Dear Friends,

It was more than 10 years ago, during my first visit to Columbia, that I first saw Angela. Blind, living in the street, Angela eked out a meager existence selling brooms that she crafted on the corner just across from Our Lady of Carmel Church in the city of Armenia. She was accustomed to being passed without notice, but something about her caught my attention. Despite disadvantages that would easily have forgiven one a grim demeanor, she always had a smile and a pleasant word. Upon recognizing a tourist as American, she would cheerfully toss out a few welcoming phases in English. But at the end of the day, Angela was still one of los olvidades – the forgotten ones, without home or family.

To encounter Angela again today, still diligently crafting brooms for sale in the city, was a special blessing. Joyfully, she is now in the safety of a home, the Villa de Buen Jesus, miles removed from the streets of Armenia. Her brooms are still carefully crafted, and still sold in the city, but now when the sun goes down, she has the comfort of knowing there is a warm meal and a bed waiting at the Villa. Now there is a roof over her head – and caring people who notice whether or not she’s under it. (And yes, she still remembers and uses the bits of English she picked up over the years!)

Angela is a bit younger than most of the residents of the Villa. But the others, like Angela, are among the forgotten – los ovidades. These are the poorest of the poor, abandoned and alone, their former residence – the streets of Armenia. Most of these elderly are without families, and prior to coming to the Villa had no medical care, no regular meals, no bed and no place to bathe. They suffer from conditions common to the elderly such as loss of sight, hearing, and mobility. What they have not lost is their faith in God and belief in the good news of his son, Jesus Christ.

Father Norberto with one of the abuelitos

Villa de Buen Jesus is Holy Family's most recent project. Father Norberto, a dear and long-time friend devoted to the care of the poor, brought the Villa to my attention. Father Norberto hails from Armenia, and still has family and friends there who share his concern for the forgotten ones. At his request, I made my first visit to the Villa in January of this year (and to my surprise, among the residents was Angela, whom I remembered from so many years ago.) Villa de Buen Jesus differs from our previous projects in that it is not located in a traditional war zone. In this case, we are called upon to help provide for Columbia's elderly street people. The Villa was established through the gracious gift of a gentleman who, upon his death, left the property with the wish that a home for aging, abandoned street people be located there. Now, 14 years later, the Villa has more than 70 residents divided between their small home in the city of Armenia and the larger site in the countryside. Most of these people are well over 80 and are having regular meals and medical attention for the first time in their lives. Directing the Villa is Eucharis Delgado, a tireless and devoted caregiver.

Angela crafting brooms to sell in Armenia	Jack meeting with key project people & Villa staff on first day of visit	The Villa kitchen serves more than 60 residents	Kitchen helper cleans fish in food prep area

The Villa provides regular meals, medical care, shelter and companionship surpassing that to which los olvidades have been accustomed, but it is not in good repair. The old and poorly built structures need to be replaced with new, sturdy buildings. More living quarters need to be added, and proper bath, laundry, and kitchen facilities must be built. The bedroom areas accommodate several of the elderly on individual little cots. To take advantage of old, existing structures, these rooms were created on the second floor, so many of the abuelitos (grandparents) descend the rickety stairs each morning and do not return until evening, choosing to nap in the dirt courtyard rather than take the challenge of the stairs before days end. The need to accommodate more residents grows daily, so additional rooms are required

Community leaders discuss project

and hospital beds are in order for the infirm. Existing wiring must be replaced throughout the facility to improve lighting, and the laundry and food preparation areas. Over the years, various appliances have been donated, but sit idle due to improper facility wiring. One rest room serves the entire community, its door constructed of blankets attached to wooden posts. The lone rest room is located near the courtyard, too close to the kitchen for sanitary safety. Better water service is needed, to lessen the burden of doing laundry and preparing meals for more than 60 people, and to improve the sanitary conditions for all.

Rest room door -- blankets on rod

The community recognizes the wonderful work done by Eucharis Delgado, and the staff of the Villa de Buen Jesus. During my January visit, I met with a group of prominent citizens including architects, builders, physicians and clergy, pulled together by Father Norberto's sister, Darnelley Mateus, to determine what concrete steps could be taken to rebuild and expand the Villa, and what each of them would do toward that goal. These community leaders have committed to provide the planning and guidance necessary for a project of this size, and to donate many of the materials as well as their own time. What Holy Family agreed to do was to help provide beds, medical supplies, and the means for transporting these items to the Villa. We also agreed to raise $150,000 to help provide scheduled healthcare for the residents, and to cover cost of some of the construction materials.

One of the Villa's elderly residents

We have already received donations of hospital beds and medicines so desperately needed. Other materials have been promised. What we need now are the funds to complete our commitment. And so I call upon you who have so generously supported our efforts in the past, to help once again – this time to provide aid to the forgotten ones of this corner of God's world. Will you help us reach our goal of $150,000 by sending your gift today? Any amount will be joyfully received and immediately put to work! Project updates will be posted on our website, as well as in upcoming newsletters.

As I mentioned at the start of this letter, Villa de Buen Jesus is not typical of the situations to which Holy Family has responded in the past. These are not people caught in the crossfire of a devastating front-page war. These are los olvidados, the forgotten ones, who have quietly, painfully grasped life from one day to the next – present but invisible to passers-by, desperately in need of care and comfort, right here, right now. We ask your assistance in bringing Villa de Buen Jesus the means to provide for them. In anticipation of your generous response, we thank you and bless you.

*May Our Lady, Queen of Peace ever intercede for you in your prayers as they coincide with the will of The Father.

Peace, Love, and Prayers,

Dr. Jack Mirabile

Dedicated to living the gospel through helping women, children and the elderly in need throughout the world.