March 6, 2012

The rain was still falling when we awoke this morning, but it was just a spitting drizzle as the children lined up for this morning's devotional, led by Arturo. After breakfast, we headed off, half to the classrooms to work with the children one-on-one. They work especially hard to read when one of us is sitting at their side. The other half of us headed off to finish painting the Science classroom (having scored a ladder so we could finish the eaves) and to start on the English classroom, trying to cover a shocking yellow with mint green, and clearly needing two coats.

After a short lunch break, we headed back to our tasks. Liz Kinchen(pronounced by the children all as one word - LeeezKinchen) had been off with Dona Claudia going over various administrative matters and came back to our almost green classroom to report that her meeting had been bumped by a father who showed up at the gate with his two children, asking for them to be taken in. While it is unusual, his son(the older of the two) had been at El Hogar for a while when he was younger (and in fact had been one of the children sponsored by POE - his name was Ivis). After some more back and forth, Liz left and returned and then came bursting back into the room and said Claudia was going on a home visit to this family and they could take one more person but it was right now because the car engine was running - so I jumped at the chance (thinking only later that it might have been wise to grab a passport or any form of ID).

We got in the van - Arturo driving, Claudia in her white suit and high heels, Jonathan for additional security, Liz Kinchen and I, with the father and two children tucked into the way back. The father pointed the way up the hill, and we drove less than a mile from El Hogar. The neighborhood was poor, though not that bad, but we had trouble figuring out where the house was. Then it became clear it was necessary to go down the rubble-filled alley between two houses over a slope that had been significantly washed out in the rain (Claudia making this journey in very high heels), finally reaching a dirty ditch, and turning right to see a couple of doors in a concrete building with a tin roof. There was a wood fire burning outside with a large pot, and the father led us past the first open room where a mother was feeding tortillas (and it looked like nothing else) to a handful of dirty children. A couple of rooms in was the room where the family in question was living - the father, the two children (his daughter was 8 or 9 and Ivis who would be in the sixth grade), and two older brothers who were not there. The mother had committed suicide four months ago, and Claudia believed the father had issues with alcohol, although he said he had just gotten a job and could not take care of the children. He proudly, but sadly, showed us a picture that looked to be about a year old of the mother and father and the two of the children in graduation robes.

The room was about 6x6 and was filthy. A single bed mattress lay in one corner, covered with junk and no bed clothes. There was no light, no window, no door for safety....dirty water was down the hall (and a man in a towel had just finished bathing in it). All five family members - the little girl, three older brothers and her father - slept on that single mattress in that tiny, dark and dirty room. Claudia looked around, picking up the pot that was on the hot plate and noting that there were scraped off refried beans that were several days old. There was no other food visible (but for a dried shallot or two) - the family had probably not eaten in a while.

Claudia interviewed the father, and also his landlord who was hanging around. She quickly decided that the situation was not safe for the children, particularly the little girl. Because Ivis (and his older brothers) had been at El Hogar in the past (and their parents would not let them stay at that time) Claudia decided we would take the children with us to El Hogar and the father could come back tomorrow to do the paperwork (full of hope that this time, unlike the last, he would be supportive). So, the children took a few minutes looking for their things and came out with a bag (which was no bigger than a small baggie) that held their clothes/possessions. We piled back into the van, without the father, and returned to El Hogar.

When we arrived, Claudia was out of the van like a shot, children in tow. She went straight to the courtyard by the classrooms and the other children were lining up for their afternoon workshops. Claudia introduced the new children, telling the others to welcome them into the family. She put the new ones in their lines and appointed a buddy for each. As she was introducing them, Ivis could not look at the group, he was looking away and large slow tears started streaming down his face. It is hard to imagine the feelings he had, being back with at least some boys he knows, having lost his mother a few months ago, now losing his father and brothers, but being somewhere safe and happy. Dona Claudia gave him a reasurring rub on the shoulder and warm words. His sister was quickly surrounded by the rest of the fourth grade girls and she was soon going off holding hands with her buddy, Daniela. Eventually, the older boys with hands in their pockets stood near Ivis and seemed to connect, and he too went off with a group. All in about an hour, their lives were changed.

After some more painting, one of our afternoon tasks was getting the bodega arranged with things we had brought and sorting out things for the farm and the institute where we will visit in the next two days. Liz and Betsy were there when Ivis and his sister came by to get things. They were able to choose several outfits and brand new shoes, in addition to their uniforms. then they were shooed off to the showers. Shortly afterwards, she came down in her new purple shirt and pink capris and Ivis looked dashing in a yellow tee shirt and new jeans. They were both clean and beaming, simply glowing. They had big smiles on their faces, as Betsy took them off to take their pictures. I suspect they will not always be smiling, but it was remarkable to see the light in their eyes after such a tumultous day.

El Hogar seemed full already, but Claudia found room both in her heart (where I do not think there are limits) and in the dorms. It is remarkable work that is done here. Dona Claudia spoke to us yesterday about the project of constructing lives, and today she really showed us.

With blesssings to all from the Home of Love and Hope - Liz Fries