The group we work with when we go to Tijuana is Esperanza International.
Visit Esperanza International Website
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Friday, March 13, 2020
Friday Follow-Up
In my Tuesday post, I was pretty enthusiastic about the progress that has been made in the Tijuana area. I don't want to give anyone the impression that the job is over. The city is still much in a state of transition from third-world conditions to a more contemporary economy and associated lifestyles.
There was a big traffic jam on the main highway today between our work site and the Posada where we sleep, so we took several back roads to get there. We drove on miles of roads that haven't been paved yet, which was like skiing on moguls. It's amazing that smaller cars don't get quickly destroyed by the roads. It rained every day this week, so the potholes were full of water, and you couldn't tell how deep they were. Luckily, our rental van had pretty decent shock absorbers.
We also passed miles of houses that resembled those we saw years ago. Some are made of sheets of corrugated metal, some made from garage door panels set on end, house doors nailed to fence posts, any kind of debris that could be stuck together to make shelter. We also passed a few neighborhoods with ten or more four story buildings that resembled apartments or condos with balconies. There are still hillsides being flattened and prepared for new factories, miles from place currently occupied.
People are still moving north. People still need a place to live while they look for work, and a place to fix up once they can afford it. An example is our client this year, Marcos, who has a job, is living in a camper, and building an Esperanza home beside the camper. It's unlikely that he'll be able to return to his wife and kids in the U.S. so he has to make a place decent enough for them to come visit him on the weekends. Esperanza continues to find such people, and needs caring citizens in the U.S to help them in their effort.
John Muskopf
There was a big traffic jam on the main highway today between our work site and the Posada where we sleep, so we took several back roads to get there. We drove on miles of roads that haven't been paved yet, which was like skiing on moguls. It's amazing that smaller cars don't get quickly destroyed by the roads. It rained every day this week, so the potholes were full of water, and you couldn't tell how deep they were. Luckily, our rental van had pretty decent shock absorbers.
We also passed miles of houses that resembled those we saw years ago. Some are made of sheets of corrugated metal, some made from garage door panels set on end, house doors nailed to fence posts, any kind of debris that could be stuck together to make shelter. We also passed a few neighborhoods with ten or more four story buildings that resembled apartments or condos with balconies. There are still hillsides being flattened and prepared for new factories, miles from place currently occupied.
People are still moving north. People still need a place to live while they look for work, and a place to fix up once they can afford it. An example is our client this year, Marcos, who has a job, is living in a camper, and building an Esperanza home beside the camper. It's unlikely that he'll be able to return to his wife and kids in the U.S. so he has to make a place decent enough for them to come visit him on the weekends. Esperanza continues to find such people, and needs caring citizens in the U.S to help them in their effort.
John Muskopf
Friday
We got to work today!!
We went back to Marcus's house to pour his floor. The 8 of us, 5 Esperanza staff members, 3 family members and about 6-7 others from the neighborhood were able to pour the floor - approximately 25 bags of cement!!
There was an accident on our normal route so Eduardo and Roberto took us on a round-about way to Marcus's house - the roads were solid - but very bumpy.
Marcus cooked us hamburgers and steak at lunch. Food this week has been outstanding!!!
We are back at the Posada and will probably just snack at the ice cream stand tonight.
Link to Friday pictures
Phil
We went back to Marcus's house to pour his floor. The 8 of us, 5 Esperanza staff members, 3 family members and about 6-7 others from the neighborhood were able to pour the floor - approximately 25 bags of cement!!
There was an accident on our normal route so Eduardo and Roberto took us on a round-about way to Marcus's house - the roads were solid - but very bumpy.
Marcus cooked us hamburgers and steak at lunch. Food this week has been outstanding!!!
We are back at the Posada and will probably just snack at the ice cream stand tonight.
Link to Friday pictures
Phil
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Rain Day
Today we got rained out. We drove out to the house we are building in Gabriel Rodriguez to be greeted by a downpour. We waited in the van for a bit and Eduardo finally made the call and we came back to the Posada.
Tonight we are taking the Esperanza staff and families out to dinner at Churrascaria Do Brasil - near the cultural center downtown. We had a total of 30 or so staff, families and our group. We had a nice time! Food was great.
Click to see Emily and Hannah's pictures
Click to see our Esperanza staff dinner and other pics
Phil
Tonight we are taking the Esperanza staff and families out to dinner at Churrascaria Do Brasil - near the cultural center downtown. We had a total of 30 or so staff, families and our group. We had a nice time! Food was great.
