so many helping hands

I have yet to receive word that J received his money yesterday in Monkey Bay. Perhaps he will get it today. I just want to make sure he receives it, and the remittance in full.

MQE mentioned sending a case of Spam...being from Hawai'i that is, of course, considered on an equal plane to gourmet cuisine. I spoke of this to P while dropping K off at preschool yesterday and she said the MOMs group of which she is a member would probably be interested in sending some boxes of protein-laden non-perishables. I wrote J yesterday and asked him to 1) let us know as soon as he gets the money for maize, 2) to let us know if they can cook, 3) if such aid would indeed help them, and 4) if that would actually ever reach him. We shall await answers before acting.

So there are more possibilites, if he responds that he would indeed receive the shipments personally. My fear is that any food items will be confiscated upon entering the country and only getting to the "haves".

In South America, the slum in which I taught was dusty, poor, laden with disease, children dying of conditions completely treatable here in the United States, scarce if existent electricity, no running water. Most children were lucky to even make it to the 6th grade of an elementary school education...one of M's sixth graders even had to drop out while we were there because she got pregnant...and most would likely not continue on with formal education. The teachers in this escuelita I worked with, lunched with, I couldn't say were starving, however; although not necessarily eating in a perfectly well-balanced diet, they had food and plenty to share with their gringa guest. One of my friends married a girl from there, Mapasingue. As of my graduation from university a year and a half later, he could not as of yet arrange a visa for her as the goverment would not acknowledge the truth in their marriage. I have yet to know if D ever got G here, or if he went back there.

Perhaps South America should be fodder for another reflection blog, much like my nakanojofurusato site. We shall see.

*sigh* Along these "worldy concern" lines, I suppose today is as good a day as ever to get our taxes done. Since Saturday Morning Cartoons are on the network stations (as we don't subscribe to cable), the children can be babysat in the cheapest way possible while MQE and I can get some solid work done. Then I have a test to write. Busy day! Snow showers this morning, no major accumulation, so no worries here!