The story of Mario has become one our favorites on this trip to Huehuetenango. Mario is 16 years old, we think. It has been difficult to get exact facts from him. His severe cleft has greatly impaired his speech and his speech development and his ability to communicate. His actions of a huge smile and hugs let us know what he is feeling. Mario lives a distance from Huehuetenango, somewhere on the border of Guatemala and Mexico. He heard about the MOST mission from friends and maybe a bus driver. He was told that this is a good chance for his mouth to be fixed and that the gringos are so nice. More than anything he yearned to have his mouth corrected. He tried to explain to us, “I want a life. I want a future. I want to be normal.”
Mario lives with his family in extreme poverty. His mother did not want him to come to Huehue as she had no money to send him and she was fearful for his safety on the long trip. Mario had worked cutting firewood for his uncle. He also helped load the top of buses and sometimes sang on the buses for some money. His uncle was able to give him about $6.00 for the trip and he left for the MOST mission in spite of his mother’s objections and fears. It took him more than a week to make the trip, traveling from his home in the warm coastal area into the mountains to Huehue where nights are cold. His clothing was inadequate for the cold temperatures and sometimes he would sleep on the street with little, if any, food or water. From time to time, thanks to the kindness of strangers, he had a safe, warm place to sleep with a meal. His means of travel was to ride the bus when he could, hitch a ride and walk. He reached Huehue about a week before MOST arrived. The police questioned him and after he tried to explain his quest the police kept an eye on him for his safety. He had four more days to wait for us to arrive.
Mario came on screening day. Again it was difficult to understand his background due his extreme speech difficulties. His appearance after two weeks without a bath or clean clothes gave us the impression that he was homeless. Little by little we learned more about his story. Dr. Oscar Marroquin started to get involved in Mario’s story. Oscar met Mario on screening day and being true to his nature of kindness and being a man who knows how to get things done, he began to put a plan in place to help Mario.
Dr. Marroquin made sure that Mario got to the MOST shelter provided by the Catholic
Church, where he enjoyed regular meals, a bath, his own bed, gifts of new clothes, new shoes and he was jubilant. Then on Day 4 of the mission Mario had his operation. He awakened from the anesthetic a different person and with a careful plan in place for future support. Mario will spend time in a home for a week or so until he is totally healed. After that time, Dr. Marroquin has arranged for Mario to be under the care and supervision of a foundation that teaches a trade and he will learn to read and write. Here in Huehuetenango Dr. Marroquin will be able to monitor Mario’s health and educational progress.
He left the hospital today with a new backpack from his nurses and with a new and bright future. MOST leader Gary Pacha reminds us, “Through Rotary good things happen. Mario came for a new mouth and he also has a start on a new life.”
Mario lives with his family in extreme poverty. His mother did not want him to come to Huehue as she had no money to send him and she was fearful for his safety on the long trip. Mario had worked cutting firewood for his uncle. He also helped load the top of buses and sometimes sang on the buses for some money. His uncle was able to give him about $6.00 for the trip and he left for the MOST mission in spite of his mother’s objections and fears. It took him more than a week to make the trip, traveling from his home in the warm coastal area into the mountains to Huehue where nights are cold. His clothing was inadequate for the cold temperatures and sometimes he would sleep on the street with little, if any, food or water. From time to time, thanks to the kindness of strangers, he had a safe, warm place to sleep with a meal. His means of travel was to ride the bus when he could, hitch a ride and walk. He reached Huehue about a week before MOST arrived. The police questioned him and after he tried to explain his quest the police kept an eye on him for his safety. He had four more days to wait for us to arrive.
Mario came on screening day. Again it was difficult to understand his background due his extreme speech difficulties. His appearance after two weeks without a bath or clean clothes gave us the impression that he was homeless. Little by little we learned more about his story. Dr. Oscar Marroquin started to get involved in Mario’s story. Oscar met Mario on screening day and being true to his nature of kindness and being a man who knows how to get things done, he began to put a plan in place to help Mario.
Dr. Marroquin made sure that Mario got to the MOST shelter provided by the Catholic
Church, where he enjoyed regular meals, a bath, his own bed, gifts of new clothes, new shoes and he was jubilant. Then on Day 4 of the mission Mario had his operation. He awakened from the anesthetic a different person and with a careful plan in place for future support. Mario will spend time in a home for a week or so until he is totally healed. After that time, Dr. Marroquin has arranged for Mario to be under the care and supervision of a foundation that teaches a trade and he will learn to read and write. Here in Huehuetenango Dr. Marroquin will be able to monitor Mario’s health and educational progress.
He left the hospital today with a new backpack from his nurses and with a new and bright future. MOST leader Gary Pacha reminds us, “Through Rotary good things happen. Mario came for a new mouth and he also has a start on a new life.”
2 comments:
Thank you for sharing this story!
Beautiful story. Thank you!
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