Love One Another

They’re good kids.  They’re the kids older people love to complain about, saying they’re too selfish and too shallow.  But here they were, sleeping on the floor of a church in Texas for a week, trooping over into Mexico each day to help children who will never have what they have.  They were missionaries, if only for a week,

They went to see orphans.  Reynosa, Mexico,  is a large city on the border with America where many poor Mexicans come to find jobs in one of the maquiladora factories  in the area.  For those who can’t hack it, the children suffer.

Some of the orphanages in the city are run by Catholic nuns.  They receive no help from the government and subsist on the largesse of others.  When our group arrived, they were met by a church group from Illinois/Missouri who were painting the interior.  Help comes from many places.

The missionaries-for-a-week brought shoes – shoes given by well-to-do families of San Antonio.  It was a time when young adults bonded with younger kids – a time when the young adults found out about how others live in this world.  Don’t misunderstand – this was not a tough time.  This was a time of laughter and fun.  It was a learning time.

The other orphanage was run by the government.  More boxes of donated toys and clothes were delivered.  Most of the  young missionaries headed towards the nursery, while the leaders arranged to deliver stuffed toys and crosses to the older kids.  The young orphans created an atmosphere of both joy and concern.  There was a set of three-day old twins who had just arrived.  Its tough to hold a new life in your hands and ponder what lies in the future for one born with no family in a land of little opportunity.

Sometimes the excitement and commotion is a bit difficult to handle.  Strangers had come into her home, and this little one’s insecurity brought tears.  Off to one side, some words of comfort and love.  Nearby, another little girl got some help with her new shoes.

As I watched all this, I wondered what lay ahead for all involved.  Life will be hard for the orphans.  For the ones in the government orphanage, they will have to fend for themselves once they turn fourteen.  Those from the Catholic orphanages will probably do better as they were raised in a more nurturing environment and can stay there as long as they wish.

It’s the young missionaries I am more curious about.  They have choices.  They are well educated, and come from middle-class homes.  I wonder how many will make the choice of serving themselves.

– or, after this, of serving others.

Comments

[Lan]

Doug,
My heartfelt after reading this post especially the three-day old twins when they most needed love and care for... it is so sad! However, kudos is due for those young missionaries even only for a week. I think its a great life-learned lesson for them.