Final reflections on Mexico, and In honour of passing middle-age!

I’m on my way home to the UK – a 24hour door-to-door journey giving me plenty of time to reflect on the past week and my time in Mexico. The purpose of my trip was to visit some projects in the Chapala region and explore the potential for CRED entering into a partnership with any of them.

This I have done, and I will be presenting my findings and thoughts to those who make such decisions (ie trustees) when I am home. It is not appropriate for me to divulge those thoughts at this time, especially as I know some of the readers of this blog have a personal interest in knowing what those thoughts and recommendations might be, and I don’t want to write anything that might put undue pressure or expectations one way or the other.

But in wrapping up this trip in a more general way, I was reflecting on the week overall and two thoughts struck me time and again.

Firstly is the number of friends I feel that I have made here in this short time - some who are involved directly in the projects, and others who are supporting from the sidelines in various ways. Last night we had a lovely farewell meal together, and I truly felt that as I said adios to them, it was not a final farewell but a temporary parting. Mexico is a country of great beauty, and that shows in the friendship of the people as well as the landscape

In alluding to the title of this blog, one significant thing about most of these friends is that they will all agree that they have made it to the far side of middle age – some more than others - but that is certainly not slowing them down. Some are ex-pats who have retired here, others are Mexicans, but all are great ambassadors for the truth that age doesn’t need to hinder involvement.

One of the ladies not able to be present last night was Sylvia Flores. Sylvia is happy to admit that she is pushing 70yrs old but that isn’t slowing her at all. An amazing and wonderful Mexican lady, Sylvia was called out yesterday to deal with two pregnant patients who were having medical emergencies that needed her attention. She devotes her life to supporting, empowering and equipping women – many of whom live very impoverished lives - in the fields of maternal health, education and life skills.

Madre Maria, who I have mentioned in previous blogs, fits that same category of incredible dynamic Mexican ladies, serving God in a remarkable, selfless and inspirational way, through her care for some of those closest to God’s heart – orphans and vulnerable children.

I must just mention Dr Carlos as well – another angel in human clothing. A hug from Dr Carlos is a true bear-hug of an embrace, and that exemplifies his love of, and concern for, humankind. Dr Carlos gives of his time to the people of Tepehua, providing them with access to good quality health care even when they don’t have two peso’s to rub together. Everyone is equal in Dr Carlos’s eyes, everyone is equally deserving of a proper consultation and the chance to have the care they need to recover from whatever ails them. Yes there are many challenges along the way, but that doesn’t deter Dr Carlos, and he is another example that I have met this week of Mexicans helping Mexicans across the ‘class divide’.

To these fine people, as well as Francine, Robert, Lisa, Ernesto, Karuna, F. Basil, Ernie, Esther, Roy, Margarita, Aurora, Sheila, Maria and Kai (some of whom still have to discover the delights to middle-age) – I salute you! Thank you for your time, your love, your guidance and your devotion to the people of Tepehua and Lakeside. May you be blessed as you are a blessing.

But I said earlier that there are two thoughts that kept coming to me this week, and the second is just how much greater is God’s agenda than ours. There have been so many little occurrences, conversations and unexpected meetings this week, and in the weeks leading to this trip, that have underlined the fact that whilst we may have one agenda in mind, God is at work in so many more ways.

As I said earlier, my focus for this week was to consider some projects for possible partnership with CRED, and that has certainly happened; but there has been so much more, related to the wider work of CRED and to other aspects of life, that have been clear evidence of God working His purposes out. Conversations that have been able to take place due to a change in where I was staying, chance meetings that have proved to be really significant, unexpected side-links that have emerged, seemingly random e-mails that have come at just the right time and confirmed issues that the sender wasn’t aware of – all these and more have made for an intense, but highly fulfilling and exciting trip.

I have been reminded in no uncertain terms that we should never underestimate the work of God behind the scenes, as well as upfront. He is right there walking with us, as well as preparing the way in ways that might not be clear until later. As always I give thanks to our Lord for allowing me to walk this exciting path, but I thank Him ever more for the evidence that this is never a walk that I do alone – He is always right in there with me: before, beside, after, under, over and within, showing His loving care at all times. May you all know that amazing love and truth as you journey forwards.

Time to board the plane – adios Mexico, UK here I come!

Felipe's story

So, yesterday I shared with you the story of Sofia, a young lady who has been at Villa Infantil for 13 years now, and is so happy there that even if someone came along to adopt her she would say 'no thanks' and would opt instead to stay with her loving family led by Madre Maria and the two Sisters.

