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...
