What Are YOU Afraid Of?

What Are YOU Afraid Of?              March 3, 2016

The little nino with dark flashing eyes and jet black hair and a grin as big as a house came flying out of the classroom, flinging his arms around Bruce's legs, greeting him with a "Hola, Bruce!" That was Pablo, and he was VERY excited that Bruce and I were at Safe Passage, his school in the extremely impoverished neighborhood of the Guatemala City dump.  "Can I see your car, Bruce?" he had asked almost immediately.  When one's family doesn't own a car, this is a big deal.  I, too, remember those days in my childhood when a ride in a car was pretty cool, back when families had only one car.   However, on this day, we would be using a rented van with a driver to take Pablo, Charly, and Jordie, as well as Carlos, our Safe Passage guide, for lunch and an outing.

                      The boys, Jordie, Charly, and Pablo - and Bruce and I.

Pablo is the six year old, younger brother of Charly, a boy whom Bruce and I have been sponsoring for a couple of years.  Pablo's sponsors are our son, Matt, and his partner, Izik.  And Jordie is the 12 year boy sponsored by our church, First Parish UCC of Gorham, Maine.

One of our main reasons for choosing to return to Guatemala this year was to visit these boys at Safe Passage.   Sponsorship involves making a contribution to the program each month to help with operating expenses, as well as a couple of special annual donations to help buy a birthday gift and a Christmas gift for each child.  There are two or three opportunities each year to exchange notes with your sponsored child.  Since the notes usually must be translated (in both directions) and since the staff is very small and since there are 700+ sponsors for the 500 students, it's not realistic for lots of notes to go back and forth. These personal visits to the children are a highlight for all concerned.

On the way from the beautiful colonial city of Antigua, where we're staying right now, to grimy, congested Guatemala City, Carlos had filled us in on the latest news about the boys and their families. Like parents, we were pleased to hear how well these kids are doing.  Charly and Pablo were described as cheerful boys with great social skills, a lively intellect, and a supportive family.  Jordie is more reserved but he, too, is intelligent and studious, with a caring, religious family.

Once we were all assembled for our outing, the boys' mutual decision was a visit to the Children's Museum and lunch at the Pollo Campero fast food resto inside the museum.  (Pollo Campero is Guatemala's answer to McDonald's).  Bruce and I were impressed with how easily the decision was made among three kids of quite different ages.  Throughout the afternoon, it was apparent that these boys lacked the "entitled" feeling so common among kids back home. There was never a request for anything more that what was being offered.

As we sat at the table waiting for Bruce and Carlos to bring us our lunch order, Charly asked me an odd question (it seemed to me).  He wanted to know what I am afraid of.  It took me by surprise.  Having just heard from Carlos about rampant, random gang violence in the city, I said in my un-nuanced Spanish, "bad people".   Charly didn't blink and responded that he is afraid of water!  This seemed to be important information for me to know.   Hmm, I wondered if he were afraid that we might plan to go swimming.  (I had actually thought of it, but had discarded the idea as too complicated to carry out.) It turns out that none of the boys knows how to swim.  Good info to tuck away.  If he stays in the city, Charly may never need to know how to swim.  But it was a rather elemental, sobering question.

                   You can't beat fried chicken and fries for a yummy meal!

We also learned that the boys have aspirations, something that the program tries to instill.  I'm sure that their parents do, too.  Jordie wants to be a veterinarian; Charly, a pilot; and Pablo, a policeman.

 Playing Twinkle, Twinkle on the "body" marimba was really fun for Jordie (and me :)!

 Pablo was the first to attempt the climbing wall.  He's wearing his new tie-dyed t-shirt that the First Parish kids made for him and the other boys.  

The museum was delightfully and surprisingly lovely, extremely well managed and staffed with enthusiastic young people, well-supplied with materials, offering a variety of activities to appeal to different ages and learning styles.  All three boys took up the challenge to struggle up a climbing wall.  Jordie made it to the top and rang the bell.  Another center focused on how to make recylced paper - which struck me as highly ironic.  The families in the dump area are masters at recylcing.  They could probably teach the staff about the topic!   The demonstration on electricity held their undivided attention.   An outdoor "mini" city, with "roadways" and miniature traffic lights, was intended to teach kids about following rules of the road.  All in all, our time was over much too quickly, and we had to return to the school for the boys to be picked up by their families.  With kids, it's best to end on a high note.  We had all had a great time.

                    Pablo loved all the projects.  Here he is making paper. 

                                               Charly was a careful scientist. 

     All three boys were mesmerized by the presentation on electricity. 

                      Jordie was eager to find out if he conducts electricity. 

Back at Safe Passage, Jordie said a quick good-bye and headed off to an after-school activity, carrying his tie-dyed t-shirt and a book about snow, all made by the children in the First Parish Sunday School.   Charly and Pablo's mom and sister were waiting for us.  The boys were excited to show their t-shirts, as well as a photo album that I had put together for Charly.  Hugs all around, a sincere thank-you and blessing from their mom, and they, too, were on their way.

It had been a pretty fleeting get-together.  One can't help but wonder if it makes any real difference.  However, we believe in the Safe Passage program and its effectiveness and are grateful to be able to support it.  And, after all, having someone care about you, even someone who lives thousands of miles away, has to be a good thing.

BTW, What are YOU afraid of?

You can let me know the answer to this question - and/or your thoughts on any of my posts, by writing to me:  lwebb34@gmail.com!  I'd love to hear your feedback!  Thanks.