Our expat group Circle of Friends (COF) helps to support an orphanage called Casa Hogar La Buena Semilla. They have I think three houses: one for babies, one for girls and one for boys. They also have a bakery where the young people can learn a skill and make some money. Their vision is to build on (already) donated land so all the kids and caregivers can live, work and attend school on campus. I'm so impressed with the sustainability of their vision and I am proud to be a small part of the amazing work and service they are doing.
Today COF threw a party for the kids, with games, face painting, prizes and food. We also donated some desperately needed items including underwear and dish towels. The kids were great. They particularly enjoyed the sandwiches and the ice cream as well as their new trinkets. I noticed a couple of budding artists enjoying their new paint sets and colouring books.
But it was Mauricio who made the biggest impact on me. Every inch of visible skin on this five year old boy was horribly burned. His head was wrapped in gauze because the skin on his head is still in the process of healing. He sustained his injuries in a drug-related housefire. He was trying to save his mom (and he did). She is blind and his father is a drug addict who beat both of them. At one point his father was taking Mauricio with him begging- while Mauricio's scalp was peeling off. I assume the logic was that people give you more money if you have a sick kid along. His father accompanied Mauricio to the U.S. for treatment but they were ejected because his father's behaviour was so horrible. I believe that's when he came to La Buena Semilla. They are planning another three month trip to a burn treatment centre in the U.S. for him. This time with someone associated with the orphanage. His parents are not allowed to have contact with him.
That's the Tragedy part of the post title.
The Hope part is that Mauricio can still conjure up a small smile when asked. He is opening up more. He plays with the other kids a little. He's not having so much pain anymore. He's getting the medical care he needs. And perhaps more importantly he's getting the love that he needs. His situation is immeasurably better at La Buena Semilla than it was at home.
Where would this little boy be if this organization- or another like it- did not exist?
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Thank God for La Buena Semilla and for COF who work hard to make these good things happen. Thanks for posting this. This kind of awareness is so good for us even though we don't like to hear such horrific stories, especially involving innocent children. God bless you, Dana, in your efforts along with the others.
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