Our students write letters to their sponsors, giving them a personal update about themselves and their lives at El Hogar.  Here is some background information about Cesar Ramirez, one of our Agricultural School students, taken when he entered El Hogar last year. What follows is a letter he wrote to his sponsors, or godparents. Our students are very moved by the opportunity given to them through the generosity of our sponsors.

 

Cesar is from El Bosque.  His parents are separated.  His father works as a laborer in the fields when there are jobs available.  His mother looks after Cesar and his 8 siblings.  Their house is made of adobe and they have no electricity or toilet facilities.  Due to scarce economic resources Cesar was unable to continue his education and he was trying to find some work.  He heard about the Agricultural School and he is happy to be able to go to school and meet new friends so that he can help his family and have a better future for himself.

 

Dear Godparents,
 
I hope you are doing well and the divine Ceator of the universe showers you with many and plentiful blessings.
 
The reason for this letter is to tell you how grateful I am for your generous heart and your willingness to help me even though you have not met me.  It is a true blessing to have you as my sponsors because thanks to you I am at the school and I am very happy to be a student in my second year. I still hope that I will meet you so we can share many beautiful things and I can tell you that I am doing well with my studies and I am very happy to be part of your family.  I hope to meet you soon and I also want to say that I really like working with plants and I hope you know that I have you in my heart.
 
I say goodbye with a big hug and may God bless you today, tomorrow and always.
 
Sincerely, your godson who loves you very much,
 
Cesar Renieri Benitez Ramirez

 70 Church Street

 Winchester, MA 01890

 

 April 2010 

A third morning, my mind began to assimilate all that we were observing and doing. My eye focused on the mural on the wall near the entrance, "God is Love!" We walked past it all the time. We knew that the children were taught that God loves them. However, it was an epiphany for me to realize that here, behind high protective walls and barbed wire, outside of which the city was pulsing with noise and activity, the living dynamic reality of this statement was clearly visible. God is Love! Claudia glows with the Spirit of Love. It flows from the depth of her heart. It flows through Raul with his patience and kindness, and his willingness to share knowledge with us. It is so clear in the relationships observed between teachers and children, and child helping child. It flows through spoken homilies to the children, through the welcoming of volunteers from all over the U.S.A. and Canada. Love is felt through the stories of previous volunteers about helping dig trenches, put in windows, or paint walls. All the energies and simple accomplishments blend together like threads of a tapestry. Love is visible in all the donations received by the schools; the children's shoes and clothing, sheets and towels, games and general supplies. It is visible in the new dorm at El Hogar, and the new buildings at the Technical Institute, all donated from many sources. It is visible in the dental facilities, and volunteer care given to the children's teeth. But, most clearly of all, it is visible in the happy smiles, alert eyes, and warmth of well cared for children who have a hope of a better future.