Even if we’re looking at the exact same thing, I often learn that a child sees something completely different than I do. The living room couch is an indoor trampoline. Chairs in the dining room are the makings of a challenging obstacle course. A bright red mixing bowl is the perfect hat for a made up superhero.
Recently, the girls and boys in the Love146 Round Home and White Home went to the Mall of Asia in Manila to watch the movie “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.”
When reading the update from Dr. Gundelina Velazco, Love146 Director of Asia Survivor Care, about the outing, I felt a huge smile come across my face as I was reminded once again of the special way that children see the world. If you’re not familiar, the movie is actually the third installment of a comedy movie series starring Ben Stiller as a late night security guard who discovers that the fossils and historical figures in the Natural History Museum “come to life” at night—typical hollywood flick with a huge budget produced just to make money. At least that’s what I thought.
But the children from the Round Home and White Home saw in the movie life lessons that we as adults often overlook:
“The movie was funny but full of lessons. One of the things I learned was being honest to other people.” – Ariel, 12
“It was my first time to watch a movie in a movie theatre. I was also happy because I learned a lot from the movie I watched. I learned that there is hope always and we should not give up like the main character in the movie who finds a way to escape from danger. Honestly, I had already lost hope that we could finish our studies but when we arrived here in the Round Home, I gained a new hope that my siblings and I will succeed.” – Cate, 15
“The movie that we watched in MOA was beautiful. I also learned from the movie that we should not feel insecure because sometimes insecurity could lead us to danger.” – Claudia, 10
“I was also happy because I was with my siblings. I learned from the movie that we need to help our friends when they need us, like us here in the Round Home where we help each other just like a family.” – Mindy, 7
“I learned from the movie the importance of being kind and helpful to others. I want to be kind and helpful also.” – Mae, 13
At Love146, the children in our care aren’t just “clients” to us—they are children that we have the honor of journeying with.
By listening to children, we are constantly learning from the unique way they see the world: whether it’s about the power of hope, the realities of sex trafficking, the resilience of young hearts, or the lessons we can pull from a movie about a museum coming to life.
