The Beautiful Faces of Ejido de Tirado-SMA-Aug-2008

In my last blog, I wrote about Casita Linda and the work they were doing in SMA. I can only load 5 pictures at a time so am sending more as part of a separate blog. The children in the village are very friendly, especially since they love Roz so much. They come running to greet her.

As the children get older, they pitch right in and work on "their" house or one being built for their neighbors. They work hard alongside the other volunteers, painting, or doing whatever they are able.

In one of these houses, lives a family of eight. With both the mother and father working all week, they earn about $120.00. Because of this, the father is planning on going north again, to the US, so that he can better provide for his family. SMA is in the Mexican State of Guanajuato where a large percentage of the men are absent, struggling to make a living elsewhere. As I grumble and complain about rising prices of everything in the US, I will try to remember just how lucky I am and smile.....I will remember the smiles on these beautiful faces despite their overwhelming poverty.

Casa Linda-SMA-Mexico Aug. 3, 2008

My days have been pretty much occupied with house and furnishing decisions though I have fit in some great parties and plays. There is never enough time here in San Miguel as there are endless things to do. I did also take the morning off from house work on Thursday to go with Roz to "el campo" and see the work that is being done there. This area is part of SMA but outside of the city proper. About 70,000 people live in the city and another 70,000 outside of the city limits but still part of SMA. I have always heard that the Mexicans in the city are doing pretty well thanks to the gringos that live here. There is a lot of work for them and their standard of living has greatly increased. I had seen very little of the area outside, however, so this was a real eye opener.

Roz is a member of the board of directors for Casita Linda and goes to el campo several days a week as a volunteer. This is ejido land; land given back to the people from the government. One problem though, is that because these people pay no taxes, there are no services; no running water, plumbing, electricity, or schools. It was the largest area of poverty I have witnessed in Mexico. This is not because it is the largest by any means, but because I don't often get off the beaten path.

Casita Linda is an organization that builds home for the homeless or poverty stricken. The first slide is off a home that will soon be replaced by a new house, compliments of this organization. Two of the new homes are pictured here, as well.
In addition to helping to build the houses, Roz also is the "nurse," providing bandages and TLC to the children in this village. She also brings food to feed the near starving dogs. It is amazing to see all that she does for these people!

One of the special things about SMA is the people, both the Mexicans and the gringos. The Mexicans are warm, accepting, and gracious, despite the fact that the gringos have so much. The gringos do have a lot, but there is also this wonderful sense of sharing, and giving. The people that choose to live here, for the most part, are adventuresome and have various talents there are waiting to share. There is a wonderful spirit of volunteerism throughout the community. It is truely a marvelous city (recently chosen to be a world UNESCO site) to be building a house in.