Visiting newly sponsored students

On Wed. we gathered at MF to make our trip back to El Barranco. Everyone had gone shopping the night before or ordered food from MF to take to their students. So all the supplies and people piled in a van or a pickup.
With 17 new students sponsored and 3 previously sponsored but never been visited, who's sponsors are on this trip, we had a full day ahead of us. This was an especially hard day for me. I have been to every home visit of students sponsored through my groups and with 20 new students there was no way that could happen. We had to split into 4 groups.
This is always an emotional day for everyone. Seeing how these beautiful children who always look so happy really live is a real eye opener. Homes without electricity, beds with boards where a mattress should be, no bed at all, only a grass mat on a dirt or concrete floor. Even those that have electricity it is just a light bulb in the middle of the room. Some have a toilet and some go in the fields or use a neighbors. And the ones who do have the luxury of a toilet it is one you would never want to use.

The first home we went to it turned out that the mother has been very ill and in bed for two yrs. The doctors told her she had a liver problem but not any details and of course they can't afford the medication. She sleeps in a borrowed bed because they have no mattresses. Had we not visited we would probably have never know about her. Now hopefully we can get her some medical care.

One of the things I love about El Barranco is that the dads seem very involved with their children. In a country ravaged by a civil war for over 30 yrs. and the resulting destruction of the family unit this is such a lovely site to see.
Most of the sponsors were given gifts from their families which is so touching. These are usually items they have made to sell so they can buy food and yet they want to give back to those helping their children have a better life.

Another home we went to the family had built a nice concrete block home for themselves but now were in a land dispute with the husbands brothers. They now have several thousands of dollars in debt to pay lawyers fees. We are certainly going to have to do some serious fund raising when we get back.

We had planned to install 4 Onil stoves on this visit but it turned out that a previous mission group installed so many stoves in El Barranco that none needed a stove. In it's place we are buying beds for the families most in need.



When we finished our home visits we gathered at the El barranco preschool for sandwiches. There would have been more cheese sandwiches but a very sneaky dog snatched the cheese off the table. Bless Gloria, who with her husband are the MF managers, because she made eggs for us to make sandwiches with. This was around 3:00 so we were ver hungry.
Everyone went back to their hotel with some very mixed emotions of deciding what they could do to help their sponsored students. There is so much need but first and foremost is food and clean water. The things you and I take for granted.
All in all, roller coaster emotions aside, it was a very rewarding day.