From 1995 to 2000 I worked at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. During that time I was Campus Minister, responsible for outreach, serving the needs of people in Chicago, Appalachia, Arkansas and Queretaro, Mexico with groups of university students. Each time I traveled to Mexico, I felt drawn to consider what I could do to help the poor in this beautiful and compelling country. How could it be that this country which shares a border with the United States could be so poor, so invisible to that rich country to the North? Thus began the search for the place and the service to be provided. During 1998 and 1999 I traveled to Central Mexico and decided on the town of San Miguel de Allende but still was not sure of just what the work would be. The questions posed to more than 100 women of the area was, "What would be a helpful program offered to your family? The answer every time was,"Daycare. I need a place for my children so that while I am at work they aren't locked at home alone." The work was decided by the women of the community.In the Spring of 2000, having decided to make the move, it was now time to search for a building. An old, abandoned restaurant in the neighborhood called San Antonio was found. A huge pepper tree in the courtyard seemed to say, "This is just the right place for children. Let them play in my shade." In Mexico, while there are mortgages, the interest rates are so high (up to 30%), property is purchased with payment in full. That was a problem, but the woman selling it said that since the building would be used to help the community she would take a $10,000 down payment with the remainder paid in one year. That was a problem too, since I didn't even have the deposit. Traveling back to the States, thinking of ideas to raise money, I realized that a miracle was needed right about now. Upon returning there was that familiar beep of an answering machine. The message was from my friend Pastor Kelly Fryer of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church. "One of my parishioners would like to donate $10,000 start up money for your project." Off to Mexico!!
I arrived in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico on September 18,2000 with my two big suitcases loaded with everything I thought I needed to get started. The months from September to March were filled with sore muscles as the old restaurant was renovated to accommodate the children. What my suitcases didn't have was found in the many tiendas of my new town. Let me tell you, without a Home Depot it was an adventure of going to the maderia for wood, the ferreteria for tools, nails and screws, the tabiqueria for bricks and to good old Don Pedro for cement, sand and lime.
I learned Spanish as I went along, learning the words needed when they were needed. That little dictionary sure came in handy. But, what a way to try to have a conversation when every other word needed to be looked up in that little book! I learned the construction words during the renovation period, daycare words once we opened and daily living words as I live life in this new culture. What was I thinking moving to a country that speaks a different language!?! Not to worry. A friend of mine said that within a year I would be bi-linual. Silly lady! It has been much longer than that and I am still learning new words every day!