Click to see Emily and Hannah's pictures
Click to see our Esperanza staff dinner and other pics
Phil
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Wednesday
Today we went to Gabriel Rodriguez, a colonial east of the city to dig a foundation. The family we are helping to build a home are a husband and wife and a daughter and son. There were a lot of community folks helping us to do the digging. We got quite a bit done and are working well as a group.
After working we went to the Sisters of Charity and helped to serve around 130 homeless men dinner. Part of our group helped to unload a van of food donations. The other part of our group played a memory game with some Grandfather type men.
We cooked dinner in tonight - we had spaghetti, salad, bread and ice cream bars.
Tomorrow we are headed back to Gabriel Rodriguez, to the same place we were today.
Click to see Wednesday pictures
Phil
After working we went to the Sisters of Charity and helped to serve around 130 homeless men dinner. Part of our group helped to unload a van of food donations. The other part of our group played a memory game with some Grandfather type men.
We cooked dinner in tonight - we had spaghetti, salad, bread and ice cream bars.
Tomorrow we are headed back to Gabriel Rodriguez, to the same place we were today.
Click to see Wednesday pictures
Phil
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
It's kind of scary to write 2020 in the title line, when your first trip was in 1999. That was many lifetimes ago.
One of the first things I noticed on the way to The Posada in La Gloria, Baja California, was that there seemed to be far less trash on the ground. When I mentioned it to other group members, they agreed. When we went to the grocery store that evening, we were surprised that the groceries weren't put into bags. A gentleman pushed our cart outside and loaded the groceries into our van, for a tip.
On Sunday, we visited the beach where the border wall extends into the ocean. We spent some time talking with a young man who takes care of the "international garden" on the Mexico side of the border wall. He has a counterpart on the U.S side who tends plants adjacent to but separated from the Mexican plants by the steel wall. He told us how the Border Patrol recently bulldozed the plants on the American side, and how after a certain amount of protests and bad publicity, permission was granted for the garden to be replanted.
I asked this guy when the the grocery stores stopped using plastic bags. He said that the Oxxo stores, kind of like Circle K in the states, banned their use about a year ago. Other stores fell in line and banned them about six months ago. I mentioned that the city seemed cleaner compared to the last few years and he said that he used to have to clean 20-30 bags out of the garden each time he came to take care of it, but it's much better now.
Not only is Tijuana cleaner, but it's much busier. The number of new factories built in many different parts of town is staggering. Mexico is now the world's fourth largest exporter of automobiles behind Germany, Japan, and South Korea. They are making great progress and some of the comments we heard make it seem that their government intends to keep it that way. We heard that American cars must be at least model year 2011 to be sold in Mexico. The government has told Esperanza that the houses they build must have indoor plumbing. The houses we are working on, and have visited this year include two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. They are smaller that what we are used to, but they are very attractive and would be a decent place to live,
We visited the Salvation Army Post in La Gloria this morning. It's strictly a day-care center for children a couple of month old to 12 years. This is a place for working parents to drop off their kids while they are at work. Sgt. Anna told us they are open from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM. There were 32 kids in one room playing and talking during our visit. Kids come and go during the day because in this area school runs in two shifts. They have desks upstairs for kids to do their homework before their parents come to get them. They serve three meals a day. They get donations, especially food, but there were some donations there that were not usable due to being out of date. Sgt. Anna and her husband started this army post seven years ago, starting out with 3 children. Now they have 82. Some of the kids they cared for come back to volunteer.
In the evening we visited an orphanage in La Gloria. This place gets kids from the government, who were taken from their parents due the parent's drug use. Some of the kids were given to them because they were abused by their parents or a different orphanage. They have both boys and girls, and keep their sleeping rooms in different parts of the building. They send all their kids to a private school, because they don't always excel in public schools. They seem to be working hard at giving these kids a family environment. Some orphanages will "kick out" their students at age 18 when they'll have to fend for themselves. This orphanage will keep a young man or woman until they have a plan for what they will do with their life and can be independent. One student we were introduced to is 22 years old.
This facility has also been open seven years. We were the first group that was taken to this place by our Esperanza friend Eduardo. There's a chance that future groups could interact more with the students, working on upgrading their facility, or playing soccer together. Today was a good day to see the many things that are going on that we didn't know anything about. Opportunities for mission abound if you have the heart for it.
