Given the overall modern façade of the area, it’s easy for expats who stay in the commercialized areas of the larger lakeside villages to believe that everyone here is fairly well off and that the country’s “poor” must live in other regions.
Nothing is farther from the truth according to Wendy Johnson, an energetic woman who daily serves as the catalyst to match the villagers of San Juan Tecomatlan with local organizations that can solve their urgent needs.
Most often during the past 20 years, it’s been the congregation of the Little Chapel by the Lake that has answered Wendy’s call for help.
“It all started,” she said, “after I attended a pair of funerals in San Juan Tecomatlan. There just was no money even for burying the dead, or for the wakes that normally precede the funerals. I went to the priest and asked what could be done to help most. “
The priest’s answer was painfully simple. The people of the village continually need more food and better nutrition. He sent Wendy to three village women who made a list of those in need. Then they narrowed the list and then cut it again – to 100 souls.
“I was aghast. I didn’t know how I was going to feed even a handful of people, let alone 100, so I turned to the Little Chapel by the Lake, said Johnson. “Their budget with missions and outreach was already in place but they agreed to donate 30 packages with enough food for five days each month. The San Juan ladies agonized as they eliminated another 70 from the list. The church, like everyone else has seen economic up and downs during these years. At one point they were able to supply 50 food packages. Today we’re back down to 30.”
With Johnson as their “boots on the ground” to scope out the problems, the church’s mission committee (with Johnson as chairperson until recently) began doling out problems to the lakeside organizations best equipped to solve them.Over the years the Rotary Club of Ajijic, in conjunction with north-of-the-border contacts provided over 2,000 lifejackets for fishermen who cannot swim. Then the Rotary started finding wheelchairs for the crippled and housebound in the village. The first one went to a boy with necrosis of the femur bone in both legs. Next the Rotarians built a concrete path from his house to the road
Then the Shriners took over that cause and took the teenager to Mexico City for prostheses. The Shriner Crippled Children’s program is set up so that once they help a youngster, they can continue to help, even when the child grows to adulthood. Nearly ten years later, those artificial bones and joints need to be replaced and the Shrine is preparing a repeat program to keep the man moving.
When approached by the Little Chapel by the Lake, the Lions Club went to the village with their eye glasses program. Operation Smile, a group of foreign surgeons comes regularly to correct cleft palates so that children can eat and smile normally. And then there’s been the children’s joy when Toys for Tots comes to town during the holidays or when the ladies of the Needlepushers bring new dresses or sweaters for some of the children. The Little Chapel has not only provided necessary food, they’ve purchased educational supplies, provided scholarships and pay for transportation so students can go beyond the schooling provided in the village.
There are just 330 houses in this village; 220 of those don’t have a working bathroom. One large donation from the United States allowed nine homes to be adapted and basic indoor plumbing installed. “Now some of the oldest, and most handicapped are freed of making the trek to the outhouse,” said Johnson.
Many of the village houses have four solid walls with just a door opening covered with a piece of cloth. The women cook over wood fires, indoors, with no ventilation and many are now developing lung cancer from inhaling the smoke.
It is situations such as these, with conditions seldom seen and little understood by foreigners, that require a liaison with a village — someone who really knows the town and the people. Now that Johnson and the Little Chapel understand the extent of the problem, they are appealing for donations of the used windows and doors contractors remove from houses being demolished or remodeled.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is also able to provide solutions with the items area residents insert into the large donation box in front of the church which is near the entrance to Chula Vista. Most of the clothing, shoes and household goods go straight to San Juan Tecomatlan so that it can be distributed. Really good items are placed on consignment at area shops and the money used to buy food
“San Juan Tecomatlan has been the major mission of the Little Chapel by the Lake now for so many years that its help is a major lifeline to this village,” said Johnson. “Some of the members now know some of the villagers. These are wonderful people. We help them and then they help others. I so often hear them say, ‘Even though we’re poor we always can share a taco.’ I’m not sure how people who don’t have enough to eat can give tacos to others, but they do.”
To help, take good, clean clothing and household goods to the white box in front of the Little Chapel by the Lake. If you can donate cash, or food for the villagers or if you have furniture, windows and doors to be picked up, call the church’s pastor, Rev. Eugene Raymer at (376) 766-3435 or Johnson at (376) 763-5440.