Ruben’s Kids

Ruben and Sister Fabuola

He’s not a large man, the top of his head barely reaches to my shoulders, but he has a huge heart. 

Standing beside him in Casa Hogar, the orphanage on the mainland portion of Isla Mujeres, I watched as the tears streamed down his face. 

“They don’t have family.” He quietly said.

After surviving a life-changing event Ruben Chavez Martinez, the proprietor of Ruben’s Restaurante on Isla Mujeres, has a new goal in life. 

His mission is to give back to the community, and to make little kids shriek with laughter. 

/Mickey, Ruben, Minnie January event

He sponsors a Three Kings Day event held annually at his restaurant. January 6^th is a very important date for Catholics in Mexico, celebrating when the three wise men purportedly arrived in Bethlehem with gifts for baby Jesus. 

It’s the day when children hope to receive gifts from the three kings, instead of on December 25^th from Santa Claus. 

Same idea. Different culture.

Sign for the orphanage 

Ruben, until very recently, was also the main supporter of Casa Hogar. Every Friday afternoon he left his restaurant to cook a hot meal for the dozen or so children living at the orphanage. The number of kids he was feeding soon became twenty five youngsters, and then forty.

Nico, Terri, Ruben, Ricky and John arriving

He now has a small but dedicated group of volunteers working under the name of Ruben’s Kids who help by fund-raising and carrying out a myriad of other tasks all related to Ruben’s desire to make kids happy.

Every month the group purchases stacks of pizzas and grilled chickens to feed the Casa Hogar residents, plus all the kids waiting anxiously at the gate.

Kids eager to help

Once a month the volunteers go on a shopping trip to Costco to purchase a truckload of the essentials like toilet paper, beans, rice, cooking oil, and cereals. 

Quite recently islander John Pasnau discovered that the freezer at Casa Hogar is functional and he stocked it with meat, hopefully enough to last until the next buying trip.

There is a limited amount of living space and currently only twelve girls and four nuns live full-time at Casa Hogar. The girls, ranging in age from babies to teenagers, sleep six to a room in clean well-maintained bunk beds that are covered with brightly coloured bedspreads. 

Inside one of the bedrooms

There are about another two dozen kids who due to various problems at home are not living in a safe environment. 

They are daytime boarders, seeking a bit of love and comfort from the nuns. 

Waiting at the gates hoping for a meal

Two weeks ago I met up with islanders, Jeanette Laurence and Mikell Thompson, on the Ultramar passenger boat. We were all on our way to Casa Hogar. Once we landed in Puerto Juarez we negotiated with different taxi drivers finally finding one that knew (approximately) where we wanted to go, and gave us a fair price to get there. 

As it turned out he needed to ask for directions, twice, from the municipal police but we eventually arrived at our destination. He got a nice tip because it was a much longer distance than we had anticipated.

The four sisters do everything

Casa Hogar is located deep inside Rancho Viejo. It is an area of continental Isla Mujeres that I knew existed, but had never seen. The community appears to be depressed, with not much in the way of industry, commercial establishments, and seemingly no attractions for tourists. The area is poor. Very poor. 

As soon as the supply truck arrived at Casa Hogar dozens of youngsters eagerly tried to be helpful, carrying boxes of cereal, or tins of food inside the building. 

Everyone pitched in - Jeanette Laurence, Mikell Thompson, Terri Tywan, Nico Tywan, John Pasnau, Ruben Chavez, and Ricky Za’Ga - trying their best to ensure every child had something to eat.

Terri and I dishing up food

The dozen or so accompanying parents were hopeful, but in the end, hungry. There just wasn’t enough food to include them. 

By counting the pizza slices, ten boxes with eight slices in each box, we calculated we had fed seventy-some-odd kids and the four nuns who care for them.

As you can imagine this project is a never-ending labour of love for Ruben and his partner Ricky Za’ga.  

If you can help in any small way please friend Ruben’s Kids on Facebook.   https://www.facebook.com/RubensKids/

Jeanette, Lynda, Sister, Mikell, John

Below is a recent posting from John Pasnau on Ruben’s Kids Facebook page for other ways you can be involved.

Three Kings Day, January 6th

"If you want to help make Sandwiches and lunches on "Sandwich Night" Jan. 5^th contact Gail Marie Stewart.

If you want to work at the lunch table on Three Kings Day and are (somewhat) bilingual, contact Gail Marie Stewart.

If you want to help collect, sort and track toys from now to Three Kings Day or if you want to be a "Toy Soldier" on Three Kings Day handing out the toys contact Julie Andrews Goth.

If you are (somewhat) bilingual and just want to be in the middle of everything on Three Kings Day contact Rob Goth.

If you are not bilingual and would like to help on the ground during Three Kings Day we can still use you. Message me, John Pasnau, we are putting together a team of "Runners" who will zip down to aMar cocina peruana where all overflow toys and lunches will be staged.

And thank you to Bryan Benson for offering your restaurant's support, and welcome to Ruben's Kids!”

