Brothers in Christ by Jody Simeck

Josie Simeck with the twins, Antonio and Luis, 2007.

Antonio and Luis were about two years old in 2007 when I met them. I was with the mission team attending Cristo Rey Church and they were with their family. Their older brother, Oscar, and sister, Maricela, were keeping an eye on them while their mother and some of the other women of the church cooked dinner for us. While I only saw the twins a couple of times again as I attended Cristo Rey over the next six years, I nearly always saw their brother and sister. I was even privileged enough to be present at their confirmation into the church.

Last summer the Sheridan Mission Team started work on a Habitat house for my friend, Gladis with many of her friends and neighbors. One of the days the twins, Antonio and Luis, who live in the same neighborhood came to help as well. They worked very hard, carrying buckets of dirt. And, as many boys do, they made the amount of dirt and the number of buckets a competition. The big dirt pile also provided an opportunity for some fun. These boys brought laughter to our work site.

Jody Simeck with Antonio and Luis and neighborhood
children in Dec. 2012.

When I returned to El Salvador in December, I was surprised and excited to hear that we would be working on a Habitat House for Luis and Antonio and their family! This time the house was already underway. We simply needed to complete the walls, level the floors, and do outside cement work. The boys were usually gone with their mother in the mornings; but when they came home they were eager to help.

Antonio and Luis helping to shovel.

Like in previous years, the neighbors were there to help. The twins were very polite and would never ask for anything, but were appreciative of anything that came their way. If we were shoveling sand, they would come and stand there, staring at us with their big, brown, eyes; until we realized what they wanted--to shovel. They would grin and eagerly take the shovel and go at it. Sometimes you would hear their laughter as they played with the neighbor kids. They all had great fun playing a memory game and Uno with some of our team members.

Maricela, Antonio and Luis with their mother, Maria in July 2012.

These children, like all children, are such wonderful, precious gifts from God. And like all people from El Salvador that I have met, very graciously accept our intrusion into their lives, enjoy us and our presence, and are at peace with their world. I hope I’m able to visit Antonio and Luis when I return in July. The really great thing about being a part of the Cristo Rey Project is that we are building with families that we have come to know over the years by attending church and working together; and we know, also, that we’ll probably see them when we return.