Mucho Easier!!
by Stephen Snedded, General Manager FOEF

I do the dishes at home all the time and there are just four of us! Sometimes everything won’t fit into the dishwasher. Poor me. I worked a job as a teenager cleaning dishes. I left smelling funny. I quote you my resume as proof that I really am a professional.

On my last visit to Casa Hogar Sion, my wife suggested I lend a hand in the kitchen after lunch. It had been a while since I had helped in this particular area. I’ve cleaned the dishes many times but you see, we have a baby, the kids want me to play, I need to talk to Mama Carmen about a project, etc. Let’s just say I’ve put in my time and well… it just isn’t as much fun as you would think. Needless to say, I tagged Alicia on the shoulder like we were on the same wrestling team. I cracked my neck and got to cleaning. There were a lot of dishes. Alicia was rinsing and Ruby was drying and I’m pretty sure I slowed them down. A lot.

The kids clean over 125 dishes, cups and silverware three times each day. They waited patiently as I got into my cleaning groove on. Ruby sang most of the time. Jose Alberto pre-scrubbed some of the larger pots so that the rookie wouldn’t have too much trouble. The mound of dishes began to dwindle and I could see the silver countertop peaking through. Then more tubs of dishes replaced the other ones and the silver lining disappeared. Man, there are a lot of dishes.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that because of a generous donation this tedious task would never be the same. I wanted to get through most of the dishes before I gave my colleagues the good news. You see, I remembered that an incredible company donated an industrial dishwasher which will be delivered in a few weeks. I told them in my broken Spanish and waited for the celebration. Alicia only said “Por que?” I tried one more time, “Mucho Easier??” Then I proceeded to mime an industrial dishwasher (I don’t mind being laughed at when it is deserved). Luckily, Mama Chao seemed to understand my charades and explained the benefits of the dishwasher and everyone smiled in approval and then got back to work.

When we finally finished they said “gracias” but they weren’t thanking me for the dishwasher. They were thanking me for helping them with their chore. I guess when you have found a place to belong and a family who loves you washing a few (hundred) dishes isn’t so bad after all. As for me, I will speak fondly about the good ol’ days…”In my day, we didn’t have these new fangled dish cleaning devices. We cleaned dishes with our hands and we liked it. We talked and sang and laughed, even though our elbows hurt.”

There will always be work to do. Heck, we still have to figure out how to pay the water bill but working hard isn’t so tough when you’re loved. Don’t worry; a little technology won’t get in the way of the love!

Child Spotlight
Magali

Every child at Casa Hogar Sion is special, unique and loved beyond belief but sweet Magali is truly a shining star in the house. Her smile, extending from ear to ear, is permanently affixed on her face. Many of us have been lucky enough to know Magali long enough to appreciate how her toothless grin has filled in over the years and to reminisce fondly of the days when she was just a little girl. With an inexhaustible burst of energy, Magali is always running and giggling but what makes her stand out is that no matter who she’s chasing or who’s chasing her, she will stop dead in her tracks to acknowledge the arrival of one of her “amigos.” Clearly, she’s anything but shy.



Magali deserves this month’s child spotlight for all of the above reasons and one more…she recently made the honor roll at school! She’s got it all…charm, positive attitude and brains. The world is her oyster and we’re all waiting patiently to see what she does with it. Felicitaciones, Magali. Sigue así.



The first child to consider Casa Hogar Sion home was a little girl, 7-years-old, who loved going to church and dreaded when it ended and she had to go home. Upon learning that the child’s father was a drug dealer who “sold” her to other men when times were tough, Carmen Gonzalez knew what had to be done. Within weeks, up to twenty children were calling Carmen and Jorge Gonzalez “Mama and Papa.” Nearly 10 years later, over 120 children sleep soundly each night because they know they are cared for and loved. Time flies and as it does, hearts open wider and wider.