Faith in Action ~Paper Houses Across the Border

Paper Houses Across the Border

Dear Friends You continue to make real changes in a confusing world. There are so many success stories, but let me share one that may best demonstrate our attitude and belief.

When we learned of a newborn that doctors gave almost no chance of survival, we found that the baby suffered from heart problems that required surgery. The nearest heart surgeon in Mexico was 8-hours away and had no experience in pediatrics.

Help was available 3 hours away in San Antonio.

We believe that taking immediate action, ignoring people that tell us what is impossible. We act in faith.

Withing hours this baby was receiving treatment by a team of specialists in San Antonio. The highest-ranking border official had previous dealings with Paper Houses, and we quickly completed the required paperwork for an emergency crossing. A relative of the baby who is a U.S. citizen assumed responsibility for all medical costs. We overcame every obstacle. Today, the baby is in Acuna with his mom and dad. The baby is thriving.

Recently, the world changed because of Covid-19.

We cannot even enter Acuna because we are not residents of that city, and the military controls every entrance. However, we have long-term friends and volunteers who continue to walk the streets and deliver medical assistance, food, water, and educational supplies, from Paper Houses. It is more challenging than ever.

Parents are out of work, and there are no government unemployment checks. Children still need chemotherapy and other life-saving treatments. Parents, many of whom are skipping meals, so there is more for their children, ask if we will continue the free cafeteria meals for school children (We will).

Long-time supporters know that we only send letters asking for support once or twice each year. You are reading is the first such request this year. I know many of us are also suffering financial and physical setbacks, so I hesitated to send this appeal. But the time has come for me to act in faith and ask for your help.

Thank you in advance for your prayers, good wishes, and support. Your donation will go toward the most critical need at the time it is received. How to help? — Donate online at paperhouses.org — Send a check to Paper Houses at:

Paper Houses Across the Border 10827 Colt Chase, San Antonio, TX Thank you again!

Sincerely,

Bob Decker Director and Founder of Paper Houses Across the Border (Still, just a delivery guy who gets lost everywhere he goes.)

We began the year distributing warm handmade scarves, hats, gloves, and other items that came from people living in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Customers and staff at the New Freedom Rail Trail CafĂŠ sent cash donations and boxes of handmade clothes.

We purchased food and medicine with the money sent to us. The food, medicine, and clothing put smiles on the faces of the young and old alike.

Brenda barely finished distributing these donations when she received another box of handmade scarves and hats from one of Bob’s nieces who live in Maryland! Brenda got busy with visiting more of the children on our list! Thanks to Shanna.

We also helped several of the children with severe medical conditions. Children like Ian, pictured at right, were helped and continue to receive our help. Ian is another child with a situation where doctors said nothing could be done.

Alexis already lost one eye to brain cancer when we met him. Despite his valiant fight and many treatments, he lost his remaining eye. We paid for many trips to the hospitals and stood with the family, and this amazing little boy throughout his struggles. We continue to help them today.

In 2019, he began classes for the blind and also returned to class at his regular school. He loves his new teacher. He began learning Braille and was incredibly happy to meet other children with severe vision challenges. We work hard to support the classroom for the blind and bring equipment, toys, books, laptops, and unique learning software for the blind. Thanks to you, we keep expanding our work with the people in the colonias who work so hard to solve their situations.

We continued to feed children at our cafeterias, help teachers with supplies, and many items arrived that were purchased by donors from our Amazon Wish List (link is on our website).

Marcos

Dana Michelle

Smart Classrooms

When he was one year old, Marcos was struck in the head by his father. As he grew older, he did not develop like other children, and the family believed that his father might have caused brain damage.

Dana’s family explained when we met that sj\he lost most of her vision. Her family said that she inherited an eye disease from her father, who is completely blind. We visited her at home and her school.

Everyone agreed that she is a bright and precocious child who can barely see.

Two elementary schools asked the factory manager at Arconic, a local Acuna factory, tod fund ‘Smart Classrooms,” that are equipped with computers, printers, and software.

We met Marcos in December of 2019 and sent him to a hospital for a complete evaluation. Doctors said the child’s problems were not caused by his father. They found what they believe is a brain tumor and said there were neurological problems that cause this little child to have many physical and mental challenges.

Follow up exams revealed that the tumor is inoperable, but there may be medical procedures that can improve his situation.

