Hand of Help

APDO. # 13, C.P. 76270

Colon, Queretaro, Mexico

February-March, 1993

Dear Friends and Benefactors:

A Shared Thought: by Sister Maria Teresa Pacheco

What is life like working in a children's home as house parents? Parents know well what is involved in raising children but when one speaks about a large number of children, such as fifty girls ranging from ages 3 to 14, then the work involved is enormous and the responsibility frightening.

To take a child who has never had a normal family life and has survived by stealing, lying, manipulating and lived in total disorder and try to incubate human and Christian values is almost impossible, or so it seems to us who live with it every day. As I see each of my girls so unique and beautiful and yet so broken in spirit by life at such an early age, I can't help but thank God for allowing me to be part of his plan in bring about wholeness in their lives. It is very rewarding to see them overcoming their bad habits and becoming a family. To be able to imitate Jesus, as His Disciple, in serving and giving one's life for them. Is a true blessing, and one that once undertaken can't be easily given up.

I thank God, my community and Father Norman for allowing me to be part of this work and am willing to end my days in service to these little ones if the Lord so desires.

Santa Maria Briefs

Our Volunteer Staff The good Lord has blessed us this year with a dynamic group of volunteers who are giving their time, energy, sacrifice and commitment to our children. With their sense of service, we are experiencing one of our better years. We are indeed being blessed by their presence and the children are profiting so much from them.

Eric Dawson Last year Eric graduated from the Quaker school, Guilford College, in Greenboro, N.C. and will be returning to another college, not as yet determined, this next fall to prepare himself for a career, probably in education. Eric is an outstanding young man respected and loved by all the boys in the "Boys Home." He is assisting Gabriel Patino in caring for 70 boys. He mentions frequently that the task is rather overwhelming, but most satisfying. There are very few 23 year old young men like Eric in this world today.

Norma Casteneda Norma retired from the Los Angeles school district last year and will be entering the Peace Corps this summer for two years. Norma has a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching and continues to enhance the lives of our secondary children at Santa Maria. Come June she will be sorely missed in our program.

I will continue with volunteers Ayde, Jane, Mary and Mary Paul in the next letter.

School system Recently, my patience came to an end regarding the incompetency and lack of commitment found in our public school teachers who put "part time" in our secondary school in Santa Maria. Last week I got an appointment with the head of education for the state of Queretaro. I protested that we had a horrible situation in Santa Maria and that it would be criminal if something was not done immediately to spare our children from being "intellectually raped". He listened and within a week he and the four top educators in Queretaro appeared in Santa Maria for a surprise, meeting. He promised me results and immediate results were realized. At his writing,.I am waiting for the director of the elementary schools to shapeup our primary school the same way. Heads must fall to awaken those who are mediocre and complacent. You wouldn't believe the sorry state-of affairs here and yet Santa Maria has the reputation of being one of the best in our region.,We are on our way.

Society of Our Lady of the Blessed Trinity Sister Mary Teresa, Sub Director of our program, and myself had a productive meeting with Fr. Jim Flannigan, founder of Our Lady's Society, last month in Robstown, TX near Corpus Cristi. We are drawing up contracts between the program of Hand of Help and the Bishop of Queretaro. Things are looking fine and hopefully this will assure us of a continuity in our program indefinitely. Fr. Flannigan and I both feel that the Spirit is guiding this union between the Society and Santa Maria. Sister Mary Teresa and the Society have been working with us for the past six years.

Redecorating and Repairing Homes The past -three months have found us making some repairs and beautifying our Boys' Home and also our Girls' Home. We might not have the most luxurious homes but things are livable and clean.

Meeting with the Bishop On March 10th I met with Don Mario, Bishop of Queretaro, to invite him to Santa Maria on April 3rd on which date 37 of our children will be receiving their First Communion. He graciously accepted. At the same time I gave him a report of our work, problems and finances. The diocese of Queretaro has many financial problems, so they are unable to help us. So we will continue our struggle relying on God and your generosity. We also discussed the renewal of contract between the diocese and Santa Maria. We are working oh the details at the time of this writing.

The Health of the Old Warrior Many have been asking about my health since my triple-bypass.. Things are going real fine. In April the doctor wants to give me a tread-mill, test. This test will give an accurate account of my progress, hopefully. Since the beginning of Lent I have lost some 15 unnecessary pounds. I'm still trying to avoid tension. This is an interesting challenge.

Dispensary Homeopathy At our Asilo, where we care for some 20 to 22 abandoned elderly, we recently opened a Dispensary Homeopathy.- This all came about recently when I went to pay a bill at the local pharmacy. I almost had another heart attack when they told me that the bill was $1,150,000. I did some yelling and complaining, but to no avail. I was determined to do something and something we did. This will not only help us, but also the poor of the community who are unable to pay such horrendous prices for medicines. We have a resident doctor directing the Dispensary. Hopefully it will be a success. So dear friends, once again we want to thank you for your love and generosity. Your sacrifices are touching many, many children. At the present we are maintaining 185 mouths to feed, clothe and educate. This story of success is thestory of your love for those who are unable to care for themselves.

Be assured or our love and Prayer,

Children, Staff and Fr. Cliff Norman