Mexico trip unites sponsors and 'daughter'

But that was a radically different trip than the one they just took with the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA), where they met the 12-year-old Mexican girl whose education they sponsor.

As retirees on a pension, the couple had always wanted to sponsor a child but didn't like that many organizations used most of people's donations to cover administrative costs. But, in 1995, Mr. Genardo saw an advertisement in The Evangelist for CFCA, a Catholic organization that helps people in 25 countries. More than 85 percent of donations to CFCA actually reach the missions.

Sponsors

"At the time, she was age seven and in second grade. She's going to be 13 this year!" Mr. Genardo boasted. "Every year, they send us a new picture of her, and I get a letter from her four or five times a year."

The Genardos became so enamored of CFCA's work that Mr. Genardo convinced his parish at the time, Most Precious Blood in South Kortright (since closed), to bring in a representative from the organization to speak at Mass. He did the same thing with his new parish, St. Peter's in Delhi. (Mrs. Genardo is Syrian Orthodox.)

In person

"The CFCA trip is the best vacation we ever took," Mr. Genardo told The Evangelist. On many vacations, he explained, the only natives of a particular country that tourists encounter are the staffs of hotels or restaurants.

"With the CFCA trip, we got to mingle with the Mexican people," he added. "We sang with them, danced with them, ate with them."

Encountering Gabriela

"She looked just like her picture," Mr. Genardo said. "I was a little overcome. I held her hand the whole time she was with us."

Though the language barrier prevented much direct communication, Mr. Genardo said that Gabriela seemed very happy to see her sponsors and stayed with them for most of the day. Since students at her school make their own uniforms, the school gave the couple uniform shirts, which surprised and pleased them.

Mr. Genardo noted that of the $30 a month he and his wife give CFCA, $20 goes directly to pay for Gabriela's education, $5 to the project she belongs to and the other $5 for administrative costs.

Making connections

The Rodriguez family lived in an addition built onto the grocery store Mr. Rodriguez ran. Mr. Genardo said he was impressed with the workmanship, particularly that of an indoor fountain Mr. Rodriguez had constructed.

In fact, the Genardos and Rodriguezes hit it off so well that Mr. and Mrs. Genardo were invited to spend an extra day with Gabriela and her family.

Fact-finding

"I found out what CFCA really does and how much good our money actually does," he remarked. "All the places they took us, the people were so happy to see us. At the old-age homes, the people would crowd around and shake our hands."

The couple hope that their experience will convince others to donate to their favorite charity. Noting that they live on a limited budget, Mr. Genardo said, "You don't have to have a lot of money to do this."

(Contact CFCA at www.cfcausa.org or call 1-800-875-6564.)

(05-16-02) [[In-content Ad]]