Develop Leaders in At-Risk Communities, Costa Rica

Keylin is a young woman from the Los Cuadros community where we work in San Jose, Costa Rica. One day a few weeks ago we were happy to have her with us in girls group. She arrived terribly shy and during the activity, she was completely isolated in a corner. We approached her, asking her name and trying to start a conversation with her, but with every question she asked, she only shook her head to answer and avoided eye contact.

We were close to her, motivating her, but she did not want to participate in the activities, until we had the idea of asking Keylin to be the assistant. It was very nice to see her handing out things and helping. In the end she approached the team with a little note that said: "Thank you for everything, I appreciate it very much, I hope to be a friend to you all, too."

Love isn't general. It's specific. Love is action, experience, kindness, and care (among other things) all strongly directed at one person. When we are loved by someone, it changes every part of us. Our talents are more accessible because someone wants to know about them. Our dreams are more important because there is someone there ready to fight to make them happen. The worst, most damaged parts of us come to the surface when someone loves us because they care deeply that those things wouldn't hurt us anymore. If you have been sincerely loved, you know it, and you are different because of it.

Learning to live a life of love is hard work, and it is the most rewarding, important thing we will ever do. This year, we are focusing on what it takes to live lives of love and putting what we learn into practice, like with our friend Keylin and many others on the journey.