Still more stories to tell…

As we wind down Dollies Making A Difference to its conclusion in early 2020, we find there are still important stories to tell about the impact our little Dollies and Teddy Bears are making around the world.  Here is one story that has just been shared with us.  It comes from a Facebook page, and is written by a humanitarian who is working with refugee children between Tucson, AZ and the border town of Nogales, MX.

This story was discovered by Dollie Ambassador Deirdre as she was scrolling through Facebook. She realized with surprise, that it was a Dollie SHE had worked on one day at the Dollie table – she had sewn on the brightly colored hair and then added the little crocheted cap!

Several Dollie ladies including Deirdre and Darleen have worked with refugee families along the border of Mexico, always bringing Dollies and Teddy Bears with them.

Here is the first hand story written by a woman from New Hampshire, who, while volunteering at The Inn Tucson, noticed a little girl Ella and her Dollie Rosita:

“Oh! Ella es muy bonita!”  I gasped at the sight of the small doll tucked beneath the two sisters.  “Que es su nombre?” (what is her name?) I asked of the younger sister.  “Rosita!” she exclaimed, rolling over onto her stomach to face me where I knelt.

The doll had been carefully tucked in to sleep with one of the wash clothes that had been given to the family when they arrived.  A blanket… just the right size for her.

“Cuantos anos tiene?” I asked. (how old is she?)

“Yo o ella?”  (me or Ella?) It was an understandable questionable.  Ten minutes earlier the family had been laughing at me when I told them that I had to go outside with my dog because I had to use the bathroom outside – my verbs and nouns were all messed up tonight.  My mind has too many things it’s trying to hold.

“Rosita”, I clarified.

“Solo dos or tres mesas,” she responded.  

“Ah, un bebe.”  Hearing that the little doll was only a couple months old, I wondered where on this girl’s journey she had joined her.  Had an abuelita bent over to place her in her arms, willing the doll to comfort her granddaughter on the journey?  Was Rosita a reminder of home, of love, of family?  It’s a happy thought, but Rosita looks much too new for that, her yarn doesn’t show the signs of a hard journey.  

I learn later than Rosita was from a group of women in California, and that women throughout the country were sending dolls to comfort kids at the border.  As the dolls arrive to Nogales and Tijuana, shelters located there will see more and more Rositas arriving with their “mommies”.  How beautiful.

Scooping up my dog Esperanza, I apologized for not introducing her sooner.  “Su hombre es Esperanza.  Y ella tiene tres anos”. (Her name is Esperanza. And she is three years old)

The girl and her big sister look at one another and giggle as they greet my sleepy dog.

Everyone is in bed, so I ask if they want me to turn off the lights, before walking over to the wall to do so.  Everyone agrees and so I turn off the lights.  It is so dark, and I grow worried about the doll Rosita, and her young caretaker.  I call out to make sure they aren’t afraid of the dark, and they all assure me they are fine.

How much better off we would all be if we treated one another with the care and respect that this 8 year old child offers to her doll Rosita, this beautiful cluster of cloth and yarn.  Rosita, who gets a better covering than the metallic emergency blankets we give to children sleeping on concrete floors.  Rosita, who is not taken and separated from her “mommy”.  Rosita, who is held close in the dark.

May we learn to be as kind – and as responsible – as this 8 year old child, worthy as well of being covered… with love, with safety, with refuge, with compassion.  

May we cover.

Dear God, may we cover her.