Espacio Verde (Green Space) is sited on the edge of a shanty town. Although the dwellings a re brick built, generally they are single roomed huts accommodating generations of the same family plus others where necessary.
The conditions are gross: dirt track, open sewers, the rubbish dump which is part of the settlement is the children's playground, a horses skeleton lies a little way onto where the local children play football - it makes no difference it is simply another obstruction to play around.
There is a menace in the air. There is not the cheerfulness in adversity that we have seen elsewhere - this is a place of suspicion and violence. The Centre Officer let's us know that it is not good to take anything of value with us - we should lock it in the centre before we head out.
On the first corner we meet a man in his mid forties, big built and dark skinned, muscular - he greets the captain and they talk for a few moments. He is a local former addict, now a Christian, who is praying for us and our visit. He regularly leads sessions at the centre regarding drug misuse. We move on.
Within a few moments the captain speaks to another lady through the railings that surround her hut - a member of the local Corps. Again encouragement. We make our way through the shanty town and receive glance from locals - the occasional "hola" is exchanged. We are invited to move into the yard of one of the huts. There is conversation amongst the group as the captain speaks to the lady who lives in the house, another, younger, red eyed, woman, carrying a small child joins them. The conversation carries on in hushed tones. There is a sense that we are part of an important conversation.
It is explained to us that the younger woman's family is being threatened by drug traffickers - these are not about beating but about killing. The explanation continues that the younger woman she's our arrival as a gift from God - would we pray for her? In the grimiest, dirtiest environment imaginable a holy moment takes place as we pray for Anna Leia and her family for protection and for a change in the lives of the drug traffickers.
Heading back to the centre we are told that the issues facing the children who attend each day are as expected: drug misuse and sexual abuse.
Every child is affected in one way or another - there is no escape, there is only coping but this centre gives the children strategies to help them do this. The afternoon is spent playing with the children - this is especially important for the men as this is unusual in this society. Parachute games go well - the parachute will stay with them, the drama hold their attention, the song could go better - but later in the afternoon some of the younger children are heard singing it, Elwyn's balloons are a hit, the colouring and Jenga is also well used and again will stay at the centre, along with some balloons and a couple of pumps, the whistles, stickers and frisbee all are well used and for some will be much loved toys.
Right next to Espacio Verde is Hogar Eliasen - an elderly persons care home. Broken into three wings it gives care at cost to those who need it. It is well appointed, beautifully decorated and clearly a place of much love.
Catherine, with just a few words of Dutch, is invited into the room of one of the residents and shares a few moments. Just a few words in your first language is obviously very special for this lady.
We share in the aspirations of the Centre Officer as he explains they have no music in the centre and would like to be able to provide it and also that they would like to develop a rehab unit for elderly who suffer bone breakage so that they can return from hospital as soon as possible. During this time we are told that, in spite of appearance the challenge is that the centre runs on a month's funding. There is no contingency and no safety net.
We sing to the residents who are appreciative.
One of them, a retired officer, expresses his appreciation and says 'we will talk of this all week!'
A day of challenge and reassurance.
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1 comment:
and people in this country think they have it bad.
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