Mickey chatting with kids waiting for their gift

It’s a fun event. Lawrie and I will be there as always, dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse. 

The kids love it.

Cheers from paradise

Lynda & Lawrie

Now available in paperback on Amazon!

Trouble Isla and Treasure Isla Photo credit  Lisa Godfrey

Book #2 in the Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

5.0 out of 5 stars

Fast and furious

By CA reviews on September 26, 2017

Yasmin and Jessica are back and the gold they found in Treasure Isla is still haunting them, especially when Carlos, their boss at the Loco Lobo, and Yasmin’s new lover, is kidnapped. No spoilers here, but his captivity and the girls’ efforts to free him, with the help of Carlos’s pals—including local Isla Mujeres fishermen and a Mexico City cop—are the crux of this fast-paced story. Lock has created not only a compelling and authentic setting, but a well-developed ensemble cast. The next Isla mystery can’t come fast enough.

Ruben, the man with a huge heart

Mickey, Ruben, Minnie - R.&L Grierson photos

He’s not a big man, but he has a huge heart. 

After recently surviving a life-changing event Ruben, the proprietor of Ruben’s Restaurante on Isla Mujeres, has a new goal in life.  

His mission is to give back to the community, and to make little kids shriek with laughter. 

Linda & Richard Grierson - T Vermu photo

For the last few months Ruben has been working to organize a Night of the Kings party on January 6^th for island children.  It’s a very important event for Catholics in Mexico, celebrating when the three wise men purportedly arrived in Bethlehem with gifts for baby Jesus. 

In the ensuing weeks a steady stream of ex-pats and locals arrived at the restaurant, gifts in hand, adding to the towering stack of toys.  

Very quickly the brightly coloured stack of dolls, stuffed animals, board games, soccer balls, books and action figures spilled over onto the floor and had to be tucked away in a storage area to make way for yet more gifts.  Eventually there were over 700 presents donated to the festivities.

Some of the helpers - T Vermu photo

And then there was food; complimentary lunches for everyone who attended the fiesta, put together by many helping hands that included Ruben’s staff and more local ex-pats.  Enthusiastic volunteers controlled the traffic, kept the lines of excited youngsters moving along towards Santa, and photographed the crazy fun.  So many helpers!  Wow!

Ruben's staff - R&L Grierson photo

On the day of the fiesta, Mickey (Lawrie) and Minnie (me) arrived via decorated golf cart with our minders, Linda and Richard Grierson.  The noise was deafening.  There were kids everywhere, covering both sidewalks and spilling across the blocked off portion of Guerrero Avenue where the restaurant is located.  Many couldn’t decide what to do first; get their gift from Santa, or have their photograph taken with Mickey and Minnie.  Many small hands grabbed at our legs, or clutched our hands while having their photo taken. 

He's a bit afraid of the huge mice!

We get a lot of pleasure out of these events, the only downside is our limited vision through the eye-holes means we can’t really see the kids, just feel them as they excitedly launch themselves at us.  It’s pretty darn funny at times.  I often wonder what would happen if I tripped in my foam, over-sized, high-heel-shaped Minnie shoes.  Would I disappear in a four-foot-deep pile of small wriggling bodies?

John Pasnau and young friend - Grierson photo

On the other hand Santa (John Pasnau) patiently sat in the tropical sun wearing his very hot vintage Santa suit.  He smiled and chatted with each child as they arrived in front of him.  John is the quintessential Santa Claus, customized for the tropics with flip-flops on his feet instead of black boots.  At the party the little girls were lined up on his right side, and the boys to his left.  That way his helpers could pick gifts that were hopefully appropriate for the child.  We only managed to stay at the party for forty-five minutes before our stiflingly hot costumes forced us to leave.  We are in absolute awe of Santa – he was there when we arrived, and still there when we departed.  Such perseverance, such stamina!  Great job Santa!

Mickey and Minnie, with our minder Linda G.

Through it all I caught glimpses of Ruben looking stressed but happy at what he had created.  

He was everywhere; checking on the supply of gifts, having his photo taken with the children, ensuring everyone received a present and a complimentary lunch.

Well done Ruben, the man with the huge heart.

Happy New Year / Próspero Año Nuevo

Lawrie & Lynda

Lots of kids and lots of noise - R Grierson photo

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Night of the Kings

In Spain, and some Latin American countries including Mexico, January 6th is called El Día de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings).  That's the day the three kings: Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar are said to have arrived in Bethlehem on horse, camel and elephant, bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. (Both frankincense and myrrh were highly sought after aromatic tree resins thought to have healing properties.) 



Night of the Kings parade on Isla



Most towns in Spain and Latin America arrange colorful parades on January 5th representing the arrival of the Reyes Magos to town so children can see before they go to bed.  Sweet wine, fruit and milk are left for the kings and their camels, similar to the milk and cookies my sisters and I left for Santa Claus and his eight reindeer to enjoy. 

On the eve of January 6th, Spanish and Latin America children frequently leave their clean shoes ready to receive the kings' presents. 

