Jan 14
How can one ask for more... food, clothes, safety, and kids to play with... laughter and joy has no barrier of language... jumping over yarn placed on floor in a circle, then we put yarn in a straight line.... more jumping from one end to the other... much laughter at this old lady jumping... if they only knew I had 2 fake knees!!! The little boy who had a toy gun who was shooting folks... esp me! (yes of course Kris and Trisha I made it disappear! Trash) You can’t be playing with guns here esp if you are of color!!! I couldn’t translate so I just made it disappear...
His older brother (looks about 5 but mama says 9 yrs of age) has had stomach and head issues... doesn’t want to eat and mama wants meds... but when Sr Gloria talked to him in Spanish he told her he is afraid his uncle still in Honduras will die and he is very close to his uncle! These children have seen so much! Back to little niño (the one with gun) now he is selling me a aqua and going from family to me and I say gracias and pretend to drink it and ask for more please... he is laughing... much better than getting shot!
Sindy a beautiful girl from Guatemala had asked to help us so we put her to work last 2 days helping us as we go from one thing to another as needed...she took families to rooms today, brought folks to see nurse Patty to get meds, swept, papa vacuumed the room which has carpet...she is 15, made us headbands and bracelets... I had found some craft things in one of the donation bags... her choice friendship bands.. both Patty got one too... we were so touched! We were in tears when she and papa left tonight for bus ride to Orlando Florida ...
Sorting socks for women and niñas, they are so glad to work while they wait to hear about leaving via their sponsors...
Men's room organized... sort of!
Bus of 35 arrived and the process begins again... remember bus full of folks who have been in cages for days! "Por favor Bano Aqua .... muchas gracias..." Kids so withdrawn when they enter leave with smiles and hugs, so thankful to be in America.
I was in charge of room assignments today after intake... with Sr Margaret over my shoulder to answer questions. New volunteer Margie (from New Hampshire) speaks some Spanish and started a memory card game where you turn all the cards face down and take turns one at a time turning them over... calling out cards in Spanish... kids and adults playing, much cheering when a match happened!!! She will be great to work with for sure!
The restaurant tonight brought dinner for all of us so maybe 70 people and it's supposed to be the best restaurant Mexican restaurant in El Paso ... they do a free meal once a week... what a beautiful place to show what America is all about! Meanwhile we organize bags for all traveling tonight as calls are returned from their sponsors.
I found a card in my backpack from my husband and it was so sweet it said “each day is a gift," and then when you open it up it said now “tomorrow is from me" and he asked me to please come home before I was 71! I will Ralphie... promise... Gracias!
Thanks friends for all the wishes... ready for bed but helicopters all over the place morning and night... checking Rio Grande for folks coming across... the sisters tell me...
Feeling so blessed to be part of THIS America again!
So good to read. Glad you are there.
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