John Muskopf
One of the first things I noticed on the way to The Posada in La Gloria, Baja California, was that there seemed to be far less trash on the ground. When I mentioned it to other group members, they agreed. When we went to the grocery store that evening, we were surprised that the groceries weren't put into bags. A gentleman pushed our cart outside and loaded the groceries into our van, for a tip.
On Sunday, we visited the beach where the border wall extends into the ocean. We spent some time talking with a young man who takes care of the "international garden" on the Mexico side of the border wall. He has a counterpart on the U.S side who tends plants adjacent to but separated from the Mexican plants by the steel wall. He told us how the Border Patrol recently bulldozed the plants on the American side, and how after a certain amount of protests and bad publicity, permission was granted for the garden to be replanted.
I asked this guy when the the grocery stores stopped using plastic bags. He said that the Oxxo stores, kind of like Circle K in the states, banned their use about a year ago. Other stores fell in line and banned them about six months ago. I mentioned that the city seemed cleaner compared to the last few years and he said that he used to have to clean 20-30 bags out of the garden each time he came to take care of it, but it's much better now.
Not only is Tijuana cleaner, but it's much busier. The number of new factories built in many different parts of town is staggering. Mexico is now the world's fourth largest exporter of automobiles behind Germany, Japan, and South Korea. They are making great progress and some of the comments we heard make it seem that their government intends to keep it that way. We heard that American cars must be at least model year 2011 to be sold in Mexico. The government has told Esperanza that the houses they build must have indoor plumbing. The houses we are working on, and have visited this year include two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. They are smaller that what we are used to, but they are very attractive and would be a decent place to live,
We visited the Salvation Army Post in La Gloria this morning. It's strictly a day-care center for children a couple of month old to 12 years. This is a place for working parents to drop off their kids while they are at work. Sgt. Anna told us they are open from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM. There were 32 kids in one room playing and talking during our visit. Kids come and go during the day because in this area school runs in two shifts. They have desks upstairs for kids to do their homework before their parents come to get them. They serve three meals a day. They get donations, especially food, but there were some donations there that were not usable due to being out of date. Sgt. Anna and her husband started this army post seven years ago, starting out with 3 children. Now they have 82. Some of the kids they cared for come back to volunteer.
In the evening we visited an orphanage in La Gloria. This place gets kids from the government, who were taken from their parents due the parent's drug use. Some of the kids were given to them because they were abused by their parents or a different orphanage. They have both boys and girls, and keep their sleeping rooms in different parts of the building. They send all their kids to a private school, because they don't always excel in public schools. They seem to be working hard at giving these kids a family environment. Some orphanages will "kick out" their students at age 18 when they'll have to fend for themselves. This orphanage will keep a young man or woman until they have a plan for what they will do with their life and can be independent. One student we were introduced to is 22 years old.
This facility has also been open seven years. We were the first group that was taken to this place by our Esperanza friend Eduardo. There's a chance that future groups could interact more with the students, working on upgrading their facility, or playing soccer together. Today was a good day to see the many things that are going on that we didn't know anything about. Opportunities for mission abound if you have the heart for it.
John Muskopf
Tuesday
Each Tuesday morning the Esperanza employees have a staff meeting so we always start late. We went down to the local Salvation Army just around the corner. We talked to Major Anna and her husband. They started the shelter 7 years ago. They don't house people - it is more of a day care center. They must use some type of sliding scale as families pay what they can afford. The need for their childcare is to allow their parents to work.
We went back to Marcus's home. We dug out the back wall and moved a lot of dirt. They are preparing the floor so we can pour the cement floor on Friday.
We are headed to an orphanage that is close to the Posada.
We are working well as a group. Our "8" has been able to get a lot of work done.
Link to Tuesday pictures
Phil
We went back to Marcus's home. We dug out the back wall and moved a lot of dirt. They are preparing the floor so we can pour the cement floor on Friday.
We are headed to an orphanage that is close to the Posada.
We are working well as a group. Our "8" has been able to get a lot of work done.
Link to Tuesday pictures
Phil
Monday, March 9, 2020
Monday Day 1
Hi all!
Hannah here! I'm excited to be back to Tijuana and for the adventures that are yet to come. This will be my 7th time here with Esperanza and I couldn't be happier to be back.
