Yesterday was an adventure. It's always an adventure around here. During the summer I imagined all kinds of scenarios of how the school provisions would be dispersed. Maybe I'd have my photo posted in the local paper, real altruism! And true to form, I could not have imagined the sequence of events, the faces and the genuine warmth of every person I met. The morning was an emotional roller coaster ride; from the high of feeling like we can make a difference to the depths of inadequacy; and always with the underlying awareness that I'm rich, white and unencumbered with true need. It's hard to wear the truth.
Our first stop was to the elementary school in Villa Obergon. The director was cordial. I had the sense that she saw me as one more "do gooder" fly by night gringo. Here one season with promises and gone before spring break, never to be heard from again. After handing over a box of spiral note books and pencils we began talking about the backpacks, could they be of use? What an absurd question. There was excitement for the first time in her face and I could see the possibilities running through her head. On Monday we will deliver 5 backpacks that are filled with basic school gear; note pads, pencils, a calculator, glue sticks, erasers etc. The teachers are going to discuss who needs and deserves. We are invited to the school assembly on Wednesday where they will present the packs and distribute the rest of the school supplies. More to come on Villa Obergon (VO).
By the time we drove out to the area called Pinal; dirt road laden with pot holes, we missed the morning session of school due to some sort of assembly. My sense is that the elementary school in VO will look like the Taj Mahal after visiting the elementary school in Pinal. I was requested by a friend to ask how many students are with out shoes. On Wednesday we will try again. My instinct tells me there are 85 students who assemble in a less than adequate building with not much else.
Our last stop was to deliver clothes to some families who have been with out or with little work. Though this stop isn't related to "100 Backpacks" I feel it's worth mentioning it and posting a few pics. This is the story of one family. The husband
was abandoned when he was 2 years old. At some point as a child he was
in an accident and lost four fingers and has a large pin in one thigh.
He finds work by riding his bike to the local farmers and buying bags of
tomatoes and cucumbers and then reselling them in town. He and his
wife have four children, 3 girls and a boy. The youngest is four weeks
old. This is a pic of the 3 year old daughter and the front of their
house. They offered to make us lunch, gracious, let me hold the new born, offered me a seat in their one room casa. His wife went to her neighbors home and soon the two women were going through the clothes and asking if they could pick something out for a sisters child. We left them all that we had.
