School shopping with the Ramirez family

It is almost time for the new school year to start. Two weeks ago I took the Ramirez family shopping for supplies, shoes and uniforms. What an amazing experience. When they arrived at the apartment, the kids were fairly bouncing with excitement. Walking down the street I had two girls hanging onto one hand and one on another. One of the girls excitedly informed me that this was their Christmas present - to go shopping with Hermana Brown; which told me that they hadn't received other presents for Christmas. It was literally "Christmas morning" for this family. My heart was touched when I could see them comparing prices and trying to always select the least expensive. They were very aware that they were spending someone else's money and they didn't want to take advantage of it. The older brother, Diego and I went shopping the next week, after he had received his list from the night school (he hopes to work during the day - when he can find work). He was going to buy even the cheapest eraser (and save me $0.35. I had to reassure him it was okay to get the eraser with the plastic holder and the little pencil sharpner that had a case to catch the shavings. And he could have adult scissors instead of kids' school scissors. They bought everything they could from discounted street vendors. Backpacks were $5 instead of $50 in the stores. Watching the kids try on shoes was so much fun! I suspect they have always bought from the thrift stores in the past. I even splurged and bought Anderson (4 years old) and $2.50 backpack and a new pair of shoes (even though he isn't in school yet). After all, a 4 year old deserves to enjoy Christmas morning! Gladys only bought one blouse for each girl and fabric to make one uniform skirt apiece. I went back and bought another blouse for each girl. How can you expect kids to keep a white blouse clean for five consecutive days? But she wouldn't hear of purchasing fabric for a second skirt for each girl. We got two pairs of pants and two shirts for Diego, because he can use the white shirt and pants for church as well as school. The total for school expenses for all six kids was $292. I hope to get a little table and chairs for the kids to sit at to do homework. As you saw in previous pictures, the kids sit on a board across some logs. The child size table and chairs will cost $12. Because of your generosity, I have a matching amount saved to get them into school next year. We will leave it with our replacements or with a counselor in the bishopric that has helped them a lot.
Saturday, for the first time, Gladys actually asked for something. Everything we have ever done, we did because of awareness of the needs. She never asked. But Saturday she asked if she could borrow $60 to purchase staples in order to start preparing and selling food again. You could see her pain in having to ask. As we sat at the table talking, she finally lost her composure when she told me that Anderson had been asking if he could have tortillas (and sometimes beans) two times a day (like his friend in the neighborhood) instead of just once. My heart broke as I watched her lip quiver and the tears slip down her cheeks. You can't imagine this kind of poverty. I gave her the money (gladly). I didn't make it a gift, because she needs the dignity of working to pay it back. But if it isn't paid back before we go home, I will tell her not to worry about it and make it a gift. Neither Diego or Porfirio have found even one day of work since December 31st and they had pretty much used up the food they received in the Christmas basket. THANK YOU once again for your generosity and kindness in helping this family get their kids into school. They are attending church and the teenagers are going to the temple on the 30th. They have the information ready so that Dania can be baptized for her grandmother. She is excited about it. You have made a difference to one beautiful Guatemalan family.