We are very concerned about the number of kids at the Breakfast Program. Today there were only 36 kids and it's been about the same for 2 weeks now. I know the kids enjoy their time at the church. I know they like the food (and need it!). I asked Lourdes why she thinks they stopped coming and what we can do to get them to come back. She said that she thinks it is kind of a phase. Right now the parents are hearing about a lot of scary things in the media and keeping the kids nearby. She said as time passes and the frenzy dies down the kids will return. We serve an area that is repeatedly referred to as one of the most dangerous parts of the city. So basically our kids come from the most dangerous part of the deadliest region on earth, according to media. I can't wait for them to come back.
I have been doing most of the lessons lately. A tiny part of me is a little grateful that we have a smaller number of kids. It is easier for them to sit quietly and participate in the lesson when there are less kids. But only a tiny part of me feels that way. 99% of me is sad and misses the other 70 kids I don't get to see anymore. I worry if they have enough food. I worry what sort of horrible things might have happened that would cause them to be scared to come to the church. It has been weeks and weeks since I last saw Lorenzo. We keep telling the kids to bring their friends with them, but for some reason they don't come. Please continue to pray. I know the majority of these kids are malnourished if they do not eat at the Breakfast Program.
Yesterday Clara went to the hospital. She needed to be hospitalized after a chemotherapy treatment that hit her really hard, but there are no open beds. She spent the night sitting in a chair in the waiting room. Lourdes talked to her and said Clara had no food and no money for food. Lourdes sent money with one of Clara's daughters today. Clara has been doing SO well. I am grateful she felt so strong thus far and sad that she is sick today. But Clara is a fighter!
On a happier note, I think the rainy season has come. It rained again last night for most of the night and was cloudy most of the day. The fire that started a month ago across the street on the way into the city is still burning. Even after all of the rain over the past few days.
My truck was muddy this morning. Don Juan doesn't like it when my truck is muddy. He said, "Pull your truck up to these buckets after the kids leave and it will take us two seconds to clean your car. There is a lot of water. All you have to do is roll up your pant legs and we'll get it done." I guess 'roll up your pant legs' is the Spanish version of 'roll up your shirt sleeves'. He was right. Together, we washed my truck and Jairo's in only a few minutes. Mine was muddier because of the dirt road I travel on every day. Don Juan said we should open a car wash business to serve the wealthy kids at Unitec - the college next door to the church. He watched a show on The Discovery Channel about a man who owed 3 million dollars and paid it off washing cars. Watch out! Don Juan and I may be millionaires soon. Except that we are not allowed on the Unitec property. That will be our first hurdle.
Today I was reading about a friend in the states who is going through a hard time. I could understand why she is not happy. But sometimes we get so focused on the things that make us unhappy that we forget about all of the things we can be happy about! I have too many things to begin to list - that in itself is amazing! I would bet that Clara, who has been sitting in a dirty, loud, crowded, smelly hospital, without food, waiting for a bed because she is ill with a disease that can be deadly, would tell you that she is grateful for many things right at this very moment. Let's appreciate the good things we are blessed with and not give so much power to other things that come up in life. Who knows? Sometimes what seems to be a bad thing, turns out to be a blessing in disguise.
