Amor in Acción (con'd)

We have become more deeply involved with Amor en Acción. On Thursday morning, Barb went to a meeting organising ‘Loving Arms’. These are volunteers who go in to play with and cuddle the infants and toddlers in the shelter. While there, she found that the houseparents and staff are being given training classes for 1-1.5 hours five days a week for some months. For houseparents of older kids it is not too much of a problem because they can play and look after themselves. However, for the housemother of the little ones, there is no one except some of the older girls; one we met is very responsible but is only 13 years old. They could use some help to supervise during that period. There are about 7 children plus the son of one of the other housemothers. That was too much for Barb alone so I went too in the afternoon for a little over 2 hours. Most of them were sleeping for their afternoon naps when we arrived, but gradually they all woke up. A couple were very shy because they had not seen us before. However, others warmed up very quickly. All have big, brown eyes. There was also a baby (about 8 months or so at a guess). She was amazing. She was awake very early. During a period of 2 hours, she did not cry or make any fuss whatever. She came to us strangers immediately. We went back again today for the same period. We certainly can’t go every day for the course, but we will go as often as we can. With a couple of the older girls helping, it is not too onerous. It is a good thing for the kids to interact with other people besides the staff etc. of the shelter. Of course for us, it is adictive. Those big brown eyes are irresistable. We’ll take the camera next time and put a couple of photos in a future blog.

For Barb’s birthday next week, Matthew and Angela are going to sponsor a child in Barb’s name. [A sponsorship is about $100 for a year; for the older kids that is to pay for school uniforms, books and shoes.] They also want to sponsor another in Angela’s name. Barb wants us to go the godparents route; that involves taking a child for outings and showing some attention (and contributing the sponsorship money if able). So far the godparents have been choosing from the older children. Barb is eager to do three children from among the little ones; she already has 3 picked out. We’ll see; this Sunday there is another picnic for kids and godparents. They are planning to take some of the little ones to see if potential godparents might be interested in choosing them. Barb says that we should get first dibs on those for our godchildren.

On Saturday I have promised to help another charity, the elders’ home in Chapala. As I mentioned in an earlier post, they have been collecting items for a giant yard sale to be held tomorrow and Sunday. I have my Spanish conversation class from 11:30 - 1. So I will be going to help at the yard sale only after 1. I was intending to go help on Sunday too, but with the godparents’ picnic in the afternoon, I won’t be able to.