A year ago Kathy & I had the privilege of going to Honduras with Compassion International. The goal of the trip was to gain a better understanding of the work Compassion does by seeing it first-hand. We visited a number of community projects, churches, schools and even had the opportunity to visit families in their homes.
It was an incredible experience for us as we met so many amazing people over the course of the week. From Compassion staff and volunteers to translators, project directors and hundreds of awesome children. Everyday was a new project and a new group of kids to connect with. But on our last visit, one 14-year old girl in particular, stole my heart. Her name was Rosie.
As our bus pulled up to the project a crowd of kids were gathered outside singing and holding up signs. Rosie was holding up my name so I immediately went over to meet her.
Over the course of the morning I got to know Rosie. She told me about her family, her love for the project where she received an education and regular meals. Rosie was also one of the editors of the local newspaper and the mandate of the paper was that it would only write good news. How awesome is that! The kids would search out positive things that were happening in the community and in the school and write about them. Only good news…our North American media outlets could learn something here.
The children in these projects grow up in such poverty and desperate situations that the odds are against them to live a different life. So I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Rosie, when I asked her if she had goals and where she saw herself in a few years. Without hesitation, with clarity and confidence she told me, “I want to be a dress designer and work in New York City.”
I have to be honest I was not expecting that. But I asked more questions about what that would look like for her and what it would mean for her to reach those goals. It was an incredible conversation with an amazing young lady.
Rosie was kind, engaging, a leader in her school and she had passion and dreams. In spite of growing up in extreme poverty with few supports outside of the project, she was living out an incredible story. In spite of the barriers she was pursuing the life she wanted to live. She spoke with enthusiasm, hope and with the greatest smile.
The more I talked with Rosie, the more this became clear to me. Even at a young age in a difficult situation she had learned the value of focus.
Focusing on what’s possible rather than what’s not.
How did she do that?
- She made a choice. She very easily could have been bitter and frustrated and accepted that poverty will keep her stuck. But she didn’t do that. She simply decided that she was going to focus on the positives in her life. It’s how she wrote for the paper and it guided her life.
- She identified her passion. She knew what she was passionate about and did what she could to learn about it and develop it. All without the resources that you and I take for granted like access to the internet or even a local library.
- She developed a plan. Rosie told me there would be few opportunities for her as a fashion designer in Honduras and that New York was her goal. She had already designed some dresses. She didn’t have them with her then, but I told her I looked forward to seeing her name in New York someday. She worked hard in school, she learned new skills and desired for more.
(Made a) Choice (Identified her) Passion (Developed a) Plan
Against incredible odds Rosie made a choice to follow her passion and developed a plan to make it happen.
Focusing on the positive and what’s possible will move you toward the life you want
“You’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” Phil 4:8
I was so encouraged and inspired by Rosie and I believe she will continue to do that for others throughout her life. I will never forget her. And we shouldn’t forget what she taught us either.
Focusing on the positive and what’s possible will move you toward the life you want
Q. Are you focused on what you want your life to look like? If not, why not?
Q. What barriers have you overcome to accomplish your goals and dreams?
Q. What can you takeaway from Rosie’s life? I’d love to hear about it so please leave a comment below.
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