me how tiring it was but even though they are tired it doesn't matter because they felt happy to be of help, they felt renewed and fulfilled. And I got the same feedback from my younger brothers.

As we continued on chatting, my older brother sent these two photos of my nephews.

I dont know what I really felt upon seeing these photos, it’s really a mixture of emotions. Happy that they were able to come with my parents and Pity because they really look exhausted.

And then after a little while a message popped out again from my older brother, and below was his message:

I’m so proud of these two...
Noong dumating kami sa venue around 1AM, si Evo umidlip muna. Si kuya Enzo kung hindi ako nagkakamali eh mga around 2am naidlip din. And then, nung nag-prepare na kami to line up for the distribution of wrist bands around 3:30AM, you’ll see that they are more eager and excited kaysa sa amin ni Ma at Pa.

Tapos tinanong uli namin sila kung kaya ba nila talaga, ang sagot nila sa amin “Opo! First time namin mag-World Wide Walk eh.”

So tumuloy na kami. Di namin ineexpect pero 4AM nasa pila na kami papuntang *wrist band station* pero 6:30AM na nung marating namin.

Yun pa lang struggle na. Every time na hihinto kami, sasabihin ni Enzo kay Pa, “Pahiram po ng carton, ilatag muna naten para makapagrest.”

Kung makikita nyo lang po yung dami ng kaptid? Nako! as in SOOOOOOBBBBRAA! Ako na tatay nila nagaalala na baka hindi nila kayanin sa sobrang init at crowded.

Sa totoo lang naisip ko pag lumuwag yung pila eh aayaw na ako. Pero nung nasa *wrist band station* na kami, nakita ko si Enzo at Evo na sobrang decided para ituloy yung paglalakad.

You know that I’m serious, kasi napapa-english na ako eh, hahaha.

Tapos nahiwalay ako sa kanila ng kaunti kasi talagang nahilo ako. Ang ginawa ni Enzo nung makarating sila sa *wrist band station* hinintay nya talaga ako. Tapos sabi nya, “Daddy tara na!” So lumakas uli ako kasi mga anak ko kinakaya pa, tapos ako aayaw.

So naglakad na kami crowded pa din bago namin marating starting line. Medyo matagal talaga bago kami nakarating so may mga mahihinang reklamo na yung mga bata, kesyo ang tagal daw, medyo masakit na daw ang paa nila, yung isa inaantok na daw. Nakakaawa na hitsura nila, mukha na silang ‘walking dead’ I asked them again “kaya pa ba? “ And they both answered, “Kaya pa po!” And yun nga. Grabe talagang nakaya nila until finish line.

Nung naglakad kasi kami si Enzo ang buddy ko, si Evo kasama si Ma at Pa. Nung maihulog na namin ni Enzo un wrist band namin sa box ng mga taga-Rizal tinanong nya ako, “dad bakit nga ba tayo ulit naglakad ng ganon kalayo? Ni hindi pa tayo nakatulog ng maayos tapos kahapon pa tayo nandito.” Sabi ko naman sa kanya, “nakikipgkaisa kasi tayo sa gawain sa loob ng INC saka andto din tayo para makatulong sa Africa at yung paglalakad natin katumbas eh malaking tulong sa kanila isipin mo sobrang magiging masaya sila.” Tapos ang sagot ni Enzo sa akin, “Ganon po pala, sana maulit pa po ulit to para makatulong uli ako.”— Grabe touching diba?

Wooooh tapos eto na nga nung nakatapos na din sila Ma, Pa at Evo, pinuntahan namin si nikko and family ni jofel. Nung nagkita kita sobrang saya.

Noong pabalik na kami ng parking si Evo naman ang buddy ko and si Enzo kay Ma at Pa naman. Nung naglalakad na kami pabalik sabi ni Evo, “Dad wala ba pwede sakyan na tricycle papunta sa parking?” sabi ko “Wala anak.” Kasi yung time na yun pagod na siya talaga so ang ginawa ko naupo muna kami. Tinanong nya ako magiging masaya daw ba ang Ama kasi nakiki-isa sya sa pglalakad. Sabi ko, “Anak, Oo naman.” And then he replied, “I hope we made him really happy and not just the people in Africa. Atsaka I hope ibigay nya din yung mga wish ko. Kasi twice tayo tayo nag-walk, back and forth.” Hahahaha This really made me laugh. Ang galing nila diba guys. Nakakakilig na nakakaiyak. At young age selfless na. The kind of love na sana lahat tayo meron.— Mark Jimenez

When I was reading my brothers message I can’t help but laugh for he was being conyo _{(he is speaking like those people who wants to be perceived as an elite person by speaking taglish– tagalog and english)} at the same time my heart was so full and warm because of how my nephews are understanding things. They are truly my blessings. Mi vida!

And just like what I’ve said before, that maybe this was what love meant after all: sacrifice and SELFLESSNESS. Just like what this children taught us. It did not mean hearts, flowers and a happy ending, but the knowledges that another's well- being is more important than one's own.