Visiting a Sponsored Child,
Cuajiniquilapa, Guererro, Mexico
My best friend had heard of this children’s organization, very similar to the Sally Struthers commercials of the 80′s. Not wanting to be scammed, he got it into his head that he and I were actually going to meet the children we had picked to sponsor.
To understand who we are, you need not look much further than the sitcom “Will and Grace”. We have lived in Manhattan together for more than a decade. Crazy, zany, off the wall adventures were always right up our alley.
 |
| Doug’s Mom, cursing the day she came with us |
We had spent the day before at the beach, getting completely sunburned. A representative from the foundation shows up, and we are total lobsters. He explains to us that we will be driving 3 hours south towards the Guatemalan border in the back of a pickup truck to a town called “Cuajiniquilapa” (trust me we couldn’t say it either).
Leaving Acapulco was a complete shock. About 15 minutes outside of town, you leave behind the palm trees and manicured lawns of the resorts and see the real Mexico. We were on the only road south when we hit some traffic on this small bumpy two lane highway. Come to find out, the traffic was due to a very sick donkey swaying down the middle of the road. Cars were honking at it, a truck even tried to push it out of the way. This donkey was on his last legs, and no one seemed to care. I could hear poor Mama in the front seat regretting the day she agreed to come with us. As horrible as the whole scene was, I somehow just had to laugh.
The drive south was beautiful. I could smell wood burning and hear birds in the trees. We passed through numerous small towns and villages that were un-like anything I have ever seen before. People would wave and smile at the gringos in the back of this pickup truck. I was so deep in thought, and very much at peace so that I could almost hear music in my head, and had visions of some south western movie.
At one point we had stopped for breakfast. This town was busier than others we had passed, with an outdoor market and lots of children running around. One small child came up to me and asked if I was from the US.
I said yes, and he asked me if I knew his mother. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. He was looking for any sign from his mom, who must have left him a long time ago to find work in the US. The little boy thought I was sent there to give him a message from her. I wondered how many of these children were without mothers or fathers, who was taking care of them? It was painful and all I could do was hug him.
Upon arriving at Cuajiniquilapa, I assumed that our sponsored child would be right around the bend. The town itself was quite normal, being so far away from anything. We were taken to the town center where a meeting was going on, in a stadium-like soccer field. The local newspaper wanted to do an interview of us, because we were the only people who have ever actually come to meet their sponsored children. To my surprise, the foundation was extremely excited about us being there.
 |
| The Interview in Cuajiniquilapa |
A few more hours, on this bumpy dirt road, in the blazing hot Mexican sun, with sunburn, we are nowhere near our children. We pass by a lot of little villages, and I am astonished that people actually live this far out in the country side. Children wore school uniforms and seemed to make fun of us as we drove by.
After leaving the last little village, we are confronted with a large puddle. The guide decides that just going straight through it was the best idea. Here we are completely stuck! I roll up my pants and jump right in to help the guide push. Mud is flying everywhere, Doug wearing his Sunday best is trying to cover all the presents. Mama is screaming in the front seat, and I am covered in mud. I stop to take a breath, and look at the road ahead. 100 goats were being whisked down the path, headed straight for us. They surround the truck from both sides, and I was hysterically laughing. THIS was such a “Will and Grace” moment.
Some passers by help us move the truck, and we go about our way. I ask the guide how much further now? He tells me that there is a long way, and a short way. The shorter way involves walking through a river, but we would be there very fast. I envision Mama walking through this river. “Let’s do it”!
Loaded with gifts neatly wrapped and full of mud, we carry all this across a small river and I am giggling at seeing his mother’s face. It may sound mean to some, but I knew she would have something to tell her friends in Florida while playing Mahjong.
We walk up a hill, in a wooded area, and Doug gets his first glimpse of Alexis.
He picked a boy named Alexis because of his obsession with Dynasty in the 80′s. Maybe not a good reason to pick a child to sponsor, but his heart was in the right place.
 |
| Alexis, his family, Me, Doug and Mama |
This was a two room cement house. There were no doors or windows, and had a dirt floor. The kitchen was outside with a tin roof over it. I helped the mother do the dishes in a bucket after dinner and sat with the parents as Doug showed the kids all of their new toys. Alexis brought over his horse and took me on a tour of this very small village. Somehow I felt very at home here, and wanted to stay longer.
We did learn, however, that this was a wonderful organization and the children are real! It means so much more when you hold them in your arms, and know that you made a difference.
