Leer es poder!

“Leer es poder.” Reading is power. By opening a small children’s library within walking distance of downtown Cuernavaca, we hope to instill a love of reading in the children we work with. Most of these children have never owned a book other than their textbooks. To read a book for pleasure is a totally new experience for them.

Our librarian (Franciscan associate Rutila) keeps the library well organized and always ready for our next visitors to drop in.

This morning Irene and Rubi stopped by for their first visit. After spending half the day with us, it was time for them to go. I asked them if they would like to return. “Can we come every day?” asked Rubi. “Can we live here?” added Irene. Their first trip to the library was a resounding success.

It is only thanks to our benefactors that our dream of a children’s library has become a reality.

Christmas and the Three Kings

Children in Mexico traditionally receive their gifts on January 6, the feast of Epiphany, in remembrance of the day that the Three Kings brought their gifts to baby Jesus. Unfortunately, for many of the children we work with, the Three Kings never arrive, and parents are forced to explain that the Three Kings ran out of toys. Your donation can change that. Here are a few ways you can brighten a child’s life at Christmas and beyond:

Santa’s Sleigh: Purchase a toy for a child who would otherwise not receive a gift at Christmas. Cost: $10.00

Christmas Shoes:  Purchase a new pair of shoes for a child whose shoes have literally fallen apart. Cost: $20.00

Christmas Warmth: Purchase a sweater and warm pajamas to keep a child warm this winter. Cost: $30.00

Christmas Basket: Feed an entire family three meals on Christmas Day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cost: $50.00

Healthy Start for 2011: Give a child a healthy start to the New Year by purchasing vitamins and nutrition supplements, plus a visit to the pediatrician for a complete checkup. Cost: $100

Christmas Light: Support a child’s education for one full year. Includes a letter and a photo of the child your donation will be supporting. Cost: $300

Please write your check to “Sisters of St. Francis—Cuernavaca” and send to:  Mission Advancement Office, 200 St. Francis Ave., Tiffin, OH 44883-3458. For credit card donations, go to http://www.tiffinfranciscans.org/, click on “Give a gift,” and write “Cuernavaca” in the Comments section. Be sure and specify how you would like your donation to be spent.

Thank you, and may God bless you!

“Where there is sadness, let me sow joy.”

Earlier this month the sister of a good friend of ours was murdered in her home outside of Cuernavaca. Graciela was a simple woman with a tender heart.  She loved music, poetry, and cooking. She also loved spending time with her nieces and nephews. We trust she is now resting in the peace of God.

To bring some good out of this tragedy, we have created the Graciela Fund. She could not bear to see children suffer, so this fund established in her memory will be used to alleviate the suffering of children who live in extreme poverty.  To make a donation, click on “How to help” in the box above and follow the instructions.  Include a note that your donation is for the Graciela Fund. For online donations, type “Cuernavaca Graciela Fund” in the comments section. Every penny of your donation will go to the Graciela Fund. Together we can put into practice the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: ”Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”

Malnutrition: a problem with a solution

 

A few months ago I noticed that an eight-year-old girl in our program was becoming tired very quickly whenever we went shopping for her school supplies. At first I thought maybe she was just bored with shopping, but when it kept happening, I decided to take her to the pediatrician for a checkup. It turns out she was malnourished, anemic, and infected with many different types of parasites. We got her started right away on the medicine and nutritional supplements she needed. Eight months later, I can really see the difference. She is full of energy, her eyes shine, and she has an infectious giggle that tells me she is feeling much better.

Unfortunately these ailments are very common among the children we work with. With proper nutrition and medicine, however, these children will be healthier. This also means they will be better able to learn, will have the energy to do their schoolwork, and will be more likely to stay in school. I thank God for our benefactors who make it possible for us to help our little friend and others like her.

Hace unos meses me di cuenta de que una de nuestras niñas se cansaba rápido cuando salíamos para comprar sus útiles escolares. La llevé con el pediatra y nos dijo que ella estaba muy desnutrida y llena de parásitos intestinales. Ese mismo día comenzamos su tratamiento. Ahora ocho meses después me da mucho gusto verla. Es muy viva, tiene mucha energía, y sonríe mucho.

Desgraciadamente la desnutrución y los parásitos son problemas muy comunes entre los niños de nuestro programa. ¡Gracias a Dios por nuestros benefactores! Con su apoyo hemos podido ayudar a esta niña y otros niños como ella.

