It was so adorable! And so sad. I talked to Samuel's mother, Ana. She told me that this morning when they woke up Samuel told her excitedly the cat had grown overnight. At four weeks old they do grow fast. But when she looked at the cat she realized the cat had not actually grown. It was sprawled out, very sick. She cocked her head to the side and stuck out her tongue to demonstrate how the cat looked. She told me she was pretty sure the cat would be dead when they got home from the Breakfast Program. Samuel asked his Mom to take the cat to the doctor, but she had to explain that she didn't have enough money for diapers for his sister, so they couldn't afford a Dr appointment for the cat.
She asked me what I thought they could do for the cat. I told her I thought the cat needed its mother's milk. It was too young to be away from its mother. I told her my opinion is that even if they had unlimited resources, they could spend a lot of money at the vet and the cat would probably die. There are a million things that could be wrong with a tiny kitten - something the cat was born with, a parasite, heart worm, feline leukemia. Who knows?
Ana told me that in Los Pinos people SELL kittens. She said they steal healthy cats. I was shocked to hear that. There is such an immense overpopulation of dogs it is painful to drive through the neighborhood. The dogs there are in horrible shape. It hurts my heart to see them. Put apparently cats are a hot commodity for their rat chasing value.
Marcela (my landlord's daughter) and I are going to look for kittens up here in the mountains where they are more abundant and free. Ana said she would like another if we can find one. I told her we are only going to bring a cat that is weened. I was thinking about the fact that the kids wanted to call the cat "Papi". Cute until you think about the fact that their Daddy left them over a year ago.
Tomorrow I am going to Ana's house. I am going to bring lasagna, salad and garlic bread. A good old North American dinner. I have to remember to bring something for us to drink too. They drink rain water which is collected in a big cistern.
It is all arranged for me to park by the pulperia above her house again. I am even more convinced that my car and I are safe there since many of the kids from the Breakfast Program rushed up to me the day after I last visited and said they saw me drive past their house. They said that they pointed me out to their family as the person from the church who is teaching them to swim. They were so excited to think that I drove past their home! I'll have to look out more carefully and wave to them tomorrow.
I have been thinking a lot about how I can help here. Basically it has come down to a quality over quantity issue. For example: Do I buy a lot of food that will feed Ana's family for a few days and hand it over to them? Or do I bring over a nice meal and sit down to share with them? For now, although it is not practical - I know! - I am going for quality over quantity. It is something I should talk to Ana about. I would like to give to them in a way that is best for them. Not what is best for me.
As I get to know the kids at the church on a deeper level I see more and more needs. There is no way I can meet them all. This week I gave away my bathing suit and my warmest sweater. I am completely fine with both of those things. But there is still Christian, who goes to swimming lessons in 57 degree weather every morning and doesn't have a warm jacket to put on afterward. I don't have anything that would fit him. If I went to the used clothing store, I could find something cheap. But then where would I stop? When I asked Christian if he had something warm at home the boy next to him spoke up and said that he didn't have anything warmer than his tee shirt either.
Cindy turned five today. Her Mom couldn't afford a cake so she came up with another way to celebrate. She spent the morning curling Cindy's hair and dressing her up for a special birthday picture. Cindy's Mom brought Cindy to the church and asked me to take photos of Cindy. She said she never had a photo of Cindy before. Wish I had a camera! I told her I would get photos printed. We borrowed a cell phone and celebrated Cindy's fifth birthday by taking photos. Cindy's Mom did the best she could do.
Kebelin is playing soccer on the church soccer team in sparkly shoes that are like "Toms" slippers. I just noticed that yesterday. She doesn't complain. Kristopher has had a painful molar for over a month. Jose returned to the Breakfast Program after our three week break absolutely filthy. He had abrasions on his face and a huge swollen lip with a hole where his teeth went through. We asked how it happened and he (at 5 years old) told us that he was not going to talk about it. His sister was filthy too. Layers and layers of dirt.
I don't feel hopeless. Or helpless. I just wonder where to start and how far to go. I am very, very blessed. But my personal resources are limited. Today I went to the mechanic to get a new air filter. I learned I need new head lights, new tires and a new car battery. The mechanic is completely trustworthy.
There are so many needs, at so many different levels. I'll listen for God to speak about how I should move forward.
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| Cindy and her curls |
