Yesterday was the last lunch of the year for Projeto Emanuel. Fried chicken, spaghetti, salad, roast onion and potatoes. Tables and chairs filled the dining hall with places for about fifty. Rosi, the director said, "It is special today". +Naudal and I were standing at the door of the Cathedral when a recycler, his wife and their two young sons took protection under the canopy. It was raining "gatos e' cachorros" as the expression is here. We invited them to come in and have lunch and after some reluctance, they came inside. By then, the dining room was filled to capacity, and they along with twenty men took their seats on the benches in the nave.
There they sat quietly, the expectant mother praying and expressing the piety of her faith tradition. Quiet and with grace and family affection they waited with expectation and hope.
The lunches were delivered to them and a total of ninety seven people, more than twice the number as usually comes. And, there was plenty of food and variety for everyone. It was beautiful. As volunteers cleared plates and served juices some guests went on their way. The family waited quietly to one side, protected and included in community. Social and economic boundaries had been obscured for a moment for this marginalized and oppressed family. There was room, and space had been made to hold them. Finally, the dining room had been cleared and a large cake was at the center of a desert table. People were ten deep waiting to be served, and there were the two small boys (three and four) waiting in anticipation but like their father not able to see the table. "Flavio+", I called out, "may the children come forward?" The crowd parted and made a path to the front while all applauded and cheered for the family. There they were in the front of the crowd with full view of the beautiful cake. Their eyes opened widely as they were served the first pieces. Christmas came early this year.
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