Brighten a child’s Christmas

Children in Mexico traditionally receive their gifts on January 6, the feast of Epiphany, in remembrance of the day that the Three Kings brought their gifts to baby Jesus. Unfortunately, for many of the children we work with, the Three Kings never arrive, and parents are forced to explain that the Three Kings ran out of toys. Your donation can change that. Here are a few ways you can brighten a child’s life at Christmas and beyond:

Santa’s Sleigh: Purchase a toy for a child who would otherwise not receive a gift at Christmas. Cost: $10.00

Christmas Shoes:  Purchase a new pair of shoes for a child whose shoes have literally fallen apart. Cost: $20.00

Christmas Warmth: Purchase a sweater and warm pajamas to keep a child warm this winter. Cost: $30.00

Christmas Basket:  Feed an entire family three meals on Christmas Day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cost: $50.00

Healthy Start for 2011: Give a child a healthy start to the New Year by purchasing vitamins and nutrition supplements, plus a visit to the pediatrician for a complete checkup. Cost: $100

Christmas Light: Support a child’s education for one full year. Includes a letter and a photo of the child your donation will be supporting. Cost: $300

Please write your check to “Sisters of St. Francis—Cuernavaca” and send to:  Mission Advancement Office, 200 St. Francis Ave., Tiffin, OH 44883-3458. For credit card donations, go to http://www.tiffinfranciscans.org/, click on “Give a gift,” and write “Cuernavaca” in the Comments section. Be sure and specify how you would like your donation to be spent.

Thank you, and may God bless you!

How much is a child worth? ¿Cuánto vale una joven?

This past weekend I spent time with a sixteen year old who is full of hopes and dreams for her future. She would like to own her own beauty salon someday. If anyone can do it, she can. She has a positive attitude and a resilient spirit. She has a lot of strikes against her, though. She lives in extreme poverty: a family of five living in a tiny one-room shack, dark and damp, made of stones, laminated tin, and cardboard. Her father gave up on being able to provide for his family long ago; whatever he does earn, he spends on liquor. A while ago a stranger came to the house and asked for the girl. Her father had “sold” her to the man for five pesos. Luckily her mother was home and sent the man away. Her father is no longer welcome in their home. Meanwhile my young friend continues dreaming of a brighter future. We will do all we can to help her realize her dreams.

Hace unos días estaba platicando con una joven de 16 años. Ella está llena de planes para su futuro. Espera abrir un salón de belleza. Y creo que ella puede lograr su sueño. Es muy positiva, fuerte, lista, y trabajadora. Pero su vida no es fácil. Vive con su familia en una casa de cartón en la colonia que se llama Cartolandia. Su papá es alcohólico y gana muy poco; y lo que gana va para comprar su bebida. Hace un rato un desconocido fue a la puerta de su casa y preguntó por la joven. Él dijo que su papá se la habido vendido por cinco pesos. La joven con la ayuda de su mamá lo corrieron. Corrieron al papá también. Ya no pueden aguantarlo. Pero ella…ella sigue soñando con un futuro mejor. Y nosotros vamos a hacer todo lo posible para que logre su sueño. Lo merece. Ya ha sufrido más que una niña debe sufrir.

Learning lessons, forming friendships

Three years ago we began offering free tutoring to children from low-income families. Most of these children live with their families in small one-room dwellings with no plumbing. We offer classes year round to any and all children who show up. Many of their parents never had the opportunity to learn to read and write. With no one at home able to help them with their homework, and in classes of forty-plus students and little chance for individual attention, they are at a tremendous disadvantage.

Our tutoring classes give these children the one-on-one attention they need to do well in school. And not only do they learn their lessons, they also form friendships with the other children and with their tutors. Together we form a network of mutual assistance and support. We have become a family!

In the video the children are reciting a little speech they memorized for Sister Maggie’s birthday: “Thank you, Maggie, for the friendship and love you give us every day. We love you!”

Hace tres años comenzamos a darles clases a los niños de bajos recursos. Por supuesto no cobramos nada. La mayoría de estos niños viven con sus familias en casas de un pequeño cuarto. Les ofrecemos clases a todos los niños que quieren asistir. En la mayoría de los casos los padres no estudiaron y  ni saben leer ni escribir entonces no pueden ayudar a sus hijos con sus tareas. Las clases en la primaria son muy grandes y los maestros no pueden prestar atención a todos. Estos niños realmente necesitan la atención individual que reciben en las clases que les damos. Y no sólo aprenden sus lecciones sino también hacen amistades con los otros niños y con sus tutores. Juntos formamos una red de ayuda y apoyo. ¡Ya somos una familia!