We already had enough to keep us out of trouble with the refurbishing of a house for men of other capabilities to match our existing house for women, putting a new roof and adding a bathroom for a day care center, reroofing the Korima center for cognitive, speech, and intellectual therapy, pressing the architect for plans for a new residential building at Carita de Dios, designing the new Campesino Urbano center, and redoing the house for David. When we were making progress on these fronts, neighbors from around the CANOA center came to petition help for a single mother of four whose house burned in a fire. The song , Amazing Grace, resounds loudly despite the confusion of inter- and overlapping demands.
My friend Marcelo suffered a terrible accident in which he lost the use of his legs. He called to tell me to drive to his house because he had diapers and medical supplies for the children. I didn't want to go but said yes. It takes a half hour from our center to his house where lives with wife and four children in the basement while building the top half. The children load up the truck while David, cerebral palsy now 15 years with me , and I wait. After a half hour, Marcelo tells me to be patient. But I am tired of waiting. It seems all that I do is wait. He calls the men who are working on the house to see if they can't come to help with the burnt out house. “Be there in 5 minutes.” About an hour later, they have still not showed up! As I am about to leave they pull up in an old Ford Explorer with a ladder and scaffold tied to the roof. They agree to help the family. I thought that the task would take two hours, but after four hours , we have not finished. After telling Marcelo to invite them to eat carnitas, they break out burritos and share their humble lunch with David and me. The burritos had meat which excluded me but David enjoyed his lunch making it known by signs that the meal was much better than what I could have prepared for him. Shortly after, we finish the roofing structural members leaving only details and sheeting. The man who promised to assist never showed up. If they did not help out, I would have been there for three days or more. The religious term describing the situation is “salvation.” Another applying to the truck is called “redemption.” MY old truck was stolen. Generous friends spotted a pick up being sold by a neighbor for $1200. After knocking the price down to $900, they bought a 1999 Ford Ranger 4x4 and gave it to me. Now I can pick up the materials that we need.
The Korima building will have a new roof, new block wall, cement access ramp, and pathway. Maricela Cruz continues to work with the children increasing language and social skills. A service club from Tijuana came out of no where to help with all except the roof. Another act of salvation.
The home for men enjoys a location abutting the south wall of a parish church in Rosarito, a ten minute drive from the house for women. While the property was vacant, thieves stole the electrical wiring and copper piping. We are building access ramps, repainting, and hoping to open sooner than latter. The location enhances the Sunday gospel of a couple of weeks ago wherein the rich man passes the poor beggar Lazarus without paying attention to his need. Hopefully, the church goers will not do the same although I have a wait and see policy in this regard. Too many employ religion for easy devotional exercise instead of the strenuous pick and shovel work of mutual support.
How I miss my great friend Luis Arevalo's unparalleled ability to design and rapidly complete structural analysis. He reminds me of the present 49ers in comparison with the teams of the past decade engrossed in fumbling, interceptions, poor drafting (excuse the pun), and overall miserable execution. But perhaps here also shines the light of grace to enable completion of the other projects. “I will lead the blind on their journey; by paths unknown I will guide them, I will turn darkness into light before them, and make crooked ways straight. These things I do for them, and I will not forsake them.” Is. 42: 16. This also requires patience and waiting. The present architect has taken months to finish the plans. We will wait some more and let the grace of patience dominate.
The ex-religious sisters who had been living in the house have departed. What I imagined as a benefit did not succeed. The good one returned to take care of her parents, and the other departed without telling me where, leaving behind the car that I left them broken, the same for the washing machine, the toilet stopped up, electrical connections out of sockets hanging loose, a stove with three of the four burners not functioning, overgrown garden, and walls needing repair. David never complains nor should I. This too will pass.
The migration from the farm to the city has diminished the quality of life for many families especially for the young people whose capabilities do not match the requirements of urban employment. Frequently they live dependently, or casually employed. Their skill sets can be better utilized growing plants and vegetables. The impending crisis already applicable in different parts of the world centers on the use of water. We go for a week without water in the center; extended cutoffs are planned for December. Traditional farming affected by climate change will have to transform. The use of herbicides and pesticides contaminate the soil and in some spots the water supply. Southern California faces an ecological disaster with the dying of the Salton Sea leaving behind soil contaminated by agricultural runoff already proposing a health hazard. Together with the University of Baja California student ecological center, we are working to create gardens in an area behind one of our chapels to promote alternative agriculture, aquaculture, intensive gardening, permaculture, and hydroponics in reduced spaces. Expect updated reports. The project affords an opportunity for the old timers in the ejido to coordinate with the university students to exchange ideas and stories and for grammar school students to acquire hands on experience a la Maria Montessori.
Finally in November we remember with a short ceremony our handicable children who have gone to the Lord: Maria, Jose, Matilde, Lupe, Ramiro, and adults Ricardo wheelchair bound who gave repair orders to Martin blind who passed within months of each other and Cesia, the mother of one of our micro cephalic kids who died last month, aged 35. But Cinthia will celebrate her 15 years at the end of the month, also known as Senorita Sonrisa (Miss smile) who has never let cerebral palsy keep her back. The struggle to overcome with joy is also an act of grace.
