This is the story of the little miracle of Colonia Morelos.
Last fall, I felt I wanted to help some people who were really struggling and hungry and not in contact with any NGO programs. I put out a few feelers in my Epistle comments to no avail. I already donate to Feed the Hungry and Centro Infantil but wanted to support something more personal.
In talking to Deacon Anthony, I heard that a friend of his had moved from el centro towards the north-west of town to a little community, Morelos, where most live in make-shift houses and only half have water or electricity. This friend had built a room beside her little house that could store basic food supplies. Friends of hers, people in town, were helping her. I was so happy to contribute to this project. Raquel, reading my comments, also contributed. Anthony did the shopping.
Then, by a totally different route, perhaps via her maid, Lynn, from St. Paul’s, heard of the need of this little colonia and jumped in to help with almost anything and everything: bedding, cooking utensils, food items, and has a box in the Parish Hall for anything and everything! I believe all help is welcome. According to a report in the Newsletter, she is also gathering the children together for some games and socializing.
Morelos is named after a Mexican hero, Jose Maria Morelos Perez y Pavon, of the war of Independence. He was a RC priest, born in Valladolid, who had studied under Hidalgo. He took over military command when Hidalgo died. Morelos was executed by the Spanish in 1915. The intervention for independence by these two priests prevented Spain giving Mexico to the French. The state of Morelos and the city of Morelia (Valladolid) also honour this hero with his name.
This week will bring us to the end of April. May usually is our hottest month so I may have to hibernate. Temperatures next week are solidly highs of 33C / 91F. Plants may need watering every day or plantpots moved into the shade and everyone needs to keep hydrated in spite of the fact that Guanajuato is in a state of severe drought.
Please try to save water in other ways. ie: use dish water to wash the sidewalk, put a large plastic bowl in the shower to catch water to put on a plant, use clothing more than once, find a plumber to fix any leaks, never let your maid do dishes under running water – use two plastic containers: one soapy hot and another cold rinse with two drops of cloro, put a plate under plant pots to allow the plant to absorb more water and not have it run directly out, and any other ideas you may have.
This is the reply from Lynn when l asked her how she became a guardian angel for Morelos:
2 friends (Les Pearson and Reyes Ortiz) and I provide enhanced Despensas to the village twice a month. Our Despensas contain beans, rice, lentils, oil, milk, cereal, masa, coffee, creamer, Tang, tea bags, pasta, tuna, tomato sauce, hot sauce, popcorn, canned fruit and veggies, fresh eggs, mayo, salt, chicharron, toilet paper, diapers, baby formula and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Once a month, we take shampoo, matches, soap, laundry soap and toothpaste. Twice a month, we deliver boxes made to help a needy village family make it through 2 weeks. We have used donations to provide Eco Stoves to 5 families and will deliver stoves to 5 more families this next week. These stoves are wonderful and allow these people who have no gas or electricity to cook their food using nothing more than twigs and dried cactus. The stoves require very little of this readily available fuel. We have delivered school supplies, clothing, household goods, small furniture and toys when we have donations or extra cash.
Several members of St. Paul’s have donated cash, clothing, some household items and several have even shopped with me. A plastic table and 4 chairs was donated by wonderful parishioners from our church to a single mom who has 3 children. The family will use this table to eat their meals, do homework and play games. Something so simple is very special to this little family. The same parishioners donated 2 sleeping bags for the 2 small girls in this family. The homes are seldom large enough for beds. Mats and sleeping bags are preferable because they can be used at night and then stacked away during the day, freeing up important indoor space. A walker was provided for a 17 yr old child with cerebral palsy, as was a recliner for him to sit in. He had been sitting ALL day and into the night in a wheelchair. That one was a tearjerker!!
We try to visit with different villagers to find out what their particular needs are. Some have children who have no toys. Some have babies who need diapers and formula. Some need work clothes and some have children who need shoes. Many just need FOOD!
We also built shelving in Joyce’s community room to help organise the school supplies and the games and activities she keeps there for the children.
In February, we provided the makings for 200 cheese and chicken tamales for a Candelaria celebration for the entire village. We delivered the ingredients to the community room and the ladies of the village made the tamales and atole. In that same month, we took cookies, cupcakes, milk and decorations for the kids to have a Valentine’s Party. And this past Easter, we did the same for an Easter Party. We will try to always do something for special occasions for these darling kids. They are absolutely giddy when they get to celebrate ANYTHING!
For Christmas, we plan to do the tamale party again. It was a big success in February and worth a repeat!
If anyone in the church wishes to help, we can always use any of the food items I mentioned, and the personal hygiene items. Cash donations can be given through St. Paul’s Community giving program. It costs us approximately $17,000 pesos monthly to furnish supplemental food and supplies for 25 families. This works out to be about $34USD per month per family. We do need community support to continue this endeavor. 15 of our families are in the village, Morales, the other 10 are needy families and elderly people here in San Miguel neighbourhoods. Extra donations beyond the $17,000 pesos go to the purchase of the stoves and any special projects we run across.
Wishing you all a good week.
Annaabuchanan.mex@gmail.com (comments very welcome)
Anna