Jorgelina

Has fed 95 children and 10 elderly for five years in the poorest area of Asuncion, Paraguay

Jorgelina, luz de Bañado Sur, con la Hermana Edna Jorgelina, light of Bañado Sur, with Sister Edna Jorgelina, Licht von Bañado Sur, mit Schwester Edna

PARAGUAY, Coco and Mariju Pereira. Coco and Maruju Pereira, coordinators of the Family Council, who were for many years national leaders of the Rosary Campaign in Paraguay, discovered a work of love that is surely at the service of weakest and unprotected people in the society.

About a month ago we visited the poorest area of Asuncion, called Banado Sur. The areas that surround the city and that border the Paraguay River are called Banados: they are generally areas that are periodically flooded and are concentrated with the poorest population in a true "poverty belt". The area of Banado Sur is located in "Cateura", a dump site, where all the trash of Asuncion has been deposited for decades. People who migrate from the interior of our country come and collect cardboard, plastics, etc. They are all farming families who no longer have anything to eat in their places of origin; people who are completely forgotten by successive governments.

In the interior where they lived, these were families. Arriving in Asuncion, they establish themselves around the dump and live below plastic sheets, practically outdoors, the majority with children just months old. The parents go very early to the dump to work and return at night. During the day their children are completely alone; without food, without water to wash themselves and many living in complete promiscuity.

"Little" Jesus’

During our visit to Banado Sur, we met a young lady with children whose husband worked at night as a security guard. That is to say, a family that was also very poor. In the midst of so much misery and sadness, we found out that this woman, named Jorgelina, has been feeding 95 children and some 10 elderly people for five years. She prepares lunch for these "little Jesus’" every day. For many of them, this is their only daily meal.

She finds a way to get beef viscera and she cooks with it. Sometimes she gets some vegetables, and sometimes a little bread to go with it. Be it cold or hot, she does not hesitate. Neither does she receive any help from the state nor from anywhere else. She told us that on the very hot days, she first bathes the children with a hose before serving them the meal.

We were petrified with the reality that is lived here daily, week after week, year after year… and nothing changes. On the contrary, the number of children who need the minimum amount of food to survive increases.

Jorgelina knows everyone

When we returned to our reality, we told a Sister of Mary what we had seen. She gave us strength, and she told us that she wanted to meet Jorgelina and see her daily work. This is why we went with the Sister on that day, and there before our eyes we saw the scenario, the reality. There were large pots where she boiled the viscera, and children, adults and elderly arriving. Many brought with them a small thermos, or some container to carry the food that Jorgelina had prepared with so much love for her smallest brothers. Jorgelina knows all of them, and each child takes the rations based on the number of siblings he has.

Sister Edna was also taken aback by the poverty and misery that exists, but there was a light: Jorgelina, who shines in this world with her joy and great love with which she serves these children. We met a woman who arrived from the interior of the country three days before with three children, with the youngest only three months old. She obtained some meters of plastic paper that would serve as a home. Jorgelina relates that the day that the woman arrived, it was so cold that she had to give her coal in order to burn the wood for some heat to survive the night.

A light in the darkness

Jorgelina also gives of the little she has, saying that she is very fortunate because she has a roof, for which she gives thanks to God each day. The Sister of Mary admires Jorgelina because her house is a cave, just as precarious as the rest, although Jorgelina is very happy with what God has given her. Sister Edna helped with a little money that she had, and when we got into the car for the return trip she cried disconsolately and promised to help this anonymous "Sister Theresa of Calcutta". Father Cosp encouraged us to make this concrete case known since any kind of help that can be obtained would be of great benefit.

Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA / Vanya Gobbi, Prince Edward, Canada