Moments of Magic, Lindsey Welker Outreach Volunteer
There are moments in life that are so magical, they are hard to explain in words, moments that reshape you. I want to share my experience with you. What began as a trip to serve alongside my husband in the Philippines with Mending Faces became something far more personal. It felt a little like stepping into a Disney story. Not the fairytale version, but the kind where growth happens in the middle of uncertainty. I didn’t yet realize how deeply this experience would shape me. This was my husband Joe’s second mission. My first. He tried to explain what it would be like, and I listened; however, no amount of description could have prepared me for what I experienced. As a school counselor, I spend my days helping children navigate big emotions and trying to help them build resiliency through the setbacks, the fears and the hard chapters in their lives that feel overwhelming. I never anticipated the courage and resiliency I was blessed to witness in the children and their families in Kalibo. They were so incredibly brave. It was inspiring! Last year, I showed up to the ER dressed as Elsa after my son broke his collarbone on Halloween. I learned that night that even in painful places, a little magic can shift the atmosphere. This moment was what gave life to me dressing up for the kids in the Philippines. The simple idea became something so much bigger than I ever could have imagined. I thought I was bringing smiles. I thought I was bringing the magic. But the truth is… the children brought the magic to me. They reminded me that courage doesn’t always roar. That strength can be gentle. That joy can exist even before the “happily ever after.” They have absolutely captured my heart!
To the entire Mending Faces team, the beautiful humans who serve so selflessly, you are the real heroes in this story. A quote from Hercules, “A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.” I saw that heart in every hallway, every operating room, every embrace. Thank you for welcoming me into something so much bigger than myself. Disney stories always end with transformation. This one did too. And I will carry this chapter in my heart forever.
