December 2006- January 2007
Mision Mexico, Dando Amor, Vida y Esperanza AC
Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

Saludos a Todos,

It has been a long time since I have written to you all and as usual, I apologise. All my intentions to write more often have been nothing more than that, just good intentions. It is almost impossible to keep up with the office side of things as well as look after the 'family'.

Anyway, at this moment I am writing this while we are camping at the beach for the Christmas break. The little ones are all settled in bed, some of the older kids are playing cards with Alan and the three volunteers who are still with us, while others are sitting around playing chess. Some are taking it easy and gently swinging in hammocks. It is a nice time of the day, well, night!

It is the middle of winter but the weather is hot and just perfect for swimming and surfing. At this time of the year it doesn't rain so it is almost like living in paradise, well at least compared to living in the city where we don't have a yard for the children to play. Here the children are happy and content, playing, swimming and surfing.

Andy, a volunteer from Noosa in Queensland has been wonderful in teaching and encouraging the children in their relative new sport, surfing. They have improved so much in the last few months since Andy arrived, it's just amazing. They have become very enthusiastic and I must say that it is so good to see them with a confidence that has grown as they try to master their new skill.

Originally we started with two nipper boards, donated by Sunshine Beach Surf Club and then Ryan, another volunteer from Noosa, who was here a couple of years ago, bought the children a few practice surfboards and started them on their surfing experience.

Since that time we have had a few donations of second hand surfboards and another practice board that have kept the more advanced kids active.

When Andy was on his way to Tapachula he stopped at the famous beach in Mexico, Puerto Escondido, in the state of Oaxaca and had some 'mini-mals' made to donate to the kids. Roger Raminez did a great job with shaping the boards and even managed to put our logo on each one. He also gave Andy a big discount.

Because of the size, these boards have made it a lot easier for the kids to surf and now we have seven of our younger children learning.

Alan has returned to the sport that he was doing when I met him and is enjoying every minute of it and, the kids are quite impressed with his technique!

The waves have been good for some time and there are no more trees and logs being washed in. Our group are the only ones surfing so there is no need to fight for waves, the whole beach is ours!

Today, while a few of our older boys were surfing with Alan and Andy, a pod of dolphins that were massive in size, circled them and stayed around them for the longest time. It was such a beautiful sight and an amazing experience for the boys.

Andy has also been very active in trying to get some sponsorship for the children's sport. Sticky Bumps surf wax company has agreed to sponsor them and has supplied a box of wax, leg ropes, tail pads and stickers.

We are very greatful for their wonderful support.

All 31 children are quite healthy at the moment, well that is, with no major health problems. There is always a child or two with a small problem but nothing serious.

We had a lovely Christmas away from the noise of the city with its parties and fireworks to all hours of the morning. Here the children woke to the sound of the waves and to find a Christmas stocking each, filled with a varity of goodies that was organized by the six volunteers (Jane, Sara, Amy, Danielle, Andy and Ryan), their families and friends. Another donation for Christmas bought the children a great table game that they will all enjoy once we return to the house. A school in Brisbane sent over some boxes with gifts that we have kept for the 'Day of the Kings' that falls on the 6 th January.

A big THANK YOU to all who helped make this Christmas special, we could not have done it without you.

The months before Christmas were extremely busy with one thing or another.

Marina, 14 yrs, had a small operation to remove a large cist on her forehead just above her eye. Marina was so self consious of this lump that she always wore her hair over one eye. She also got called a number of names which must have hurt but she handled quite well.

We went to the local private hospital where they wouldn't do us any favours, then to another doctor who told us that because it was so close to the eye we would have to go to an eye specialist. We ended up back at the eye specialist who operated on Samuel's eye and once again Dr. Ricardo Rosales did the operation for nothing. We only paid for the medications needed. What a wonderful person this man is, we are so very thankful.

The children are all doing well in school. The new school year started in August and all the children advanced into the next level except for Yesenia who is 11 years. Poor Yesenia, I guess her past has hindered her from learning. This child is in grade 1 for the third year!! I pleaded with them, saying that they couldn't keep the poor child in grade one for another year, it will do nothing for her self esteem but they said that if she couldn't read then she couldn't go up a grade.

We have been giving Yesenia a lot of attention, especially Andy, and she is advancing finally, though she is still in grade 1. Hopefully next year they will jump her a grade.

Merril, 14 years almost didn't get back into school. As I explained in the last newsletter, he was told he couldn't return because he had a number of complaints against his name. These complaints were things like; his hair was too long, his shirt wasn't tucked in, he had a drawing that he did that looked like grafiti, he back-chatted a student leader and the worst, he skipped a couple of classes. There were ten points against his name over the 12 months and they are only allowed three!

With the help of a friend we managed to get him into another school but not without difficulty.

We had an interview with the Director of the school but when he found out he wasn't a Mexican he didn't want to enrol him. After stating to him that he was discriminating against this child and that every child in Mexico has a right to an education, we sat there waiting for some time for an answer. We were getting to the stage of walking out when he finally agreed.

Merril is doing well in his new school. He leaves for school at 6.30am on his bike, smartly dressed in his army type uniform and returns almost in the same condition. He appreciates the trouble we had to get him into a school and is making a big effort to 'toe the line'.

Some time ago, well since the last newsletter, we entered about 20 children in a fun run in the city. Our good friend John Flanagan got some T/shirts printed with our logo for each child and adults included. Moacir was the only one to attempt the 10 km run, the rest of us did the 5 km. We all finished, not in any record time but it was an achievement to complete the course as none of us had trained for the event. To my surprise I found that I had won my division! Actually, I don't recall seeing too many people my age!! It was fun and I received a $550 Peso cheque ($55USD).

Another friend and volunteer from the US remarked that what impressed him was that all the children were really proud to wear their T/shirts, I think that says a lot.

It is now the 13 th January and time that I finished off this update.

Little Kayla and Giovani have gone back to live with their mother who is said to be rehabilitated. The two children were crying when they left, not wanting to leave. We hope and pray that they will find a stable home filled with happiness.

One of our older girls has gone back to live with her family. We find it sad that she has chosen this path as now she most likely won't finish her high school, she will probably go out to work to support her mother and three siblings. The mother is often drunk and the children, neglected.

I understand that she would have been drawn back to her family after a visit with them but she will now face a life of hardship. This girl is ran away from her family life because of abuse to live on the streets. A social worker found her and rescued her from prostitution. She was 13 years! The step father is in gaol/jail for 27 years for abusing her.

This girl is already delving into things that she shouldn't but with no guidence or supervision what could we expect.

I am sure we have made a difference in her life and our influence will have an effect on her but for now we feel a little sad and disappointed.

To a brighter note, little Sam (2yrs 6mths), is growing into the cutest little boy. He is the one who was starved and nearly died. When we got him he was just bones, a skeleton. His medical report said that he had TB in his bones. He was the most ugly baby I had ever seen!

Now he is cheeky and full of beans. We would have to say that he is not the most handsome of children with his large head, slightly crossed eyes, flat feet and knocked knees but, he is just gorgeous, his personality is everything.

Over the last couple of years we have had a number of volunteers from many different countries come and lend a hand. Each of these volunteers have given something of themselves and left a imprint on the hearts of the children here. THANK YOU to all of you. You have made a difference in the lives of each and everyone here. Your help has been a huge blessing to Alan and me, Gracias.

Well, time to close.

We send our most sincere thanks to you all for your wonderful support and prayers.

God bless

Pam and Alan Skuse