You Can Make A Difference
Dec 16th, 2007 by Don Ray
I came across the following post, in one of the Yahoo groups. The Yahoo groups are a source of good and bad information for me. Sometimes I find a person asking for information and I try to give it. Sometimes I find examples of selfishness and greed, but today, I found a very different kind of post. I think this post is an example of people getting together to do good without a lot of fanfare and hopes of receiving recognition, so they can thump their chests saying, “Look what I did”.
My congratulations and thanks, go out to Barb and all here friends for setting such a great example for the rest of us. Following is the post that I lifted from the Yahoo group.
A different kind of post
Yesterday I watched a 12 year old boy carry a five gallon paint pail of dirt on his shoulders and it was extraordinary. Most of you know that I lost my husband right before we were relocating to Panama and that I decided to come and live our “great adventure” on my own. That was many, many posts ago and my life today is rich and rewarding. I have teamed up with a “Mad Brit” here in the mountains and both of us do a fair amount of volunteer work.
We are having people for Christmas dinner and when working out how to exchange gifts, decided none of us really needed anything much and to look for a needy family and provide Christmas dinner and a giant food basket instead with the money we would have spent on a gift. After investigating 3 other needy families we came across a family and house that went way beyond anything I have seen. It was a two room shack housing a mother and 7 children ages 2 to 16. No running water, one electric bulb (with electricity stolen from another house). A two ring hot plate that was used when mom could afford a 5.00 propane tank. Dirt floors and two dirty, mildewed double beds. No sanitary facilities and a leaky roof that blew off when it was windy. The most horrible thing was how dead the eyes of the mother and the children were.
Two weeks or so ago we all decided to make this a Christmas and beyond project. I wrote to friends in the states and received cash donations. We turned our Holiday Kickoff cocktail party into a fund raiser. We began taking food to the family. We poured a cement floor in the kitchen, but needed fill to do the terrazzo. Without asking, the family brought fill up from the river.
So many people have stepped up to the plate. We have currently raised over 1300.00. Our local German cabinet maker has made a wall to wall kitchen cabinet (it is gorgeous) that will house the double sink the same contractor that donated the stone, sand and cement for the kitchen floor donated. He also found someone to donate a stove. Another friend donated 10 gallons of paint. A friend donated a huge basket of personal items. Food has been coming in and going out again.
It has been determined that we need to replace rather than repair the roof (it is too bad and we need it to stabilize the house). That will slow us up with the holidays upon us, but then watch our smoke. Water has been hooked up to a pipe with a tap and is awaiting the new cabinet and sink. I went to the city with the girls and we bought dishes, silverware, containers, knives, utensils, a towel for each in the family. We plan to buy a double set of bunk beds when the house is ready and build shelves in the bedroom. Many expats have volunteered to paint when we are ready. Jo and I and other friends had a party for kids from the orphanage and another contractor showed up with 82.00 he had collected from workers. My construction foreman has agreed to donate a Sunday and find other workers to install the roof. While I have never (in my limited experience) seen a family living this badly, I have also never seen such an interesting, lovely out-pouring of help.
Jo had a long talk with mama and told her that if I see any drinking in the house, anything we bring is sold or (God forbid - I have a reason here) men eating what we bring I will stop help immediately. I do believe she understands! After the holidays a group of us gals are going to get together and figure out how to keep this family going with help for food and try to figure out how mom can become more self-sustaining and if there is anything we can do to help with the children’s education.
I have finished treating the 3 puppies and they have improved mightily. I will be looking for homes for them. But, the absolute best thing is the eyes. First the children’s and slowly mama’s have begun to sparkle a bit. I choose to see hope in them. Jo has even made mama smile a few times (absolutely impossible in the beginning).
So folks, this is a different kind of post. I am not asking for help for a change, but just reporting on a kind of neat project where I hope to see Panamanians working along side expats to give one family a hand up. To those of you who did and are contributing, I can’t thank you enough. I will send pictures along the way when I find time to take some lol! And, to the best friends in the world, Jo and I thank you in the sincerest possible way and I kind of promise to not do this again until next Christmas!
Barb
dear santa don,
all i can say is”wow” with tears in my eyes! ellen
Hi Ellen,
It also touched me. That is why I thought it deserved posting.
You Barb and Jo do make a difference. What an example you set for all “gringos” here in Panama and through out the world. I too, have been blessed beyond comprehension with that “sparkle” or smile of hope given in return for a deed “well done my faithful servant!” You all are “Love in action”, keep it up.
Jerry
Thanks for dropping in Jerry.
Forgot to thank you for finding, posting and sharing this post.
De nada.
That´s the true meaning of Christmas: let´s call it “applied love”.
Yes it is Hilda.
Don RAy:
One thing Americans have (and lots of) its gratitude. I believe the things done by these people are out of appreciation for everything Panama has given them. I want to thank all of you who have made a difference for this family in Panama.
From a “chiricano agradecido”
Jaime
Thanks Jaime. Well said.