I had several opportunities to talk with Olga. I asked her after I accompanied her on her morning rounds to change the bandages of the people in her care, several questions – I was full of those! To abbreviate will say that she is self taught in the art of medicine. She prefers to use natural medicine to cure, and only resorts to conventional medicine when absolutely necessary, mainly due to lack of solvency. I asked her if seeing these people come in devastating conditions ever overwhelmed her. She said she took it all in stride, she was used to it. The only case that truly affected her, was the case of one in particular. She tried to save him, but it was impossible. He had been ambushed by the Maras and mutilated to pieces with machetes. Some people brought the boy here to die, basically his torso, severed from the coccyx down, as well as both his arms.
Since my purpose to be there was purely self-serving (spiritual growth), I constantly thought of how I could be of utility here. I felt that besides giving Olga’s mom a brake in the kitchen and elaborating varied and nutritious meals for the brood, I also could be of utility by giving each of them individual attention. I engaged them in conversation by asking about their stories, past, present, and how they perceived their future. It is a necessity after all to feel validated and appreciated, among those mundane needs such as sleep, and eating.
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One young man said he originated from Honduras. The most popular show there was “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” voiced in Spanish. While people there toiled 12 long arduous hours daily for $4 x day, they were dazzled by the opulence of Beverly Hills mansions with butlers and all the adornments of spectacular wealth. I figured they associate this type of wealth as synonymous with The United States. The illusion is potent, given how many people risks their lives to venture north.
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The collective feeling about the future seemed to be gloomy. Many shared the despair of not being able to resume lives back home, fear of how they would be received by their spouses, not to mention lack of opportunities in the work force as is, there being few and far in between for able people to begin with. They did not have much as this shelter, but they were safe, and being there gave them a respite from facing the hard-cold reality of their situation, and its consequences.
Since my purpose to be there was purely self-serving (spiritual growth), I constantly thought of how I could be of utility here. I felt that besides giving Olga’s mom a brake in the kitchen and elaborating varied and nutritious meals for the brood, I also could be of utility by giving each of them individual attention. I engaged them in conversation by asking about their stories, past, present, and how they perceived their future. It is a necessity after all to feel validated and appreciated, among those mundane needs such as sleep, and eating.
.
One young man said he originated from Honduras. The most popular show there was “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” voiced in Spanish. While people there toiled 12 long arduous hours daily for $4 x day, they were dazzled by the opulence of Beverly Hills mansions with butlers and all the adornments of spectacular wealth. I figured they associate this type of wealth as synonymous with The United States. The illusion is potent, given how many people risks their lives to venture north.
.
The collective feeling about the future seemed to be gloomy. Many shared the despair of not being able to resume lives back home, fear of how they would be received by their spouses, not to mention lack of opportunities in the work force as is, there being few and far in between for able people to begin with. They did not have much as this shelter, but they were safe, and being there gave them a respite from facing the hard-cold reality of their situation, and its consequences.
.
The evenings we spent in conversation in the main patio to escape the overheated rooms, while one of the men there who had been for six years now, serenaded us with his guitar. One day he appeared and asked to be taken in. He was a victim of polio since a child, his legs had not developed and mobilized everywhere in a custom built reclining bike. He did not feel like a freak here. What I found most endearing about him, was his frank and joyous smile.
So I had developed a kind of routine. I alternated with clean-up duties, cooking, shopping, and escaping a few hours a day with the excuse to buy food, to the internet café next to the market. I wrote to everyone but my grandma regarding the dire situation here, and need for aid. As well as cooled off in the controlled climate. Above is a picture of then President Fox. Yeah, I did mail his administration lots of letters, what did I get in reply? Oh, Hacienda (IRS) is investigating me for evading customs duties on all those wheelchairs (SOB’s!). Well that picture is of Olga receiving National Human Rights prize in 2004 with some money given to her which she used to build this shelter. She had originally taken in a few people to her home. That was not sustainable for the avalanche of victims needing shelter.
On the 2ND day, I bought an electric hair cutting kit thinking this was obviously needed judging by the length of the hair of most of the guys. Only one was brave enough to volunteer to let me cut his hair. Actually I thought the uneven length on each side of his head, gave him character. Fortunately, one quiet young man stepped forward and told us he knew how to cut hair, and took over the task.
I realized 1st hand, how important it is for self esteem to feel useful and needed. By the way this kid cut hair with pride; the other played his guitar in the evenings, or the one that worked tirelessly to reupholster the dinning room chairs. We all need to feel validated for our efforts, and to feel appreciated.
The evenings we spent in conversation in the main patio to escape the overheated rooms, while one of the men there who had been for six years now, serenaded us with his guitar. One day he appeared and asked to be taken in. He was a victim of polio since a child, his legs had not developed and mobilized everywhere in a custom built reclining bike. He did not feel like a freak here. What I found most endearing about him, was his frank and joyous smile.
So I had developed a kind of routine. I alternated with clean-up duties, cooking, shopping, and escaping a few hours a day with the excuse to buy food, to the internet café next to the market. I wrote to everyone but my grandma regarding the dire situation here, and need for aid. As well as cooled off in the controlled climate. Above is a picture of then President Fox. Yeah, I did mail his administration lots of letters, what did I get in reply? Oh, Hacienda (IRS) is investigating me for evading customs duties on all those wheelchairs (SOB’s!). Well that picture is of Olga receiving National Human Rights prize in 2004 with some money given to her which she used to build this shelter. She had originally taken in a few people to her home. That was not sustainable for the avalanche of victims needing shelter.
On the 2ND day, I bought an electric hair cutting kit thinking this was obviously needed judging by the length of the hair of most of the guys. Only one was brave enough to volunteer to let me cut his hair. Actually I thought the uneven length on each side of his head, gave him character. Fortunately, one quiet young man stepped forward and told us he knew how to cut hair, and took over the task.
I realized 1st hand, how important it is for self esteem to feel useful and needed. By the way this kid cut hair with pride; the other played his guitar in the evenings, or the one that worked tirelessly to reupholster the dinning room chairs. We all need to feel validated for our efforts, and to feel appreciated.
