From Mexico:
Immediate Need to keep schools open
Greetings!
Greetings from Monterrey, Mexico, one of the many stops I have made during my journey this week to visit the beautiful children and community of Mano Amiga. What an eye-opening gift this trip has been.
I feel a sense of urgency to e-mail our Catholic World Mission constituency while I am here, witnessing first-hand the real need, as well as the real success of the Mano Amiga school system. School after school I visit, I see the impact our "Helping Hands" schools have on these communities. Students and teachers engage in the learning process and have a real appreciation and mutual respect for each other. Nothing is taken for granted. God is truly at work here.
The timing of this trip is uncanny as the deadline for our current Hand of an Angel/Capital Needs campaign is fast approaching- May 31 in fact. With the schools here in such desperate need, Catholic World Mission is extending the Hand of an Angel campaign through June 15. Sadly, two schools in Mexico are in dire jeopardy, and may not be able to open their doors in the fall if they cannot obtain funding within the next few weeks. That means hundreds of children who have had a safe haven through Mano Amiga will be turned away; the consequences may be devastating.
Summer will be a critical time for these and all the schools here. I generally try not to ask for donations in these e-mails to you. But today, I am asking. Please consider donating to our Hand of an Angel Capital Needs campaign today. As executive director, this is the hardest part of my job. I appreciate the demands and competing needs on your hard-earned dollars.
There are so many stories I can share, but for now, here's a glimpse of the building-related needs in the schools:
- In the U.S., we take it for granted that our children will be sheltered from the rain, dust and wind in school. However, in Mano Amiga Conkal, the classrooms have no real windows: only open wooden frames that provide no shelter from the elements on windy days.
- Some of the schools here have no running water. Trucks come each morning, delivering enough water to the school each day to keep the bathrooms operational.
- Bathroom facilities in most of the schools are greatly in need of refurbishing. Facilities are largely outdoors, and exposed to the elements.
- The schools do a great job of keeping classrooms neat and orderly-but frankly, more space is needed. New classrooms are needed in Puebla, Aguascalientes, Conkal at the very least. The demand for these schools is high, and they don't want to turn away children.
 
Perhaps it is the fatigue of travel that is setting in right now, but it is hard to put into words the gamut of emotions I am feeling on this trip. I am inspired and in awe of the work that is being done here. The option to Mano Amiga for many of these children is a life of drugs and crime. To see smiling, motivated children in a happy environment warms my heart. But at the same time I am itching to do more to help. So much more can be done to keep these children in safe, protected environments. The summer is not a good time for donations. We really need help. I am hoping you will answer my call. Even a $25 donation will help.
See our website, www.catholicworldmission.org, for more information on the campaign, and to donate online. Or donate over the phone by calling 1-800-961-8153. One last thing- check out Catholic World Mission's Facebook page to see pictures of my trip. It's been a wonderful journey!
God bless you for your generosity and support,
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