Changing schools can be a difficult experience for a child. Being in a new environment, without knowing anyone… it can feel scary and making new friends can be hard, especially for a child who speaks very little English. It’s times like these when the kindness and compassion of a well-raised child can come to the rescue by reaching out and lending a helping hand of friendship.
10-year-olds Rafael Anaya and Amanda Moore have proven that friendship can extend beyond any language barrier. Rafael had just begun going to Paloma Elementary after him and his family recently moved to California from Mexico. Amanda would notice her classmate Rafael eating lunch alone, and looking sad in the cafeteria each day without any friends, and she felt compassion for him.
One day she decided to join Rafael for lunch. When trying to communicate, she realized that he did not speak much English, so the next day she decided to write him a note using Google Translate. Amanda translated her note into Spanish and began practicing reading the note so she could speak with her new friend. On the way to school, Amanda asked her Mom to proofread her note, and her Mom was so proud of her kind little girl that she decided to share her story online.
Hundreds of thousands of people online were deeply touched when hearing of the kindness of Amanda to reach out to Rafael at their school. Amanda’s letter reads:
“Would you like to sit with me today? Look for me and I will show you where I sit. We can color or simply tell scary stories. Thank you for your time, signed Amanda.”
Amanda practiced writing her letter on the way to school.
Amanda’s Mom Kimber said that since her daughter gave Rafael the note, the two of them have become good friends, spending time together at school and also going trick-or-treating together for Halloween. Rafael told ABC news that he and Amanda would be friends “forever.”
Their school praised Amanda for her random act of kindness by honoring her as Student of the Month.
With children and families desperate to escape poverty and who come to America looking for a safe place to stay, it’s important that we show them compassion and do what we can to make their lives easier. So many have suffered from mistreatment, discrimination, hunger and from being subjected to the dangers that come from poverty stricken communities. To love our neighbors, we must remember that they deserve just as much love and good treatment as everyone else, and do what we can to help.
Amanda’s beautiful act of kindness shows how wonderfully she was raised; to be kind to her neighbors, regardless of their language ability or country of origin.
“No color, no religion, no nationality should come between us, we are all children of God.”
Mother Teresa
“Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike, each has their suffering.”
Buddha
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Jesus Christ
You are Loved.