We asked when she last saw a specialist and learned it had been a long time ago. We insisted that she see an ophthalmologist and sent her for a complete evaluation.

The ophthalmologist had great news! She does not suffer from an inherited eye disease. With some minor medical procedures and glasses, her vision was made perfect.

After we purchased glasses, this little angel was shocked at all that she could see. When she returned to school and looked at a book, she exclaimed, “I can see the words!”

We will continue to provide Ensure, groceries, and a wheelchair to help this child to have the best life possible.

Sometimes, improving the life of a child is the best that we can do. In September, he will have more exams and tests.

The Arconic factory contacted us and provided $55,000 to build and equip the two classrooms. The company supported Paper Houses in past projects and were confident we would use the funding properly.

We broke ground at both schools. The buildings were completed in time for this school year. Because the schools are only providing distance learning, we will not install the computer equipment until January, when students are expected to return to the school buildings.

We are anxious to see the results of computer learning and the impact of the Internet and computers.

She then turned to us, and we could see her great big smile!

She was Waiting in Hope

Rosyleth

Born with twisted legs, Rosyleth often lost her balance and struggled to walk. Local doctors said that surgery would be the best option, but the family could not afford such a luxury. Rosyleth lived in the hope that someday a miracle might happen.

We met Rosyleth at her home while delivering a basket of groceries. We sent her to a specialist for a complete study.

We then applied to Shriners Hospital on her behalf. Shriners agreed to examine Rosyleth and said that she might qualify for a program at Shriners. Our cost would be for travel, documents, and other minor expenses.

In November of 2019, Rosyleth was examined at Shriners in Laredo, Texas. The results of the examination were terrific. She did qualify for their special program, and Rosyleth may not need surgery to correct her twisted legs. Doctors believe that braces and the temporary use of a walker will fix the problems.

Measured for custom braces that would be ready in December, Rosyleth and her mother returned home very happy and excited.

Her mother also shared this story about her little girl’s first night at the hotel in Texas.

“Rosyleth was amazed at the hotel room! My daughter said that it was so nice to sleep in a place where there were no cracks in the walls or roof! ‘The rain, the cold, and the wind cannot get in,’ Rosyleth exclaimed.”

Her mother also said that she had a difficult time getting Rosyleth to come out of the shower. She loved the hot water, the special soap, and shampoo, and was in the shower for over a half-hour. (Many showers in the colonias consist of cold water from a garden hose).

In December, we were all excited about Rosyleth’s scheduled appointment. A representative from Shriners met us at the International Bridge. When Rosyleth’s mother presented the paperwork, we were shocked to hear that we could not bring Rosyleth into the United States. We learned that a new director was now in charge of this sector of the border and that the paperwork we previously used was no longer acceptable. The Shriners representative explained that they bring many such children to their hospitals from Mexico with this same paperwork and that this change would impact many children. Still, the officers at the border said that they could not permit her to enter cross the border.

We scheduled a meeting with the new Director, and I think all of us wondered why such a change had to happen. Later, we learned that God had a plan. (More about that plan, later).

The meeting with the new Director went very well. She had already researched Paper Houses and the history of our charity and the work we did with Shriners and other hospitals. She explained that the rules were strictly enforced and outlined what we needed to bring children across the border for medical treatment. She said that if we rewrote the paperwork, she believed Rosyleth would be allowed to return to Shriners.

In February, Rosyleth did return to Texas received her custom braces and walker. Everything went smoothly. Doctors believe that within 8-months, her legs will be well on the way to being healed.

God’s plan became plain in June. We heard of a newborn that doctors said would die because the baby needed immediate heart surgery and lung treatments unavailable in Acuna. We were able to complete the paperwork quickly and contacted the Director at the border. Within hours the baby was in San Antonio and survived.

COVID 19

The Corona-virus slammed into Mexico’s border-cities and towns, prompting local authorities to restrict entry into Acuna and other cities to residents, employees, and emergencies. This applied to those crossing the international bridges and those traveling within Mexico. Checkpoints are at every road leading into Acuna.

As reported in the August 27, 2020 edition of the Zocalo newspaper, “Acuña, With the five deaths confirmed yesterday due to the coronavirus, there are 151 deaths so far from the pandemic.” (Population est. 181,00).

