From Bibi: any ideas on how we can help?cz

-----Original Message-----
From: somyak@somyak.prserv.net [mailto:somyak@somyak.prserv.net]
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2001 10:50 AM
To: lascomadres-Austin@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [comadres] September 11th Tragedy--Mexico Suffers Biggest
Losses

This came from an HHS e-newsletter. Let's pass on this information
and help our compadres in New York. Bibi
       September 11th Tragedy--Mexico Suffers Biggest Losses
        Among Non-Citizen Victims
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According to USA-Today, as of September 20th, Mexican losses numbered five hundred people, more victims than from any other nation outside the U.S. They worked at Windows on the World, office cafeterias, cleaning services, and delivery companies.  The media has paid little, if any, attention to this group of innocent victims.  They worked and lived in New York City and the senseless attack has left their families in despair and sorrow, just as with all the other victims.  The Asociacion Tepeyac, a not-for-profit organization that represents Mexican and other Latino immigrants in NYC, is receiving donations for the victims' relatives.  The address is: Asociacion
Tepeyac de New York, 251 W. 14th Street, New York, NY 10011.  Or
visit the website at: http://www.tepeyac.org

BREAKFAST AT MCDONALD'S...   READ TILL THE END


This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through till the end! (After the story there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my
college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every
human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called "Smile."

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their
reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went
out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch .... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His
beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend.

I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue eyed gentleman
was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.
He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something.
He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my
every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give
me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot.

I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you.." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey. To give me hope."

We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only because of the
Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.
I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"  I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being
part of God, share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son,instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.


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To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart. God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into it's nest.
Keep this going.