Diciembre 2007
Misión México, Dando Amor, Vida y Esperanza. AC
www.lovelifehope.com

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo

Greetings to all,
It’s Christmas time once again.  Where has the year gone?  It’s the time of year when we reflect on the past and plan for the future.  
Our year has been very full, as you could imagine and we have much to be thankful for.  So much has happened that it is hard to remember it all.  Some children have come and gone, but we still have many who have been with us for years. They are all growing and developing in all areas of their lives but, they are far from perfect.  They come with so much ‘baggage’ from their past and, it takes a long time to overcome what has been instilled in them since birth.  Most of the time, their examples have not been good ones and that is why they are here. 
Some of the children can be trusted completely while others lie and steal when they have the opportunity.  But, we need to understand, that this is what they did to survive before their life at Mision Mexico.  It takes a long time to break those old habits but gradually they change.
Working with these children to help them on their journey is a slow process, you don’t see results overnight,  but,  there is growth and that is the main thing. 
Our teenagers are becoming beautiful young adults and we are so proud of them.  We have the normal problems with behaviour that any household has with teens, such as, anger, jealousy, a few lies and a little bit of manipulation and of course, raging hormones!  
Remember also, that these teens are still dealing with a lot of emotional problems related to what they have suffered, and also, take in the fact that it is not just one or two teenages living together, but fifteen!  Fifteen teenagers who are also living with 25 little brothers and sisters!  Well, we think they are amazing!!
Recently on a trip to the U.S. to raise money for the new building,  I told the story of a very special young person who has lived with us for about six years.  It as a sad story but also a story of hope.  It was wonderful to reflect on where he was and where he is now but also to dream and plan for his future.  We love and believe in him and he knows that,  and,  that is what matters.  We also believe that given the opportunity, all these young people will continue to grow and become fine young adults.
 
As I said before, recently I went to Arizona, to tell our story at a number of speaking engagements about our need to finish building the new refuge.
This trip was organized by a very dear friend and volunteer, John Mather. 
John did an incredible job managing me along with all his other responsibilities.  It was a very successful speaking tour where we are now so much closer to our goal.  There were many meetings and two special dinner events, one in Arizona City and the other, in Lake Havasu.  At one, an auction was held before dinner where many talented people had donated their fine works of art, followed by a night of entertainment with incredible singers and musicians, who were also working in the kitchen for the evening!  To all who helped at these events, thank you so much, you were all amazing. 
A special thanks to John and to my hosts in Arizona and at Lake Havasu, your hospitality was overwhelming, I really can’t find the words to express my gratitude.  To everyone who helped in any way, Thank You so much.  Your participation has made a huge difference.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with John, Jacqui and family, for the tragic loss of their son during my stay in Arizona.  God bless and help you through this time.
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While in the United States I learnt about the celebration of Thanksgiving and introduced this beautiful tradition to the older children here at the refuge.  It was a lovely evening where we reflected on the blessings we have and what  we should be thankful for. 
Most of the children responded really well, focusing on the positive, but one young girl, who has only been with us since July, could not speak and passed her turn, though later asked to speak.
She began saying, “I thought I didn’t have anything to be thankful for.”  “I don’t know my real father, I have never met him.”  “My step father died four years ago from AIDS and then we struggled to live.”  “My mother died of AIDS just eleven months ago.”  Crying she said,  “My relatives forced me to go out on the streets to beg and they wouldn’t give me any of the money.” “Now, I have been separated from my little brother and I don’t have permission to visit him.” “My family have abandoned me.”
“I am alone.”
But then she prayed, “I am thankful to God for bringing me to Mision Mexico to live with Mamá Pamela and Papá Alan.”  “Yes, I am thankful”.
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You will be amazed at how far the new refuge has advanced.  They are almost finished cementing the floor, which here in Mexico is one of the last things to do.  Each room is done by hand, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow. 
Some tiles have already been bought for the bathrooms so I think in the next few days they will commence on that.
Up until this point we have been using local workers other than for Paul and Alan and in January a carpenter from the U.S. will be arriving to make cupboards, shelves, door frames etc.
There is still quite a bit to do with the volunteer quarters and the roof of the dinning room needs to be completed.  The yard is a disaster but we have some great plans for that too.  Hopefully, by March ’08 we will be moving in. 
The President of Tapachula gave us a donation of 10 tonne of cement and also, gravel and sand, for which we are very grateful.  We have been approaching companies for help and now we are getting a very good discount from two and, they both donated some cement as well.
The manager of Coroner donated some cement, sand and gravel also.
Thanks to all who have helped in this area.
A big Thank You to the architect Salustio Arrivillaga and his son Salustio, for the incredible help, time and patience that they have giving us.  Daily things change as we realize that something will work better in another way.  You have been wonderful. 
We must not forget to mention Paul Callegari once again.  Paul has been amazing and continues to slave away at the land!!
A big Thank You to all the volunteers who are working with us at the moment and who have worked with us in the past.  Your involvement is a real blessing, not only to the children but, to Alan and me also.
Remember that most of these children have not been brought up properly, they haven’t been taught to respect things or people.  They come from backgrounds that most of us would find hard to imagine.  It takes a long time and a lot of patience to instill in them good manners and good values.
Even though some of you may feel that you have not made much of a impact on the children, know that, every little bit that you do is helping to change the world of these kids.  Even if you only clean bathrooms or teach them how to keep a bathroom clean, this will make a difference in their lives.  Never think that you have not made a difference, because you  have.
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The Australian Embassy in Mexico has approved a grant of nearly $10,000.00.  This grant will cover the laundry, kitchen and dinning room for appliances etc. Also, floor tiles for the dinning room, kitchen, laundry and verandah.  That is wonderful isn’t it?!  Thank you Australia!