Education

Schools will begin with ‘distance learning’ that includes the use of computers, cell phones, and material available to parents. Since most of the children lack access to computers and smartphones, this is troubling. Also, some parents lack formal education and are expected to help educate their children. We delivered school supplies directly to the homes of many children and to schools. Schools hope to re-open in January. Recently, the total number of virus cases has declined.

Our Cafeteria Meals The meals are being delivered to the homes of each student at the schools we sponsor. This is a huge undertaking, but very necessary. Before the layoffs, working parents struggled to feed their children. Today, many parents are skipping meals so the children can eat. The meals we send are likely to be shared with siblings too young for school, so we are trying to add extra food to the meals.

There are no government checks for those laid off from work. Although there are ‘shelter at home’ orders, many are walking the streets in search of any kind of work so they can bring home some food to feed their families.

Medical Care Travel restrictions, the surge of Covid-19 hospitalizations, and the many health care workers who contracted the virus delay medical care, even for those needing chemotherapy. In Monterrey, where most of our children receive rounds of cancer treatments, there are travel restrictions and checkpoints at the entrances to that city. We support a shelter for children in Monterrey that agreed to house children we send for the weeks they are receiving chemotherapy. In this way, we consolidate the number of trips from Acuna to Monterrey. Families from a church in Monterrey are taking in the mothers who travel with their children receiving cancer treatments.

Some surgeries are postponed. Some exams and tests are postponed. In most cases, families are notified before they make the trip to the hospitals in other cities.

Shelters Shelters for children, the elderly, and the homeless no longer receive help from mission groups that used to travel to the colonias. We continue to provide as much money, food, and medicine to these shelters as possible.

The Bottom Line While the virus ended jobs, restricted travel, and curbed money available to charities, it did not stop cancer, emergency medical needs, people in need of shelter, or the ‘normal’ emergencies that are part of life. For example, a refrigerator at a shelter stopped working. A baby needed emergency medical care. A blind child needed a special device to continue his education. In each case, we were able to help and continue to do so.

We refuse to give up and remind ourselves that it is not supposed to be easy. Charity is supposed to require sacrifice, faith, and hope. Without sacrifice and hard work, where is the love?

What Difference Can I Make? $5 $10 $30 $50 $150 $300

One child receives lunch for an entire month One Food Basket for a Family in need Six Children receive lunch for an entire month One child receives lunch for an entire school year Round trip bus tickets to cancer hospitals Six Children receive lunch for a school year

You can indicate on your donation how you want it used. If you made no indication, we would use your gift to address our most urgent need.

We cannot accept used clothing or items. In most cases, such as used clothing, it is illegal to bring them into Mexico.

Items purchased through our Amazon List link on our website (paperhouses.org) are sent to Del Rio, where they are held until we can take the items into Mexico. In most cases, we do not need to pay import fees.

We try to buy as much as possible in Mexico. This eliminates the time it takes to travel round-trip and bring the items into Mexico. (This takes about one to two hours of our time). It also eliminates any fees, taxes, or inspections. Buying things in the colonias also helps the local economy.

We continue helping strangers simply because we can do it. When we sacrifice and help people without thought of how it might benefit us, we are engaged in true charity.

Lester is a 20-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. He is a precious angel who always greets us with a smile.

Today, while Lester’s mother was in the middle of cooking a meal of soup and beans, she ran out of bottled gas. They have nothing else in the pantry and cannot afford to buy the bottled gas. Lester’s father was laid off due to Covid-19. His dad has diabetes with other health issues and in fear of the Coronavirus. He has tried to find cars to wash or any other way to earn money each day so that he can feed his family.

We covered the cost of gas ($50) and delivered some groceries and Ensure for Lester. Sometimes an emergency is not life-threatening, but certainly, this was an emergency for Lester and his family.

Bob with Lester on the day he delivered a fan purchased by a Paper Houses supporter. Relief form 100 degrees of heat made Lester break into laughter! Lester’s smiles made Bob break into laughter.

So Many People and Places that You Helped!

You also provided meals at school cafeterias, food baskets to over 200-families, over the counter medicine, clothing, school supplies, games, toys, and learning material for the blind, masks, and medical supplies, shoes, glasses, and you gave hope to families in great need.

Today, we need your help more than ever before. Every dollar helps and reaches those in need.

Your money was not used to produce or mail this booklet. Bob provided a donation to cover those costs, so your money reaches those in need.