We extend our sincerest thanks to all of the golfers, sponsors and volunteers who made today our most successful golf tournament ever. Dr. Nancy and Larry were needed close to Casa Bugambilia, and so they were not able to come to the golf tournament as usual. Larry sent a note of gratitude, which I have copied below. ~ Ellen Curnes
A Note of Gratitude
Nancy and I are unable to join you this year at the golf tournament. We are managing our medical and educational efforts from the Texas side due to the narco-violence recently experienced in Matamoros. Once it is safe again, we will return to Matamoros, but this present disruption requires us to remain close to the border for daily efforts with the Casa Bugambilia community.
One certainty of the present situation is our gratitude for supporters like you who make it possible to respond in the colonias of Mexico, a response which leads to changed communities. Those who cause intimidation and violence may have their moment, but the peaceful efforts like those of Juntos Servimos will prevail.
I mentioned Casa Bugambilia. It is the sole center for the ill and abandoned in Matamoros and in all northeastern Mexico, including the states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, where more than 11 million people live. It is where we conduct classes for children, almost 60, who are not learning in the local public school. The children continue to go to school, but we make sure they learn how to read and write. It is also our base for responding to complicated medical cases, of which there are about 100 right now.
I asked Nancy about our beginning 10 years ago. She simply wrote the names of 2 people and asked if I remembered them. The names are Bonifacio and Moises. These are 2 individuals we found in 2001. Bonifacio was 95 years old and living under a mesquite tree. All of his belongings fit into a 13 gallon plastic garbage bag. We took him in and made sure he lived out his life comfortably. We were able to find family, who saw him the day before he died.
Moises was 14 years old. We found him in a shack at the edge of Matamoros. He was shaking, not because of the August heat but because of pain from being hit by a car. Both arms and legs were broken. He had been released from the hospital with wire sticking outside of his arms. He was released without medication. We converted my van to an ambulance and got him proper care. When he recovered enough, we helped him with his education. He has grown into a reliable and competent worker. He is married now and working with permission in the USA.
In our response to the suffering of Bonifacio and Moises, one can see a link to what Casa Bugambilia is today. We learn of someone who is struggling and respond to their invitation to help. When families and government agencies do not or cannot respond, we collaborate with anyone we can. It’s not always a perfect solution, but it’s always the best we can do.
Just in this past six weeks, we have begun attending to a 20 year old mother who was being abused by her husband. She has a 19 month old son who was born with his intestines outside of his body. He still has health problems. The mother is deaf. We have
also begun responding to another mother and her 2 sons who were being abused by her spouse. One of the sons is deaf.
It is too early to say what will be different for this girl and her sick son, other than Nancy has prescribed a special diet for the boy and we are making sure he is getting the nutrition he needs. The other woman and her 2 sons moved to Casa Bugambilia, where she will stay for now, free from the daily violence in her home. She has started nurse helper classes. The boys are in school. One wants to teach sign language. The other wants to be a physician.
Perhaps it is these latest persons at Casa Bugambilia who remind me that life can be different. We can have peaceful and healthy communities.
Again, thank you.
Larry Cox
