Yesterday we were invited by Sister Marg Malady and Delia to accompany them up the valley to one of their weekly discussion groups. Each week a small group of mothers and their children gather in a different house to talk, do some embroidery, discuss a topic relevant to their lives and say a short prayer. While this agenda proceeds, the children either play around the house or do some colouring. Yesterday’s discussion topic was based on ‘good news’, and they used the example of the local press and how it tends to depict bad news in graphic and gory detail. They all agreed that good news to them would be getting some work! They want to work and yet are unable to find any. Jorge and Sonia, the owners of the house we met in, have some work: Jorge is a repairer of a variety of small machines and Sonia uses her overlocker and sewing machine to both make and repair clothes. Rebecca, who has four girls, peels hot peppers with her bare hands and earns $/-1.00 per two kilos. You have to remember that peppers do not weigh very much, and they burn your hands! Her nine year old daughter, Elizabeth, is severely handicapped and in need of twenty four hour care.
We met Marg and began the climb up the side of the valley, she warned us that it would be hot and steep; she was right on both counts. We were also escorted by Delia, she and her daughter Gabriela were members of our first English class.
When we reached the ‘top’ we were greeted by Jorge and Sonia and invited inside their home – three roughly divided areas – a cooking area, a sitting area and a sleeping area!
The ladies took great pride in their embroidery.
The children loved their colouring in exercises, however, they found it extremely difficult to be creative when it came to choosing the colours. They just wanted to copy the text book!
Then someone just happened to mention that a certain person may be able to sketch some of the children’s’ faces! Would you believe the news spread like wildfire and the line-up grew by the minute? At the end of the discussion and short prayer we were served a cup of orange gaseosa – soft drink - and a dry biscuit.
We thanked them sincerely for their hospitality and started the trek back down the valley. It is a huge reality check comparing our living conditions back home to the living conditions these people have to contend with – and with very little of hope for a better future!
Even the garbage truck is an eye opener. It comes a certain way up the valley with its siren blaring and the people have to come running with their garbage, there is no possible way the truck could negotiate some of the side streets!
We promised to return to visit the families of Heroes de Senepa.
