Friday we traveled through the city and went up to the National Park. This is a view from the top of the mountain where an enormous status of Jesus stood.
This is a replica of the Mayan temple that they are maintaining at the top of this enormous mountain. The park was beautiful yet it looks out over the city and all the poverty. Why is the money going to the park and not the people and their living conditions?
Above is is a video from the top of the mountain that looks over the city...
Above is a close up of some of the views... Check out the SINGLE runway at the airport....
A street video from the road now - trash...and all the congested "homes?"
We went to a market area to shop for some souveniors and those that know Lori know that shopping HAD to be included somewhere in the trip. We had a whole 1/2 hour! Power shop anyone?? Friday included a lot of driving and a lot of overwhelming (the word of the week) sights. But when we returned to El Hogar we came bearing ice cream for the kids -who of course rarely get treats like this. You can bet that each child liked those cups of ice cream clean.
We shared the Stow Independent with the kids (for the picture you Stow residents will have to WAIT to see - it's awesome). Jose is looking at Lori's husband Mike and son Joey in an ice hockey team photo...
Saturday ...our last day...
We began our day with a visit to Marvin's "home". As part of a volunteer week, teams go to an actual home where one of the students lived. The purpose is to experience 1st hand the environment which some of these kids came from. The visit we did to Marvin's home was actually not considered among the worse examples...his mother Christina had "access" to running water and had electricity in her shack....
This is Marvin who is probably 12. This is a 1 "room" shack that fit a double mattress and some walking room.
Marvin's 42 year old mother Christina cried with love as she doesn't see Marvin very often and yet knew she couldn't take care of him. Women when they are able to work are allowed to bring their daughters with them (so they can learn the trades of housekeeping and cooking) but boys are not allowed - which is why many are on the streets, in gangs or dying.....Christina was so happy as Lori bought flowers for Marvin to give to his mother for Mother's Day and candy for his sisters. I wonder if she'd ever received flowers before?
This is the "yard" for his sisters. Note the "bridge" that crosses from the shack over to the roof of another building. Unsecured and about 10 feet off the dirt ground where laundry hangs to dry...
This very unfriendly watch dog protects them from theft.
View down to the ground from the shack.....
On our way out Lori and each gave Christina the equivalent of $20.oo each..That paid for 1 1/2 months of rent for Christina and her girls. RENT for the shack...and maybe some food. As she reached out to both of us with powerful hugs, tears, her blessings and thanks, the emotions from mother to mother were enough to break our hearts as they have never been broken before.
The girls waved goodbye to us as we crawled back into our air conditioned and comfortable van... We headed back to El Hogar to pack up, clean up and say goodbye to the kids before heading to the airport...
Jose sang 2 songs to the team as part of the"farewell" to us. All the children sat in the court yard and presented us with cards. A few of the kids volunteered to stand and speak to us. Their words were translated into English with the words "Thank you for coming to El Hogar. Thank you for playing with us. Have a safe journey home and God Bless you."
Lori and I stepped forward when we were asked to speak. With a huge knot in my throat and my hand in Lori's, I struggled to choke out the words to the children...
"Lori and I came to El Hogar as friends. We are the only 2 mothers in our group of 11. Tomorrow is Mother's Day and please know that you will all in be our hearts". I padded by heart and wiped the stream of tears that ran down my face. We were indundated with hugs from the children one by one. All recieved big motherly hugs and a wet, teary kiss on the head. Our Mother's Day will forever be broader in meaning for Lori and I. We spent our Mother's Day with our families back in Stow. But our lives are forever changed and
El Hogar....
we will be back.....
Thank you all for following our journey and for helping with your donations. Our team raised nearly $10,000 which is 100% matched by The Mathworks company - so $20,000 total! It's the most any team has ever raised and we are all so proud of that. The money will go so far and is so necessary for a wonderful program that is funding entirely by donations and will save the lives of many. Adios until next time! Diane xo
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