LEX

crippled, mute and blind

this is Vilila and her family. Vilila is the one who once fed me so much food i thought i was going to explode. standing next to her is her daughter, Andrea, Andrea's husband, Daniel, and their daughter, Yanibel.

it's exciting to meet a family like this and know that Yanibel, at age 3, is getting the beginnings of her education from Camille. it's little girls like Yanibel that make it worth being here. here's why:

vilila is Yanibel's grandmother. yet unlike many grandmothers, she will never be able to read to Yanibel because she is illiterate. she also will never be able to take her on fun vacations because, besides not having the money, she's crippled. she hobbles around the village on her cane, but i can't image her going any further.

so then you would think that surely Yanibel's parents would be able to read to her, right? well, not quite. you see, Andrea is mute, so she herself is probably also illiterate, and even if not, cannot read out-loud to her daughter. and Daniel? well, he's blind.

so whereas most kids in the states grow up with their parents reading to them so they begin kindergarten with some idea of this concept, this has not been a privilege Yanibel has been able to enjoy.

but thanks to Makarios, Camille, and all of our wonderful supporters (and of course, our Lord who is the real provider), Yanibel now goes to school twice a week and is beginning to learn the alphabet. she will not have to grow up illiterate like the rest of her immediate family.

posted by Alexia & Jeffrey @ 4:32 PM