Colombia...stories from the hill

This is Gladys

 She is one of 9 cooks

who work in the centre's kitchen preparing the meals

for the ninos (children)

(Galdys is in the middle)

Gladys has been involved in this program since the very beginning

She was one of the women who walk the steps up to the top of the hillside

with food and pots in hand 

to cook for the children on Saturdays

when the demand became too great for the women to handle

on their own any more

they went to the pastor at the church Gladys and many of them attended

to ask for help

and thus 

Seeds of Love and Hope International

was born

So one could say

Gladys

is one of our founding Mamas.

*

I was to give you a window into her life...

this is one of her windows in her 3 room shack

yes

Gladys herself

lives on the hill

Gladys herself

in very poor

Gladys herself

faces much uncertainty every day

and yet she gives

she helps

she works

to give a better life to those around her.

*

these are the stairs to Gladys home

she lives in the home on the right

with the white boards and black tarp

the window you see is the same widow pictured above

that widow is in the first room you walk into

which is her sons room

a half wall divides the room

making the next room 

the kitchen

in it there is a small fridge

and barrel for water

and another window

in front of the small shelf

under the window

which serves as a counter top

there is a ladder going to the basement

where there is another bedroom

yes

it is a precarious as it looks

from the bedroom there is an open hallway

to the outside

this is the view from Gladys' front door

this is Galdys' son Steve

when I met Steve 

almost 4 years ago

he was a shy, but happy boy

who had a mother and father who loved him

and were doing their best for him

and it showed

he worked hard with us

was part of our family

was eager and willing to be a part of whatever we were doing

5 days after we left on my last time there

Steve's dad was killed in a motorcycle accident

we were all devastated

Steve was one of the few children on the hill

who had both parents raising him

parents who worked

were committed to giving him the best life they could

parents who believed in something

greater than themselves...

it was a hard blow for their little family

now as a teenager

and a young man who has suffered a great loss

 Steve is at risk

he is starting to hang around with older teens

who are affiliated with the gangs

it is getting harder for Gladys to keep him in check

and she is worried

she is desperate to get him off the hill

to move out of the area

still working at the centre

but offering her son

a more positive environment

So she does what she can

she works at the centre

she goes to school

she is finding a way out

but I know

it is not easy

this is Gladys

she is a dear friend of mine

a woman of great courage

a woman of great strength

she is 36 and has been a widow for almost 4 years

I am in awe of her...