Today was a beautiful day out. It was sunny and warm with sun and smiles. The very first day of our work took place in La Morita (or very close to). We are working with a gentleman named Marcos. He is a migrant living in Tijuana. Marcos spent his life, from three years old on, living in Riverside, CA, he was recently deported at age 34. His family, wife and four kids, are still living in California so the kids can finish the school year, they will then decide what they are going to do after that.
Despite his narrative, Marcos has dreams that last miles. He would like to convert the trailer he is currently living in into a food truck for hamburgers, he has his colorful sign made and many ideas for the business. Marcos dreams of having his home built so that he can support himself and his family in the best way possible. Marcos, despite the situation he has been put in, remains positive, caring, and wiling to help whomever he can in his life. He has the definition of what we would call a "big heart".
Throughout my time visiting and living in Tijuana, I have met many individuals who have the same narrative as Marcos. It is discouraging to see a nation putting many people through the same story and not learning form their lesson, but I also see the hope these individuals have for themselves, their families, and the world no matter what their next path may be. I am privileged to have been able to share a small part of Marcos's life, along with everyone else's lives I've gotten to be in since being involved in this trip, and accepting a part of Tijuana as my heart too.
Today we helped Marcos with backfilling his foundation in order to pour his floor on Friday. It was a fun day filled with music and laughter, along with lots and lots of dirt. Pastor Kevan also made a great new friend named Scooby, if anyone is interested in seeing photos of that cute little pup, our worksite, or our homeowner, go check out Phil's pictures from the day!
Until next time!
Hannah.
Hannah here! I'm excited to be back to Tijuana and for the adventures that are yet to come. This will be my 7th time here with Esperanza and I couldn't be happier to be back.
Today was a beautiful day out. It was sunny and warm with sun and smiles. The very first day of our work took place in La Morita (or very close to). We are working with a gentleman named Marcos. He is a migrant living in Tijuana. Marcos spent his life, from three years old on, living in Riverside, CA, he was recently deported at age 34. His family, wife and four kids, are still living in California so the kids can finish the school year, they will then decide what they are going to do after that.
Despite his narrative, Marcos has dreams that last miles. He would like to convert the trailer he is currently living in into a food truck for hamburgers, he has his colorful sign made and many ideas for the business. Marcos dreams of having his home built so that he can support himself and his family in the best way possible. Marcos, despite the situation he has been put in, remains positive, caring, and wiling to help whomever he can in his life. He has the definition of what we would call a "big heart".
Throughout my time visiting and living in Tijuana, I have met many individuals who have the same narrative as Marcos. It is discouraging to see a nation putting many people through the same story and not learning form their lesson, but I also see the hope these individuals have for themselves, their families, and the world no matter what their next path may be. I am privileged to have been able to share a small part of Marcos's life, along with everyone else's lives I've gotten to be in since being involved in this trip, and accepting a part of Tijuana as my heart too.
Today we helped Marcos with backfilling his foundation in order to pour his floor on Friday. It was a fun day filled with music and laughter, along with lots and lots of dirt. Pastor Kevan also made a great new friend named Scooby, if anyone is interested in seeing photos of that cute little pup, our worksite, or our homeowner, go check out Phil's pictures from the day!
Until next time!
Hannah.
Through the Eyes of an Eight-Year-Old
Hello!
My name is Emily Velichka, and I am a College of Wooster alumna. This is my fourth trip to Tijuana with Trinity, but my first since I graduated in 2018.
I now work as a second-grade teacher at Mater Dei Academy in my hometown of Wickliffe, Ohio. As a first-year teacher, it was extremely difficult to leave my class for a week, but when presented with the opportunity to return to a place so close to my heart, I jumped at the chance.
This year, I am attempting to see this trip in a different way - through the eyes of my students. Before leaving, I spoke with my class about where I was headed. We looked at a map and compared the weather to ours back in Ohio.
My students were shocked that we don't have a cement mixer, backhoe, or other large construction equipment to complete the jobs we do here. They were even more surprised to find out how we complete the jobs ourselves - forming a bucket line, digging and moving dirt to flatten the foundation, or even how the blocks are made by hand. We often talk about synergizing in my classroom - how to work together as a team and utilize everyone's strengths - and discussing the worksite was the perfect example to bring this everyday habit to life.
