October is winding down, everything must come to an end, and hopefully renew.
My vacation had come to an end, and I had to fly back to Mexico City to deal with work related stuff; yet, I was leaving - a changed person. I felt nostalgic to leave, as I think some of the people I came in contact with, perhaps did too.
Least I was a change from the monotony of their days spent in limbo.
Even while fed and sheltered, man does not live by bread alone. On the other hand, one of them joked that he was going to write a book someday, on how good they ate that week. Where did I hear that one can catch a man through his stomach?
I think I had gotten along well with most of the guys there, except for one or two. One in particular I caught looking at me once with a strange look in his eyes, I concluded it was a mocking look. I shrugged it without import, except I asked on of the guys there what the deal with that guy was. He gossiped (men do gossip), that he was a former Mara. Oh, that was all. I casually wondered if being injured had made him change. I then recalled the parable of the scorpion who rode on the back of a fox to cross a river. Even though he promised not to attack, he stung the fox. When asked why, he replied that was his nature.
This story is not about me, I am simply recalling the story of one remarkable woman, although slight in stature, is a Goliath of spirit. I think only her faith keeps her strong, and going with so little resources. Olga has risked her life on the road to travel to adjacent countries to take back people in her care back home in her old pick-up truck – by herself. The state run hospital does do emergency intervention, though post care is really not their forte. That is when Olga steps in. She’s seen patients left to die on a gurney, on the hallway of this horrid hospital. If not for her intervention, they would have been goners for sure.
She believes in miracles. Once there was a need for a man to get an operation which cost was about $400. Money she did not have. She went up to a man in the street and begged him to give her the money for this operation. Miraculously this total stranger, agreed to fork up the money.
I will not lie and say I was not glad to get in the taxi taking me to my journey home. Yet, I left humbled. My concept about money changed too, particularly how I perceive the value of $1,000 now. I used to be a Fashionista, now, I’d rather stay clear away from the malls, so as not to relapse into frivolous spending.
My vacation had come to an end, and I had to fly back to Mexico City to deal with work related stuff; yet, I was leaving - a changed person. I felt nostalgic to leave, as I think some of the people I came in contact with, perhaps did too.
Least I was a change from the monotony of their days spent in limbo.
Even while fed and sheltered, man does not live by bread alone. On the other hand, one of them joked that he was going to write a book someday, on how good they ate that week. Where did I hear that one can catch a man through his stomach?
I think I had gotten along well with most of the guys there, except for one or two. One in particular I caught looking at me once with a strange look in his eyes, I concluded it was a mocking look. I shrugged it without import, except I asked on of the guys there what the deal with that guy was. He gossiped (men do gossip), that he was a former Mara. Oh, that was all. I casually wondered if being injured had made him change. I then recalled the parable of the scorpion who rode on the back of a fox to cross a river. Even though he promised not to attack, he stung the fox. When asked why, he replied that was his nature.
This story is not about me, I am simply recalling the story of one remarkable woman, although slight in stature, is a Goliath of spirit. I think only her faith keeps her strong, and going with so little resources. Olga has risked her life on the road to travel to adjacent countries to take back people in her care back home in her old pick-up truck – by herself. The state run hospital does do emergency intervention, though post care is really not their forte. That is when Olga steps in. She’s seen patients left to die on a gurney, on the hallway of this horrid hospital. If not for her intervention, they would have been goners for sure.
She believes in miracles. Once there was a need for a man to get an operation which cost was about $400. Money she did not have. She went up to a man in the street and begged him to give her the money for this operation. Miraculously this total stranger, agreed to fork up the money.
I will not lie and say I was not glad to get in the taxi taking me to my journey home. Yet, I left humbled. My concept about money changed too, particularly how I perceive the value of $1,000 now. I used to be a Fashionista, now, I’d rather stay clear away from the malls, so as not to relapse into frivolous spending.
When ever I've felt awkward about approaching people for aid for the shelter, the vision of the faces of those men, so trusting and hopeful, flash in my mind, and I do it regardless of my discomfort. When it dawned on me that even people with means, did not care, I realized that at least I had to do something myself, no matter how trivial.
It’s quite amusing really. Though I am almost out of space.
In summary: Besides selling coke cans, chips & candy at work which I buy wholesale, once in a massive pro-immigrant demonstration in downtown L.A; I hand distributed 500 flyers with info of shelter. I also made my mom sell $300 worth of bottled water in front of City Hall that day.
God works in mysterious ways. Summer of 2006, I sold chocolates in a metro train to send money for water, when a violent collision occurred between the train and a compact car. My concern was not spilling my chocolates, and I kind of lost my balance. Eventually, when I get the insurance money ($500), will send this to send to shelter as well. Did I mention about the dipped cigars too?
Well, it has got to start somewhere.
