Walking With the Poor - Notes From the Field

MISSION AWARENESS TRIP TO MEXICO

March 25 - April 1, 2006

Spirituality of a Christian pilgrim walker

Merida Project Coordinator Bernardo Rodriguez and the Merida team had prepared a prayerful introduction to the mission awareness trip which I have summarized as follows: Walking is one of the most common human activities. For the poor, walking is not only a common human activity; it has a profound meaning in their lives. Many times, their very survival depends upon their daily walk. Let us reflect together on our walk in life. How does God walk with the poor? How has CFCA walked with the sponsored and sponsors during these 25 years? CFCA is not a building in Kansas or Merida. CFCA is each and every one of us, and we are invited to walk with the poor.

A great encouragement to sponsored families and staff

Regardless of size, the mission awareness trip groups are of great importance to the sponsored families and the staff in the projects. The mothers of sponsored children who organize and work with the sponsored families in each community form an essential part of this team.

A reflection on walking with the poor

Bernado led us in a reflection this morning based on the Gospel account in Luke: 24, “The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.” Speaking from his own experience, Bernardo shared some of the implications of walking with the poor. Here is my summary of Bernardo’s thoughts:

When we walk with the poor, we offer them hope in the midst of their reality. It is essential to listen to them. A fantasy has been created about walking with the poor. Some people, when speaking of the poor, talk only of their virtues and good behavior. We sometimes have this fantasy because we haven’t approached the poor in person. Naturally, the poor show us their nicest side. The poor are regular human beings. Some of them are very good, with excellent behavior. Sometimes, however, we also find among the poor unacceptable behaviors. The invitation to walk with the poor through personal outreach is the invitation to be brave and to serve also those people who might demonstrate unacceptable behavior. In the service to the poor, the supreme rule is to love them.

March 28: Pichucalco, Chiapas

Several experiences of high impact for the sponsors: The first was a gathering of the contact mothers from the various “colonias” of Pichucalco on the evening of our arrival. They spoke emotionally of their reality. All except one are single heads of households. There are tremendous challenges regarding employment. Deep emotion and gratitude were expressed for the CFCA program in their lives.

The 116 sponsored families of Pichucalco had prepared a very touching and meaningful cultural gathering on the morning of March 28. Songs, dances, poems, testimonials and the presentation of personalized gifts made by the children and parents were all part of the celebration of their gratitude and their dreams for the sponsorship program in the Pichucalco area. I was impressed with the confidence of the young speakers and performers, and I reflect on our Ends Statement ES2.1, “CFCA sponsorship provides opportunities for sponsored persons with their families to live with dignity. A dignified life includes dignified living conditions, opportunities to develop their desired potential and active participation in their local communities.”

Visits to homes of sponsored children in Pichucalco

We broke into several groups to visit families. My group visited two families. Roberto and Paulina have two children. Roberto Jr. is in fifth grade. Daughter Paulina is in third grade. Both children seem very sharp. Earlier in the morning, Roberto had confidently delivered the welcoming speech to the sponsors and parents.

I imagine a carpenter’s shop in Nazareth

The father is a talented and hard-working carpenter, making attractive furniture in his lean-to shop adjacent to the home. Young Roberto and Paulina had pasted a nametag on each one of their dozen or so baby chicks. Paulina baked a chicken and made tamarind juice for us. In years past, this family paid heavy rent wherever they lived. Through their hard work and good management, they now own their pleasant and very welcoming cinder block home.

Immigration hits home

The second home my group visited today was that of Maria Luz and her six children, ages 8 to 15. Four of them are sponsored. The father, Fulgencio, has gone north in search of work opportunities. It is obvious they really miss their father and husband. The home is made of corrugated tin. At midday, it seemed to heat up like a solar oven. Public sanitation in this neighborhood is still a political promise. Untreated sewage runs within inches of the front door. The odors are strong.

March 29: Palenque, Chiapas

What a nice surprise and gift. I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to the CFCA-Kansas community for the very creative birthday video. It was good to show the sponsors how young and dynamic you all look. Seriously, I do feel a wonderful kinship with you, for which I will remain forever grateful.

The journey of CFCA

After breakfast, I was asked to share with the sponsors “The Journey of CFCA”. I did this through song and visuals of CFCA worldwide. I make every effort to open doors through which the sponsors may enter the adventuresome world of CFCA. As I write this on the morning of the 29th, I know that there are children and staff on the roads of southern Mexico on their way to join us this afternoon in our symbolic walk, Mass and cultural celebration.

Memories of the Pilgrimage of Faith

On the afternoon of March 29, 2006, sponsored children, youth, parents and staff came together from five Mexican states. We walked into the town of Catazaja, where we have 137 children sponsored. Holy Mass, cultural activities and personal testimonies rounded out a very full day. We were all pretty tired when our little green bus pulled into the Tulija Hotel in Palenque. Great was my surprise to find that the evening was just beginning. Sponsors and staff got together and prepared a birthday party, complete with live mariachis, tacos and the presentation of a wonderful birthday gift. When I opened the large and colorful box, I discovered a beautiful, hand-crafted Mexican saddle, made by the father of one of our sponsored children. My heart is full of thanks for each one of you, as we mount that saddle and ride tomorrow.

Tabasco subprojects

After the trip from Palenque to Villahermosa, we visited the 57 sponsored families in the Samaria River area of Chicozapote. The lanky old bus would have done better with four-wheel drive, but we made it to the waiting village as the sun was setting. Parents rigged a torn canvas to shelter us. The makeshift wooden stage resounded to the beat of the zapateado and jarana dances performed by the children. Spontaneous smiles and expressions of enthusiasm greeted us as we stepped down from the bus. Young native son Fidencio, local coordinator of this subproject, is very proud of his people. Three little girls were dressed in native materials from the area. Three young men supplied traditional Chontal melodies with the tambor drum and the chirimilla flute. Following the community assembly, we witnessed examples of struggle, hope and thanks in the four families we were able to visit in their humble homes.

Final day to southern Mexico

By way of introduction to this day, Bernardo shared some ideas about poverty and walking with the poor. Jesus’ invitation to walk with the poor implies a willingness to surrender power and selfish attitudes. We walk with the poor mainly to share their daily struggle. With them we strive to create a better world, a world in balance, with a good distribution of the richness of creation. When we love, we become more like the poor. We do not own people. We do not control them. The world doesn’t revolve around us. When we love, we are free. We are not tied to material things. We are not tied to the past. We are not tied to hatred, grudges or guilt. Simply, when we love, we are walking with the poor.

Subproject MGT—153 families

They were all waiting for us in the heat of the noonday sun. I see the great importance of these visits of the sponsors to the subprojects. It is like an injection of energy into the process of creating the worldwide community of compassion. In turn, these inspiring sponsored families energize us. Final hours of the trip included a closing Mass at the Cathedral in Nacajuca, performances by the children and a written evaluation of the trip experience.

Cristina and I prayerfully bid farewell to these members of our CFCA family and head for Costa Rica to begin a new group tonight.

Bob Hentzen
San Jose, Costa Rica

April 9 , 2006