The Second Frontier City: Como

Baobab Experience:  The crew from left is Myrium, ?, Andrea, Tom, Rosaria, ?, Francesca, Nurit.  Andrea is the head guy(a stain-glass window maker by trade)  Roasaria is the accountant and the ''mother' (retired librarian, married and one son), Myriam is multilingual and keeps everyone connected.  Nurit is an Israeli, and works somewhere in the UN,  Francesca is a photo journalist.  All support Baobab with their talents and time and means.

We were invited to dinner at Andrea's family farmhouse.  Fireplace in every room.  The kitchen is of course the gathering place.

Fried anchovies.  I had never had them.  Eyes and tails left on.  Eat them whole.  Not bad really. 

Easter Sunday Lunch with the refugees from the camp at the Parish.  These boys have found jobs and want to stay in Italy.   One is a welder, the other are gardeners.  They have been here over a year and feel 'settled'...but they still live in the parish.  It's getting housing on your own that is tricky.  That's true for people everywhere~

We toured the camp at the Parish.  One of the problems is boredom!

They had to put in lockers for each of the men.  The Pastor said it's the 'war of the poor'.

They house about 50 permanent residents.  Then allow about another 50 to come and sleep in their large rooms by simply pulling out extra mattresses.  One of the needs is help in paying for their water bill.  Can you imagine the water used by 100 people in one day?  All those showers, and toilets, and sinks???

You don't see many babies, but many women arrive already pregnant on the boats.  One lady was pregnant on arrival and delivered twins.  We got to hold them:  Anita and Joy were their names.

The pastor uses this van to go around the city and pick up 'stray' refugees and bring them to his parish to feed and house them, and of course help them if he can.  Because of his efforts many of his parishoners don't come to church anymore.  The community also insists that the 50 men who come there to sleep won't be allowed to do that either, so by law that will have to stop as of May 1st.

The pastor's office.  He doesn't live in splendor that's for sure.

The chapel in Como.  We attended Easter Services here.  They combined Como I and II and it was like being at Stake Conference there were so many people!  Gorgeous building, well actually a chateau!

At the end of the day it was nice to sit back and enjoy the view.  All these problems right there in this beautiful city of Como.  You really don't see it on the streets but it's there simmering.  All you have to do is gaze at this scene and you felt that all will be right in the world.