(We, on the other hand, put our dad's big woolen work socks at the foot of our beds on Christmas eve.)

Party for island kids in sports dome

Imagine our surprise when on January 9th, a Monday night, we discovered a massive island-wide kid's party just a few blocks from our house, celebrating the Night of the Kings!  The covered sports dome near the Donasusa grocery store, and behind the Naval Hospital was crammed to overflowing with kids. 

Kids on bouncy castles. Kids on slides. Kids inside what looked to be a wresting ring. And more kids falling off, into, or over every type of kid apparatus you could imagine.  The laughter volume was turned all the way up to the max! 



How many can we fit on this slide?



At one point while I was haphazardly shooting photos of the bedlam, I noticed a couple of little kids that we knew, about to be squished under the feet of several slightly older girls.  Happily, the older girls quickly reached down and pulled the younger ones out of the mess, handing them safely over the top of the inflatable slide to their grandparents.  And the laughter carried on!

Then as we continued walking up the street heading in the general direction of our house, we encountered the Night of the Kings parade.  There were three kings in the lead vehicle along with a political representative from the state, followed by another twenty or thirty decorated vehicles, golf carts, and motos.  Everyone had handfuls of candy to pitch towards the spectators.



Tossing candy!



(Amazing how quickly my sweetie could scramble after the tasty goat's milk toffee candies.) 

As we meandered our way home, several neighbours hailed us with greetings, requests that we come over and view their colourful Christmas decorations, or elaborate Nativity scenes.  It was a pretty great way to end our evening walk.

'Tis the Season

'Tis the holiday season - to celebrate the winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Posadas Navideñas, all leading up to the grand finalé of New Year's Eve. 

We enjoy experiencing the differences between our Canadian celebrations and the Mexican celebrations.  The Posadas Navideñas take place on the nine days preceding Christmas.  From the 16th to the 24th of December local processions reenact Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem.  The processions lead to a different house every night for the culmination of the posada - a small fiesta at the house.   Although some Mexican families have Christmas trees, nacimientos (nativity scenes) are a more common Christmas decoration.  Many families have elaborate nativity scenes in their homes or yards.  There are also large public displays set up in common areas such as the City Hall square or Centro.  The nacimiento is usually set up on December 16th, the baby Jesus is added on the evening of December 24th and the three kings are added on the Night of the Kings, January 5th.



Christmas Eve is called Nochebuena in Spanish. This is the night of the last posada.  Many people attend midnight mass and then have a dinner together with their families.  Christmas Day is generally a quiet day.  Gifts are not traditionally exchanged at Christmas but instead gifts are given to children on the Night of the Kings.  This custom is changing, as the concept of Santa Claus becomes increasingly more prominent in Mexican Christmas celebrations. 

Around 5:45 on Christmas morning, I was awakened by an unusually large number of vehicles, motos, trucks, golf carts passing the house.  Curious I slipped out to the upper balcony to see what was happening.  It was the revelers returning from all-night fiestas at private homes, or in some cases, night clubs.  There were golf carts crammed with eight, ten, or twelve family members.  Motos with two, three or four people.  Trucks with the pickup boxes overflowing with people still dressed up for the Christmas Eve festivities. 

 

It reminded me a little of when I was a child.  My mother had been adopted by an Icelandic couple in Selkirk Manitoba when she was around seven years old.  Their traditions included a church service late on Christmas Eve, and then the gifts are opened after midnight.  My mom thought that was a more civilized way to celebrate because then her four daughters wouldn't want to get up at five in the morning to open their gifts.  However, we never officially adopted her Christmas Eve tradition - although occasionally she would convince me - the youngest - to insist that we open the presents.

It is a bit odd to be commemorating, what we know as a winter event, under a warm sunny sky with the fragrance of flowers in the air, and palm trees swishing in a light breeze.  It's times like that I think about Lawrie's dad who every year tried to convince his family of adult kids and their spouses that we should all be celebrating in Hawaii, or someplace warm.  We scoffed at the silliness of such an idea.  Christmas without snow!  Christmas without ice!  Christmas without grey skies! 

What was he thinking? 

Now we know.  He was right. 

                                     

                                         
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On December 26th Jackie Walker and Michael LeFines celebrated the 10th anniversary Jax Bar and Grill for their 10th Anniversary celebrations. 

Jackie created a video montage of the past ten years remembering the ups and downs that she and Michael had experienced as business owners in a foreign country.  Beside the financial interference of a corrupt local politician which resulted in a lengthy and costly court battle that Jackie and Michael eventually won, the property was severely damaged during hurricane Wilma in November 2005.  But as the sign says - "We're still here!"

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Tuesday December 27th Lawrie was the auctioneer for the 2nd Annual Treasure Island fundraiser for the Las Glorias English School.  Maggie and Tom Washa, with their small army of volunteers put on a great event.  All of the funds raised go to scholarships for students who are unable to pay the tuition. 

There were pirates from many areas of the USA and Canada that congregated to invade Isla Mujeres. 

We love it because it's another excuse to play dress-up!  .