來自兩大陸的同濟會員為哥倫比亞弱勢兒童帶來佳節喜悅。

文／傑克．布洛克利
圖／華昆．薩爾米恩托、拉丁文獻庫

哥倫比亞最偏遠區域的原住民保留區中，聖誕節與其他日子無異。例如，住在東北區拉瓜希拉半島的嬰兒，與家人數小時長途跋涉，尋找食物。哥國最南端亞馬遜區的男孩女孩們，以樹枝植物製作的玩具，玩著遊戲。

然而2017年12月23日卻是個不同以往的聖誕節。人生中首次，這些孩子玩起氣球，嚐到麵包，打開禮物，遇到一位名為聖誕老人的友善陌生人。這一天，原生同濟會在相隔超過九百五十英哩的兩處地點，同時舉辦聖誕派對。對於剛成立一個月的分會來說，是個重大挑戰。但這正是該會成立的原因。

「他們是哥倫比亞社會中最被遺忘的一群孩子，」原生同濟會暨美國佛州拉哥島同濟會員歐爾加．艾比說。「原生同濟會希望協助貧窮且缺乏支援的偏遠地區。」

原生同濟會成立於2017年11月，目標只有一個：服務哥國的原住民。該會名冊包含哥倫比亞與美國佛州的同濟會員，但亦有會員位於保留區內。這些衛星小組協調保留區內的同濟會專案活動。這些會員提供重要的在地資源，協助計畫執行同濟會聖誕派對。

早在原生同濟會正式成立之前，離聖誕節還有許多個月的時間，哥倫比亞與海外的同濟會員，主要在美國佛州，就開始收集禮物，根據年齡性別分門別類，包裝打包妥當，預備送往保留區。預備前往派對的人則提供帳棚與吊床。他們更雇用隨行安全人員。

艾比回憶這趟旅程，始於前往瓦耶杜帕的航程，與其他哥倫比亞同濟會員會合。由此地，車隊行駛七小時抵達卡波德拉維拉。次日再經過五小時車程，他們抵達公雞灣，換搭四十五分鐘的船程，跨海抵達保留區。

長程旅行的疲累與複雜的物流安排終於獲得回報。派對當日，原生同濟會長莫伊西斯．拉米瑞茲回憶起亞馬遜叢林米利提帕拉涅村落的情景，一百零五名兒童聚集在同濟會員妝點的房間中。

「房間以氣球等簡單裝飾，」拉米瑞茲說。「他們從未見過汽球！我們想為他們準備不同的餐點。我們準備了雞肉、米飯與麵包。他們從未吃過麵包！」

在兩個地點，原住民家庭穿著當地服飾，以歌舞文化表演娛樂訪客。拉瓜希拉聚集了兩千名兒童，他們及家人以聖誕歌謠迎接同濟會訪客。其中一首歌唱著：

「讓孩子歌唱，讓他們高聲歡唱。
 讓世界聆聽
他們高聲歡唱，迎向太陽
真實就在他們之中。」

孩子們手牽手帶來的表演，至今仍是歐爾加．艾比長久珍惜的回憶。此外還有聖誕老人到來的這一幕。

「岸上停泊船隻，漁人散坐附近，聖誕老人踩著沙灘前來。」她說，「許多孩子跟在他後面，不確定是否該幫忙。」

很快地，他們發現聖誕老人帶來的是禮物。禮物！有足球、鞋子、娃娃、尿布、玩具車、衛生用品與衣物，每發送一件禮物就會收到擁抱與笑容，還有一聲「muchas gracias（西語的謝謝）」或「pala pilichaka nula（原民語的謝謝）」

「腳踏車獲得最大歡呼聲，」艾比回憶道，「它們是交通工具。對某些人來說，這是上學的唯一方式。」

次日，拉米瑞茲看著孩子繼續展示並分享禮物。

「他們並不在乎藍色或黃色或粉紅色。他們很開心。對我來說，這是非常不同的聖誕節。」

Kiwanis in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira indian territory in the extreme North of Colombia

A Wayuu indigenous woman at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

Kids from the Wayuu indigenous etnia pose with their gifts at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

A mother a her baby from the Wayuu indigenous etnia wait receive their gift at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

A boy from the Wayuu indigenous etnia plays soccer at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

Wayuu indigenous dance the Yonda dance at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhanaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

Boys from the Wayuu indigenous etnia get their facs painted by a volunteers at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhanaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

Members form Kiwanis foundation unload toys at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhanaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

A girl and her grandmother from the Wayuu indigenous etnia at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhanaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

A boys from the Wayuu indigenous etnia at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhanaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

Boys and girls from the Wayuu indigenous etnia arrive at a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhanaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento

A girl from the Wayuu indigenous etnia talks with a member of Kiwanis Foundation during a Christmas event where members of Kiwanis Foundation gave away gifts to Wayuu kids at the Manhanaim Rancheria in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira department, Colombia, on December 23, 2017. Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento