Love in Action

As this year comes to a close, I'm thinking back on how the last 3 months have changed my life. First of all, I uprooted from my hometown and country of Tampico, Mexico, to move to the vibrant, diverse, musical and wonderfully weird Austin. I underwent training for my year as a Literacy AmeriCorps member. I got to share that experience with 17 other members, who collectively have such interesting backgrounds, experiences, and personalities. I feel proud to be part of such a group. And then, it began. My year of service at Manos de Cristo.

Manos was founded in 1988, and the dental clinic opened its doors to the Austin community in 1990. It slowly grew into a place that also provided basic needs, such as food and clothing. The Education Program grew as well, and they now have levels of ESL, Citizenship, Computer Literacy and Spanish Literacy classes. With the support of individuals, churches, businesses, and foundations, Manos is able to help more than 15,000 people in Central Texas each year.

I quickly put my experience and training into practice, and started teaching a basic level ESL class to adults. I remember one of the first classes we had together, when at the end we talked about their individual goals for the class. Why were they there? I heard many familiar reasons: to get a better job. To help my kids. To be able to communicate better. No matter the age or country of origin, no matter the late work shifts or the sick child or the cold weather, they did their best to be there, class after class. Their commitment inspired me all the more to make our time together more valuable.

Besides my class and substituting, I had a lot to learn about helping coordinate a program of over 200 students, while taking calls, making referrals, and the occasional fill in handing out food or clothes to families in need. There are some stories that stick out in my mind. I took a call once from a mother running away from an abusive situation who needed school supplies for her children. They had run away so fast that they had left without any of their belongings, not even their shoes. We provided the supplies and the shoes, and when she left, she told me that she felt so blessed to have heard of Manos.

I think that the experience that has been the most significant to me is helping out with the Spanish Literacy classes. The program means a lot to me because I’ve had personal experience with it. It is a wonderful program. I have helped a young mother aspiring to get her GED in order to get a hairdresser’s license study and pass a high level math exam, and I have helped a 56 year old woman who never learned to read and write form her first letters and sound out her first words. The look on her face when she understood the meaning of a sentence she was reading was priceless. 

 I see so many goals, expectations, frustrations, problems, and dreams in the students; but most of all, I see hope. Hope that there is something better. There is still much to be done. But that's what we do – we get things done.

Happiest of holidays to all!