Today I was back at VI chatting some more about various aspects of their work, and I heard the story of Felipe, the youngest of the children there. Again, I have changed his name for obvious reasons.

Felipe came to VI when he was 6 months old, but to look at him you would have thought he was more like 2 months. He was incredibly ill with all sorts of problems and the Sisters did a miracle just keeping him alive at times.

His mother, probably due to him being so sick, abandoned Felipe at the nearby hospital and the local authorities then asked VI to care for him. It is thought that she has 4 other children, but no-one knows quite who they are, or where they are  - presumably fending for themselves as it seems that the mother is unable to care for them.

Due to the mother’s alcoholism, Felipe was born with foetal-alcoholic syndrome, and so had all the associated health and development problems which have had to be treated and overcome as he has grown.

The wonderful news is that Felipe, now age 4, is caught up with others of his age, and the health visitor has declared him to be at the right developmental stages, and the teacher is happy with how he is doing as well. Very good news for a little one with such a rough start in life, and evidence once again of what a massive difference a childhood filled with love, care, ongoing support and strong moral and ethical values can mean to the outcome

If only that love could be bottled and given to all – to the mothers who are caught in such cycles of poverty and bad choices that often there is very little love that goes from them to the children; to the mothers who, through rape, incest etc, are giving birth to unwanted babies and abandoning them as they don’t know how to love and care for the children; to the fathers who are also caught in poverty and bad choice lifestyles and turn to domestic violence as an outlet; and to the wider community who struggles to know how to deal with all the issues on its doorstep.

If only those people could all know the love and care that the Sisters show, so that they could then show that love and care to others, and experience the feelings of value and worth that the Sisters instill in the children in their care. If those broken people could feel valued, respected, loved – and show the same to others, what a different set of outcomes there could be.

Oh that CRED might be able to be involved in finding ways to achieve that – here in Mexico, and also around the world where those similar problems are the scourge of all.

Sofia - a smiling story

Yesterday I had the joy of visiting Villa Infantil (VI), an orphanage that is situated a bit further round Lake Chapala near the town of Jocotepec. I’ve heard about VI several times since being here, and also in my pre-trip conversations, and always very good and glowing reports, so I was looking forward to the visit.

Whilst there I got to meet Madre Maria, who runs the orphanage, along with the Sisters Maria and Blanca – wonderful ladies who have dedicated their lives totally and sacrificially to the care of the children in their charge. Despite the odds on many an occasion they are raising abandoned, orphaned and often abused children in a loving, caring environment, allowing the children to heal inside from their traumatic starts, and rediscover what it means to have a happy childhood and live in a loving home.

The oldest girl at VI is Sofia (name changed for obvious reasons), and she is 16 years old. Sofia came to VI when she was 3 years old. Her mother had a lifestyle so dysfunctional and broken that she was unable to care for her daughter, and so the grandmother attempted to take over the reins.

Initially it went OK, but before long the grandmother was also failing to provide adequate care for Sofia, and at the age of Sofia was found wandering on the streets. She was taken in by the Mexican social services, who handed her to Madre Maria to be raised at VI.

Sofia has been there ever since. Initially there was some contact with the mother, which is why they never sought to have Sofia adopted, but after about 5 years the mother disappeared from the picture altogether. 

Sofia has gone through all of elementary school and is now in high school. She has two years to go and then hopes to continue on to University. Her education has been sponsored by someone in the ex-pat community out here, as is the case for all the children at VI. 

Some people think that orphanages aren’t the way forward for child care, and I know I have written about this before, so I won’t regurgitate my thoughts now. But when I met Sofia yesterday her whole demeanour oozed happiness, contentment and a sense of knowing that she is loved and valued. She shares a room with one other girl, lives in a family size unit, takes part in the chores, has to do all her homework, gets consulted about what she would like to do future wise, and is very much treated like an individual as well as a member of a loving family. 

For me that typifies what is important about raising a child – giving them the loving space to be themselves, to discover who they are as a unique child of God, and to have the security of a family who loves them as they grow up and eventually, when they are ready, go out into the world.

Madre Maria, and the Sisters at Villa Infantil certainly do that for every child that comes their way, and it was an honour to see and feel that love in action when I visited yesterday.

4 snapshot stories of Tepehua people

So, I've been in and around the barrio of Tepehua these past few days, meeting people and projects and trying to get a feel for the work that is going on there. In a mo I'll share a few snapshots that give an insight into life there, but first a bit of background to help set the scene.