I am so excited to return to school and share pictures with my students, but more importantly, share the stories of those who I have known for years, like Eduardo, or those I am just meeting this week, like Marcos. These people, and the positivity they exemplify, are the reason I come back year after year. I am so thrilled to be a part of this week's adventure.
My name is Emily Velichka, and I am a College of Wooster alumna. This is my fourth trip to Tijuana with Trinity, but my first since I graduated in 2018.
I now work as a second-grade teacher at Mater Dei Academy in my hometown of Wickliffe, Ohio. As a first-year teacher, it was extremely difficult to leave my class for a week, but when presented with the opportunity to return to a place so close to my heart, I jumped at the chance.
This year, I am attempting to see this trip in a different way - through the eyes of my students. Before leaving, I spoke with my class about where I was headed. We looked at a map and compared the weather to ours back in Ohio.
My students were shocked that we don't have a cement mixer, backhoe, or other large construction equipment to complete the jobs we do here. They were even more surprised to find out how we complete the jobs ourselves - forming a bucket line, digging and moving dirt to flatten the foundation, or even how the blocks are made by hand. We often talk about synergizing in my classroom - how to work together as a team and utilize everyone's strengths - and discussing the worksite was the perfect example to bring this everyday habit to life.
I am so excited to return to school and share pictures with my students, but more importantly, share the stories of those who I have known for years, like Eduardo, or those I am just meeting this week, like Marcos. These people, and the positivity they exemplify, are the reason I come back year after year. I am so thrilled to be a part of this week's adventure.
Monday, our first workday
Today was our first workday. We think that we are working in the La Morita colonial. The homeowner is Marcus. His parents took him to the USA when he was 3 years old. He went to school and working in the USA. He is 34 years old and got deported to Tijuana about 2 years ago. He has been with the Esperanza organization for a little over a year. He lives next to where his new house is in a trailer/camper. His wife and 4 kids live just over the border in California. They were down over this last weekend.
We moved block and removed dirt from the floor of the house.
Click to see Monday pictures
Phil
We moved block and removed dirt from the floor of the house.
Click to see Monday pictures
Phil
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Seniors in Mexico
Last week someone asked me if I was worried about traveling to Tijuana. As a matter of fact I am. Not because of the reputation that Mexico has received over the years.
Not because of the contagious coronavirus that caused the College of Wooster to cancel the trip for its students but because I know the extent of the physical work that is required to mix and pour cement using buckets.
I am Joyce Schroer and I have been to Tijuana many times over the past 16 years. I know that I am aging and I can't do what I once did. I now have so much pain in my joints. My hips, knees and ankles hurt so much and the doctor recently took me off of meds to help control the pain. I ache all over. How will I keep up?
Today we went to the beach. I saw something new that I have never noticed over the years. It was a man who was walking along the wall using a cane. Later we had lunch downtown and I saw a woman using a walker. After lunch the group wanted to walk down to the arch. I decided to head back toward the van and along the way I sat down to watch the people.
A woman came and sat with me. She told me her husband was helping her with some grocery shopping. We exchanged some conversation and then he came out with 2 cases of Coke and 4 beers, two boxes of shoes and several outfits for the grandchildren. They worked at packing all the purchases into a wheeled cart for the long walk home. Slowly and together they made their way.
In the early years, I don't recall ever seeing seniors. I often wondered how they might navigate the rough, uneven terrain. Now I've noticed several.
I am still worried about how I will hold up this week but maybe there is another purpose for my being here.
Not because of the contagious coronavirus that caused the College of Wooster to cancel the trip for its students but because I know the extent of the physical work that is required to mix and pour cement using buckets.
I am Joyce Schroer and I have been to Tijuana many times over the past 16 years. I know that I am aging and I can't do what I once did. I now have so much pain in my joints. My hips, knees and ankles hurt so much and the doctor recently took me off of meds to help control the pain. I ache all over. How will I keep up?
Today we went to the beach. I saw something new that I have never noticed over the years. It was a man who was walking along the wall using a cane. Later we had lunch downtown and I saw a woman using a walker. After lunch the group wanted to walk down to the arch. I decided to head back toward the van and along the way I sat down to watch the people.
A woman came and sat with me. She told me her husband was helping her with some grocery shopping. We exchanged some conversation and then he came out with 2 cases of Coke and 4 beers, two boxes of shoes and several outfits for the grandchildren. They worked at packing all the purchases into a wheeled cart for the long walk home. Slowly and together they made their way.
