Mourning the time passing

I forgot to include in my last blog that when Angela and I had pizza yesterday at the little pizzeria, Koony's, I ordered the wrong kind of pizza. I was trying to remember out of the list was the word for sausage. By ruling out a lot of them, I came down to a few and I thought the last time I ordered it, it was chorizo. That was very wrong!! I got it and it smelled really different, so I took a bite and it was spicy. Probably not spicy to a lot of your stomachs, but as most of you know, my stomach can't handle spicy food. So I went up to our waiter and apologized and told him the pizza was spicy. He asked if I wanted to change it and I said yes, so I ordered sausage...since after the fact I knew chorizo wasn't sausage! Haha. I told him that I would pay for both pizzas because it was my mistake and they made the pizza especially for me. He didn't give me much of a response. When Angela and I got the bill I was expecting to have to pay for 2 pizzas, but he was gracious enough and only charged me for one! I was in shock. I started to feel awful because they had gone to that work and I had wasted a whole pizza. So in turn, I gave him a huge tip and vowed to Angela that I would go back there quite a few more times before I leave in order to give back what he did not make on the pizza I couldn't eat.

It made the two of us think about the difference in this pizzeria here in Mexico and a pizzeria you would find in the States. We both decided right away that the pizzeria in the States would have charged me for 2. Sometimes I think the business owners down here know the value of wanting your customers to return because the money will multiply compared to if I paid for 2 pizzas and didn't want to go back. I hope you understand what I mean.

Switching gears, I had a great talk with the teacher I have been working with at the Patronato. After only meeting with her twice, she opened up to me about her personal life. I felt awful after hearing her story. She is a single mom with twin boys that are 4 years old. Since she is now 29 and only makes 120 pesos, per day which is $9.23 she is having a very hard time providing for her boys. I couldn't believe it when she told me how much she makes per day since Mexico doesn't pay by the hour. She was telling me how hard it is when it gets cooler out since she has to buy 2 of everything for little boys that are constantly growing. It made me think of how hard it is for every family down here unless they are super rich. She also shared with me how she can't buy anything for herself since it means she can't provide for her boys and she, like all mothers, wants to put her boys' needs in front of her own. She also shared with me how hard it is to do anything social like going to a movie. Her mom watches her twin boys while she is at work but she feels as if she is using her mom if she wants to go to a movie some night. She has also decided that she probably won't end up marrying anyone since she already had kids and she is 29. I told her that it is very possible that she could, but who knows. My heart just broke for her as she was laying out her personal story in front of me and all I want to do is help. However, that isn't very possible. She has been on my mind since I left the Patronato and I feel God is laying it on my heart to do something for her, but I don't know what that is yet. I also don't want to single her out when it is more than likely that there are other single moms or struggling families at the Patronato.

The difference in pay between her and someone working in the United States is absolutely astounding. But, she still puts on a smile and is very strong at work for her boys, so I am proud of her even though I hardly know her. The kids are of course as beautiful as can be in their own ways amongst their deformities and struggles. I told the teacher today that I am definitely going to cry when I have to leave the Patronato because of the beautiful and open hearts of the children and teachers. Oh how I'm going to miss them! =(

The time is flying by way too quickly here. I'm excited to return home but I also don't want to at the same token. I wish I could be with my family and the kids at the Patronato all at once, but its not going to be possible. My life back home is more important than my life here, but how the children have touched my life since being here is never going to be forgotten. I have less than 6 weeks here and I can't believe it. I have looked at my calendar and I am going to be out of Merida for 3 out of the 5 weekends I have left here. I just think back on my experience for 2 weeks in Ukraine and how I cried when we had to leave. Once I leave Merida after spending 15 weeks here I know I am going to be a sobbing mess. I will, however, be excited to return home to cooler temperatures and the family and friends I have been missing very dearly since being here. I feel that living out every moment of the not quite 6 weeks I have left here is not enough, but, it will have to do.