October 2007
Mision Mexico, Dando Amor, Vida y Esperanza A.C.

Hola a Todas,
 I am trying my very best to keep you up to date with all the news from Mexico and I am surprising myself that I am doing quite well.  Truthfully, the reason is because we have some wonderful people helping here at the refuge.  One volunteer, Deborah Grossman has been working overtime here in the office answering emails and looking for support, not only for the construction of the new refuge but also in many other areas to aid the children, including health and education.   Thus, this has enabled me to do other things, including a lot of running around for the new construction in progress.

The building/refuge is coming along nicely.  Paul Callegari from Australia has been working incredibly hard, six days a week alongside the Mexican team supplied by the Architect.  It has been very hard for him because of the language barrier, heat and many other frustrations that occur in a situation like this.  Alan is back from Aust. and is now working with Paul, labouring at the site.  Another volunteer commences in a couple of days.
 It is hard to believe it was once an old carpenter’s workshop, now with its lovely wide verandahs and many rooms, it is beginning to resemble a home.  There is still a long way to go and we are still in need of more funds to complete the refuge but we believe that will come.
A visit to the US in early November has been planned to raise more money.  This has been organised by John Mathers from the Justice and Peace Centre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. We met John in 2006 when he came to put water purification systems in remote villages in this area and then did some volunteer work with us. I will be speaking at a number of functions to raise awareness and support for the children here. Please keep this project in your prayers.

 All the children are doing very well at the moment.  Sometimes there is a peace or, how do I explain it, an atmosphere of comradeship. We still have a household of chaos, almost all the time, but that ‘peace’ is there amongst the kids, which is so good.

 I am sure you will be as proud of Leonardo, Jose, Merril and Isaac as we are.  These four boys, who have only been swimming training this year, competed in the 18th Fina World Cup Open Waters competition, a 5km race, in the ‘Cañon Sumidero’, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mex.  It was the first swimming competition they have ever competed in and they all finished with good times.  Leonardo won a silver medal for second place and Jose, a bronze medal for third place in their age category.  First place overall (for the 5km) was won by their coach's son, Juan.
 How wonderful is that? These boys, who have overcome incredible difficulties in their lives, are now disciplined enough to attend training every day and are seeing wonderful results of their hard work.
We are very grateful to ‘Club Aquarius’ of Tapachula for giving these children and twelve others from Mision Mexico a wonderful opportunity to train free of charge.  It hasn't been easy for any of us.  Dealing with children with problems, getting them to understand and accept the discipline involved with swimming has been difficult to say the least but, they are all developing very well.

 Surfing is still the first love of the older kids.  Now that Moacir, our eldest boy here at the refuge, has his driver’s licence, they travel to the beach as often as possible. The boys have found a great little spot where they get wave after wave.  Their skills have developed amazingly and now they draw the attention of many, who watch this new sport to the area.
To get to the beach they have to walk through a number of ‘palapas’ (small restaurants) in amongst a grave yard!  It’s the weirdest sight to see one restaurant with a tombstone in the middle of it!
Maria is the only girl so far who surfs but she can only surf when Alan is with them which is usually on Sundays at the moment due to the building in process and many other responsibilities related to this work. 
Alan is a legend amongst the kids, they really admire him.  He is 57 yrs and enjoys his surfing almost as much as them!
Depending on the condition of the waves, Alan is trying to teach a number of the other children to surf also.  The main problem we have is with the new children who are keen to surf but don’t have their swimming skills developed as yet.

We are thrilled to now have a company who is donating surfboards to the children and are at present excitedly waiting for the first shipment.
 As I mentioned in the last newsletter we now have an education fund set up for the children.  Most of our children need extra help due to their late starts in education.  If you are able to help or know someone who possibly would like to help in this area, please write to us at info@lovelifehope.com and we will let you know how to assist.

 We have recently received five new children.  Two girls and three boys.  Most of them are quite a handful.  Gloria, who is 8 years, has not had any education, academic or otherwise.  She is quite wild, spits on the floor and uses some very colourful language! 
Poor girl, she is constantly being pulled into line and at times when I have to talk harshly to her, I look into her eyes and realise that it’s not her fault that she hasn’t been taught anything.  We have a lot of work to do to re-educate her but already we are seeing progress.
Gloria’s brother, Walter, who had his eleventh birthday recently, is skin and bones with huge bulging eyes.  He is craving love and is constantly looking for cuddles.

We have given them both a parasite treatment and I won’t even try and describe what they have passed!! Gorge, Heidi and Jonathan are siblings who are no longer able to remain with their family. Heidi is a blessing, she’s obedient, interested in everything and always smiling! Her brothers are pretty good also, although being boys they do get into mischief!


 We are organising a fundraiser here in Tapachula on 3 December to raise awareness and support from the local community. Señor Tango, an Argentinean restaurant which supports Mision Mexico through an apprenticeship for one of our boys here, Hans, is donating us the use of their restaurant and supplying dinner for our 120 guests. The evening will include live music played by our son-in-law Paco and two French friends, Martin and Sofi who often come to see the children here at the house. We have organised to have beer, wine and soft drink donated by Corona and, are in the process of organising raffle prizes. So far we have secured some great prizes including holiday accommodation and free cable TV! It should be a fun evening and we hope it will develop stronger ties with the community and thereby increase the support for the children.

 Well, it’s time for me to go and pack for my flight to the US so I’ll end here.
 Love from us all at Mision Mexico,
God Bless,


Pam and Alan Skuse