Here's another happy holiday story: Yesterday 115 OJALÁ children in Rancho SM Viejo had their Christmas party. It was held in the yard of Veronica's house, where 45+ little kids have their art classes every Wednesday afternoon. There were enough tables, benches & stools for all the children to sit down for a meal. The tables had pretty tablecloths and noche buena plants. The decorations included over 40 incredible piñatas made by the little ones over the past month, and 77 hand-painted Christmas tree balls. The children in Dan's wood-working class had their finished toys to take home. Bry and Boni, our 2 fantastic mosaics teachers, also involved in the Children's Peace Project (international circle dances), organized the dances before the meal. Imagine a large circle of bigger kids surrounding a circle of little ones, all singing, moving and celebrating our earth, our communities and each other. IMAGINE - don't you wish you'd been there?
Then the local mothers came, carrying the food they'd made to feed all those children. Part of OJALÁ's mission is to bring everyone together to work for the community and eventually feel that OJALÁ is an integral part of life here, and that it belongs to them and their children...that they have much to give. Everybody pitched in to help serve the children...delicious tostadas on plates that would later be washed and put away for another time. FYI - any large gathering in a rural area means the use of hundreds of styrofoam plates/bowls, cups etc. OJALÁ is, by example, trying to change this, little by little. Families are welcome to use the store of dishes for their parties.
The food seemed endless and the children were able to eat and drink all that they wanted. (We always serve fruit waters, never sodas.) The mosaic class gathered to say goodbye to Bry, who now leaves to resume her college life in the States. They gave her a photo album of her time with them. Then, every child received a goodie bag - fruit, cookies and candies donated by Mayor Lucy - and a small tube of toothpaste! Finally, after the moms had washed all the dishes, they each received a noche buena plant to take home. Many hugs were shared and a few tears were shed - an amazing thing is happening in this poor, dusty place - all kinds of people are coming together to share the joys common to us all - the loving support of our children and their incredible creativity. Ojalá, you will one day come and a see for yourself...elsmarie
PS - from ancient Arabic, OJALÁ means "God-willing." In modern Spanish, it means "hope." Ojala, you will all have a happy season!