We are also in the process of trying to get a Rotary grant and this should buy all the furniture and bedding for the bedrooms that we need, as well as put in a clean water system along with a number of other things.

On Monday 3rd Dec. we held a fundraising event here to raise awareness and to gain support.  It turned out to be a wonderful evening with Walter from the restaurant ‘Señor Tango’ donating the venue and food.  The Rotary Club of Tapachula gave us a helping hand and everything else related to the evening was donated for which we are very grateful.  The music was amazing thanks to our friends Sofi, Martin and our son-in-law Paco.  The event started with a DVD that some ex-volunteers/Uni students, from the States had recorded a year before.  This DVD was also used at the events in the U.S.  Thanks Megan and Brett for all your time related to the DVD.  It really did give an insight into a day in the life of the refuge.
Deborah and Mary Ellen, thank you so much for everything, you both were, and are, incredible!
It is already obvious that the evening generated an interest that is leading to  more support, such as, we have already received an offer to have the second operation on little Sammy’s eye to straighten it which looks like is going to take place next Wednesday.
We now have another psychologist to attend to the children.
We have had an offer to all the kids to enjoy an ecological park for free.
Also, someone is going to donate us a turkey for Christmas dinner.  We still need a lot more help in this area but we believe it will happen.

One of our older girls, who has suffered a lot, asked to speak to us a couple of days ago.  She came in and started saying that she really appreciated everything that she has received since she arrived here.  Joselyn is fifteen and before coming to us she had never been to the beach even though she had lived in Tapachula all her life. She has been doing really well at school, studying so hard that her dedication has paid off as she received 1st place in her recent exams.  Because of all her hard work we invited her to the fundraiser event where she was a wonderful ambassador for the refuge.  Joselyn thanked us for inviting her, saying that she had never been to anything like this before. 
Before the event, we were running around all over the place and hadn’t had time to eat so we went to Burger King for a very late breakfast.  While inside she commented that she had never been to a place like that before.
Almost everything she is experiencing is a first experience.  It is so refreshing to see someone really appreciate what they have and do.  She is such a beautiful young lady.

Last Saturday we celebrated Chanukah, a Jewish celebration which falls around this time in December.  This ‘Festival of Lights’ begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev.  One of our volunteers, who is Jewish, worked hard in the kitchen cooking all the traditional foods and, believe it or not, we even found kosher sausages in a store here!  While the children were eating the typical food, Moacir translated the history of the festival to the children and later they played games related to the tradition.  It is wonderful for the children to learn about other cultures and customs from around the world. 

Some time ago we were put in touch with a surf board company, Global Surf Industries, in the U.S. who have agreed to sponsor the kids with new surf boards.  As the kids say, ‘AWESOME’!  They are so excited and eagerly waiting.  We are so happy to report that the boards have arrived in Mexico and will be here for Christmas!!  Thank You so much, Global Surf Industries.

Also, a company in Arizona, Desert Surf have sponsored the children with surf clothes; board shorts, rash shirts etc, all name brands, that we have saved for Christmas. What a wonderful gift.  Desert Surf, Thank You!! 
And, a big Thank You to Caroline Warden for organizing this for us.

Tonight I took a group of girls to look at some Christmas lights at one of the Pemex Gasoline stations.  (Pemex is the only gas/petrol company in Tapachula and possibly the whole of Mexico.)  This particular Pemex is a  large area with many bushes and trees that are beautifully decorated with twinkling lights.  We walked around admiring the display and the girls were in awe.  It made me think of how we all try to decorate our houses with beautiful lights at this time of year.  We are all linked, this time really is a ‘Festival of Lights’.    
What a wonderful Christmas this will be.
Thank You to all for your wonderful, continuous support.  The lives of these children have improved beyond what they could have ever imagined.  They have a home, food, education and most of all,  they have people who care about them and love them, that includes all of you.  
God bless and keep you and your families safe.
We wish you a very Happy and Holy Christmas!
For those of you who are celebrating Chanukah at this time, Happy Chanukah!!
Many blessings and much love, Pam and Alan Skuse