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5.00 by 3 users |
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To Much…..To Little
When did I realize I had too much in the way of material
things in my life?
Well I guess it was about the time when I meet some families
that had too little.
I saw barefoot children playing baseball with a stick for a
bat. I saw them laughing while they
rolled each other around inside an old tire.
I saw them run off squealing with
delight when I handed them a pair of old scratched sunglasses.
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I saw their fathers building a home for them with old, used,
corrugated sheet metal for a roof. Stacking
concrete block with out any mortar for the walls. Windows with colorful
curtains, but no glass. Doorways with no
doors, just a blanket to keep out the cold.
Inside the houses there was no running water just a big jug
to carry it from the well.
The bathroom, of course, was outside, a good distance behind
the house.
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I saw a woman working in a garden growing the food for her
family. Working the soil
with tools made from old pieces of rebar. I met a woman who
couldn’t read. She was squinting terribly to see the picture I had given
her. I handed her my reading glasses and
saw the shock on her face when the picture became clear. For the first time in her life she could see the details of a picture. I left my glasses with her. At first, she said she could not take them.
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I insisted, telling her in my broken Spanish
that I had two pairs and wanted her to have these. She accepted them tearfully telling me she
could not believe that anyone would ever give her such a gift.
I started bringing things to these people. Then my friends began to join me in this
endeavor. We decided that the need was so great that we
would start an organization to help. Hence
“Elefante Blanco” was formed. “White
Elephant” When I was asked, “Why this name?” I explained how the people
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I live around have white elephants all around their homes. Things they don’t use or need. Things that would be so valuable to someone
else. Clothes stuffing their closets so
full that they can hardly that are practically new, some never worn, still with the tags on
them. Expensive toys filling their children’s
rooms that are hardly ever played with.
A garage so full of unused things that they can’t get their cars in…….
White Elephants everywhere I look. Take
a look around you. What do you see??
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Recent Comments
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Aug 21, 2007 10:35:08 AM
What a great concept!
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Aug 18, 2007 6:13:12 PM
Joy,
Nice story that provides valuable context and "backstory" regarding Elefante Blanco.
Thanks for writing, and for your focus on making a difference.
R
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