In the early years, I don't recall ever seeing seniors. I often wondered how they might navigate the rough, uneven terrain. Now I've noticed several.
I am still worried about how I will hold up this week but maybe there is another purpose for my being here.
Sunday afternoon
We all had a good nights sleep last night after being up almost 24 hours. Hannah and Emily cooked pancakes, bacon, eggs, potatoes and fruit for breakfast! (It was fantastic-thanks).
Today, we went to the border to view the wall and beach area. We also went downtown for shopping and lunch. After breakfast the light rain stopped and the sun has been out the rest of the day. Temp is in the low 60's which feels good for all of us!!!
While visiting the wall we talked to Dan from friendshippark.org A group was there working on the garden which is on both sides of the border. He said that they will be replacing the wall with a larger one probably this year. He also said that they had used bulldozers to eliminate the garden on the USA side. But after the political backlash, they were able to re-establish the garden on the USA side. There didn't seem to be as many people at the border or downtown this year. We are not sure why this is?
Click the link below to view some of our pictures so far.
Link to view Saturday and Sunday pictures
Phil Starr
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Greetings from Tijuana
Greetings from La Posada!
We arrived at the Posada around 2:00 pm. We all had good flights and are moved in. After a quick trip to the grocery store, we are headed to Rosarito for shopping and dinner!
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Excitement to get back to Tijuana
Group photo of the Esperanza Mission Trip 2019
We are getting ready to head back to Tijuana for our Esperanza Mission Trip 2020! Our trip this year is March 7-14, 2020.
As he is packing for the trip, Steve Schroer has some pre-trip thoughts:
On this cold rainy March morning, I started packing for our
mission trip to Tijuana. I’m excited to
go! I love getting off the airplane in
San Diego to the warm southern California sunshine and working all week in the
nice weather along the Pacific Coast of Baja Norte.
I can’t help tearing up a little as I think of old friends
that I’ve met on past trips and the ways the country has changed over the
years. I am Steve Schroer and my first trip to Esperanza International was in
1998. That was before the Posada where
we will stay was built. We stayed in an
old house where we all slept on the floor.
There was a bathroom but the shower didn’t have a showerhead and we all
brushed our teeth in the driveway then spit in the drain. Accommodations are luxurious now in
comparison.
Each year brings new adventures and new stories. I am sure that you will each bring back some
treasures of your own. For me the people
I’ve met have made the most impact on me and keep me going back. They are simply beautiful and need a sense of
hope that we bring. On the other hand, I
think that they give me far more than what I offer them.
I remember building Israel’s home up on the hillside beyond
the Posada by the big cemetery. He
appeared very old to me. He was from the
US but moved to Tijuana to take care of his family and see that they had a
home. We still drive by his home
sometimes, if we do this year I will point it out. He has since died of cancer. I remember Christian’s family. His mom walked
over a mile in the pouring rain through mud that was ankle-deep to invite us to
stop after work in order to see her finished home and share a Coke. Then there was Grandma’s house. We had to bucket the cement through her son’s
kitchen to pour the floor and walls in her home. She took care of her two grandsons and had affection
for one of our group members, Clete. In the following years, he always took socks and new underwear for her grandkids.
Clete is my inspiration.
He was from Tiffin, Ohio; a diehard Roman Catholic who you either loved
or hated. I loved him. He was a crusty old man 80+ years of age when
he first went with us. He made us carry
his luggage and devote an entire evening to him so he could tell us stories of
the nuns in his school and of his college escapades with his twin brother
Clem. He also had the biggest, softest
caring heart. One time he went to the
school and tried to teach the kids how to brush their teeth. He couldn’t speak a word of Spanish, but
language was no barrier. The teachers
probably thought he was nuts.
Then there is my amigo Eduardo. You will meet him Monday morning. He started at Esperanza the same year I
started going. I can’t imagine not
seeing him. He makes the work fun and he
shares his love for his country every day.
Over the years we‘ve watched his children grow and celebrated with him
life milestones such as his graduation from college. I’ve confided in him and vice versa. He truly is like family to me. He gives me hope.
I am excited to go! I
can’t wait to see the sunshine and the green hillsides. It’s a Wonderful World,
….I see friends
shaking hands saying, “How do you do?”,
They’re really saying “I love you” I hear babies cry I watch them grow,
they’ll learn much more than I’ll never know and I think to myself…What a
wonderful world. –Louis Armstrong
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