The Tepehua barrio (shanty-area) is in the town of Chapala which is in the Guadalajara region of Mexico. Chapala is about 30 mins drive from Guad, and is on the shores of Lake Chapala. To most people it's a lovely typical Mexican town, with lots of outdoor markets, beautiful bits of architecture, cobbled streets, very pleasant weather, delicious food, and friendly people. Some areas of it are home to ex-pats, especially from America, and are holiday home places for the well-off Guad's, as the Lakeside is a very attractive place to live. Other parts of it are standard level of housing for the two local tribes of Indians, and then there are the Tepehuan tribes people.

The Tepehuan tribe is not a local tribe, although I haven't managed to find out the story of how they have come to be in Chapala. But, because they are not local, they are not accepted, and getting work is very very hard. When they do get work it is very much the low-level, poorly paid work, and usually very temporary. Hence poverty is a massive problem within the Tepehua barrio, along with all the associated issues - illiteracy, health, drugs, domestic violence, homelessness...... and it is within that the various projects are trying to make a difference

So, that's the background, now to my 4 little snapshots of life:

Firstly the birthday boy of today:

This is Juan Pablo, and today was his ninth birthday. He was so proud to be able to tell me this when we got to the Tepehua Community Centre this morning, and his grin was from ear to ear. The reason he was at the Centre was to receive the free lunch that is given out on a Friday to any who come - an indication in itself of how little Juan has in life. But today was his birthday, and he followed me everywhere, grinning and laughing with happiness. He even gave me a candy, as this is the local custom - on your birthday you give to others. Juan, who has so little that he has to go for free meals whenever he can, gave away one of the candies that a helper had given him, so that he can know that he is doing the right thing of blessing others on his birthday. I certainly felt blessed, and humbled, to be in his presence today.

Next snapshot:

This is Marta, pictured with two of her three daughters. I didn't catch the names of the two girls, but they are ages 6 and 7. The oldest girl is age 8 and she was at school today. Marta would like to send all 3 girls to school, but she doesn't have the money for three uniforms, so she has had to make the choice to only send one of her girls to school. Marta is a single mum with no support from the dads of the girls

I first met Marta on Wednesday at the sewing class that is run from the Community Centre, where she is learning to sew, and make products that can be sold. Marta is one of 15 ladies in the class and each has the use of, and responsibility for, one of the 15 sewing machines. When I visited, they were starting to make book covers, and I ordered one from Marta. Today she came to the Centre with the completed item, beautifully made and I was delighted to be able to pay her the agreed price. 

Through the income Marta has been making as a result of the sewing class, she has been able to start making some savings - hence one of the girls now going to school.

However, life is still very tight and she still turns up on Fridays for the free meal for herself and the other two girls - maybe one day she will get to the point where she can put all three girls through school, and have enough money left over to buy the food needed for her own meal.

Snapshot 3:

Isaiah is the 'caretaker' of the Tepehua Community Centre. He is a dad of several kids, and his story is one of complete transformation.

When he first got known by the TCC folks, Isaiah was a wife-beater, an alcoholic, on methadone, and had a non-existent relationship with his kids who had learnt that the best thing was to stay well out of the way of their dad. He had zero self-esteem and self-respect, and took it all out on those around him.

Thankfully though, he did have enough in him to realise that his life wasn't right, and the choices he had been making were all wrong. He sought help at the Centre, and was given it in the form of access to AA and a mentor to help him through. Isaiah started to turn his life around - the domestic violence, abated, his wife and kids started to trust him, and the drink and drugs stopped. Isaiah has had a few relapses, but he is now doing really well, and has been given the role of 'caretaker' at the centre. He is always there, doing bits of cleaning, odd-jobs, running errands, looking after the cars of some of the volunteers who come. And on special event days Isaiah is tasked with being 'head of security' and finding a team of local guys who will keep an eye on the cars of all the guests.

Seeing Isaiah today, and hearing his story, and watching him interact with the kids in a friendly playful manner was wonderful - may he continue on the road with no more glitches, and may many more be supported to have similar stories to his.

And finally...

I don't know her name, or anything about her, but this little girl was sat on the step opposite the Community Centre when we were leaving, and she was just so adorable I had to mention her! It was with great delight that she showed us her new clothes that she had just been given: a red sweater (on her head!) a white blouse, and a little skirt. She had got them from the 'bazar' at the Community Centre which is kind of like a 2nd hand clothes store that the local people can access. The significant thing for me about this little girl was that she said the clothes were 'just for her'. An interesting phrase and it made me wonder if all her previous clothes have been hand-me-downs from older siblings, and that this is the first time in her little life that she's ever had anything 'just for her'. Another insight into life lived in poverty.

Tomorrow I'm off to visit an orphanage further round the Lake, and so will return with more stories and insights to share.

Until then 'adios amigos'.