PAPER HOUSES ACROSS THE BORDER
They live within walking distance of the U.S. border, but remain in Mexico. Families work long hard hours to bring home $65 per day. They live in a city with a cost of living that rivals Houston, Texas.
The poor families accept whatever a doctor says, without question. Becauseof their poverty, they have no thought about the possibility of a costly medical procedure and most are unaware of alternatives.
Most ask for nothing. Most are happy and filled with hope, faith and love. Americans we’ve taken to the colonias ask one consistent question, “Why are these people so happy? They work so hard and it seemsthat life constantly cheats them and throws another obstacle in their path!”
We visited the house without any
everywhere. He was unable to stand erect or to walk.
seeing his mother carry him into
The little child sat on my lap and replied, “Do you think it is O.K. for me to pray to the baby Jesus for a pair of tennis shoes?”
school and place him in his little chair. We arranged for a private surgeon to perform an operation.
I glanced at her feet. As always, she was wearing a discarded pair of dress shoes that were two sizes too large for her little feet. I told her that I was sure it was O.K. to ask for tennis shoes.
Many of the children we help are worse off than the little girl in the shelter. Someshare a single room in a cardboard shack with their parents and siblings. Somecannot go to school becausetheir parents cannot earn the $75 needed for books and supplies. Most that do attend school are hungry all day long.
old and his mother carried him
His classmates were accustomed to
I asked, “What do you want for Christmas?”
She jumped off my lap, but then ran up and whispered, “Do you think it is O.K. to ask for a pair of socks, too?”
knowledge of Sergio. He was 6-years
Within a few weeks, Sergio returned to school with the aid of a walker. His teacher said, “He arrived a few minutes late and Relationships with these people are fulfilling. For the cost of a dinner and a movie, you can send a child to school for a year. For 12 cents per day you feed a little child in school, every school-day.
the other children were in their seats.
Many times we meet a child that can't hear or can't walk or who is about to undergo an amputation. Often, we seem to meet these children by accident. Often we change their lives, the lives of their family, and the lives of future generations.
made himself as tall as he could be.
Their mouths dropped open in disbelief as Sergioo stood in the doorway, holding on to his little walker. Then, he straighted up and He tipped over the walker and continued to stand! He broke into a huge smile and shouted, “Look at me, now!”