The end of April and the beginning of May hold BIG celebrations in Mexico. Swine flu was not able to curtail our Santo Niño parties for “Dia de los Niños” on April 30 and “Dia de las Madres” on May 10. It just meant that there were many extra children since all the schools in Mexico were closed due to the virus!
For “Children’s Day” we had games directed by a clown! Variations on “musical chairs” and “hot potato” brought lots of excitement. Each child received a bag of candy and a stuffed animal (cleaning out our clinic supply which we decided were too risky to keep around due to dust and germ potential). We’re still having new cases of chicken pox every 10-14 days but thankfully no swine flu!
Our Mothers Day celebration began early for the “grupo de apoyo”, i.e. the mothers who comprise our coordinating team. Siba and Sister Carol picked them up at the international bridge on Monday morning, May 4, and drove them to Vivid Colors, a salon operated by Alfredo Rentana and Debbie Armendariz . The women were treated like celebrities, receiving professional cuts, styles, even highlights! Pizza and hot wings arrived for lunch, also compliments of the house. It was a glamour shots kind of day. They have offered to do this for our special moms on the first Monday of every month. What a spirit-lifter!
On Thursday we had our clinic celebration of Mothers Day. In addition to our usual delicious lunch there were extra surprises: barbecued brisket and pasta salad prepared by the Sisters and a beautiful cake brought by our most faithful clinic dad, Jose Leo. He is a widower, father to thirteen year old Maggie who has cerebral palsy and Roxanna, age 19. He is Grandpa to Roxanna’s infant daughter- and to all the rest of our Santo Niño children! Jose Leo also brought a silk rose and handwritten card for each of the clinic mothers and Sisters. Mexican men take Mothers Day very seriously!
With this edition of Desert Blooms we are beginning to send as many as possible via email to save on postage and paper. If you receive a paper version and are willing to receive an electronic copy, please send your email address to Sister Janet at janetsc@juno.com. While you’re at it, check out our website at www.proyectosantonino.org ! Feel free to share our stories with friends who might be interested in the Santo Niño Project. God bless each and everyone.