I went to bed with such excitement and anticipation over today's Lil' Sistas Christmas party but I woke up with such disappointment and discouragement. One of my volunteers had texted me an hour before I got up, to cancel on coming out to help. It'd be one thing if it were just one volunteer, I had 4 for today, but this particular volunteer was responsible for a total of 3 -- the other 2 are her daughters. Her canceling meant they were canceling too.
At the start of this year I promised myself that I wasn't going to make myself uncomfortable to make those who cause me to be uncomfortable to feel comfortable. Like when someone is late and they go on and on about the traffic, don't really take responsibility, and then throw in a random "I'm sorry", only for you to reply with "it's okay". It's not okay though, is it? No, it's not.
So intead of saying it's okay, I called it what it was, buls#!+. An hour later, she dropped off one of her daughters.
With now only 2 volunteers, I then had to instantly change the party game plan and arrangement.
Showed up at the Center of Hope and what was suppose to be for a party of 40-50 turned into a party for 56 Lil' Sistas and then a handful of workers/volunteers. I had about 20 people more than anticipated. A bit frustrating, sure, but given this meant the center was over capacity and the extra girls meant they had just rescued extra human trafficking victims and ya, it was sad to know why the increase in number. Sad but happy, I should say. Sad because there were more discovered victims but happy because now they're survivors.
Despite the cancellation of volunteers and the increase in number of participants, the party was so much fun. The girls are always so awesome and I'd like to think they give me props and tell the new girls about me even before I arrive because the new ones are always so sweet to me too. It's almost as if I've been given an introduction beforehand, I love that.
Time with the Lil' Sistas is always followed by tears and today I got teary eyed in front of them when they presented a song at the end and then all approached me with handwritten messages they had written for me on cut out stars. It was so sweet. What was even sweeter though was the fact that they had made some of the two volunteers I had brought with me so they got to take home something special from the event. That was so precious and so incredibly thoughtful of them.
I love my Lil' Sistas. They're simply amazing. They ARE my pride of the Philippines.
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