On Tuesday, David, Sarah, Alexander with Fr Yousef and Br Diego and I visited a boys’
orphanage to plant trees. Most of the forty-six boys at the orphanage came out
to help us dig.
 |
| Sarah digging? |
 |
| Even the youngest help |
Brother Diego said he had never seen so many of the boys
outside to help on a project. Some of the boys, like energetic Brian and
prankster Javier, attached themselves to us, but some remained aloof. One boy,
Jeffrey, was especially detached from us and from his peers. Brother Diego
explained that he was deaf and for the most part isolated from the other kids.
 |
| Br Diego and some of the boys |
While Javier directed Sarah on errands, David and I took
Jeffrey aside, and he showed us the orphanage’s mango grove. Using our combined
and limited knowledge of Spanish and sign language, we were able to converse
with Jeffrey. He signed his favorite color—azul—to us and explained their
irrigation system through pantomime.
 |
| Having fun even though the work was dirty, hard and hot |
 |
| Alex and his friend |
After about half an hour with Jeffrey, we returned from the
mango grove and he signed “gusta” to us. After that, he joined the groups of
boys digging holes for the trees, staying close to David and me.
Back at Casa Guadalupe that evening, Brother Diego pointed
out that the morning’s homily was on the intercession of St. Lawrence, who was
gifted with languages. I am very grateful to have met Jeffrey and that, with
the help of St. Lawrence, David and I included him in the day’s activities.
 |
| Elizabeth, Jeffrey and David |
Elizabeth
No comments:
Post a Comment