Sweet Orlando

  
On the first day, we saw him waiting outside the gate of the school. He wasn't in a uniform because he wasn't a student- just another kid in the community. The team started picking up trash in the school yard. He quietly crept into the school yard and started helping. The team gave him a pair of gloves. At the end of the day, he didn't return the gloves... he said his goodbyes and left.  One more pair of gloves lost, or so they thought.

When the team got to the school on the second day, there he stood, outside of the gate. His gloves were on and he was ready to work. That second day was a stepping stone. Orlando was no longer a kid from the community who came to volunteer; Orlando was a part of the team.

Orlando eating with Matt, Jim, and Lou
in the workshop

Halfway through the day, the team started to paint the school, which meant Orlando started to paint the school too. The only clothes he had worn in weeks were covered in paint, he didn't care.... he just kept painting... and painting... and painting...

Each day, we would come to the school and Orlando would be patiently waiting outside the gates. He'd work with us all day long, only stopping to eat or to get more volunteers. He bonded with each member of the team so well. It was clear that leaving at the end of the week wouldn't just be hard for the team, but for Orlando too.

On the last day, the team had a celebration for the kids at the school. Unfortunately, Orlando had to wait outside... after all, he didn't go to school. The team decided to take a chance at changing that small detail. They pulled the principal to the side and told him what all Orlando had done. Every room that had a new paint job, Orlando helped paint. The exterior of the school, Orlando helped patch and paint. The trees, Orlando helped plant. He worked harder on that school than any other child there. Because of all of his hard work, the principal agreed to let him go to school for the rest of the year- for free.