In search of a new home By Sonia Valero Adelante Staff Writer They’ve already settled into their own house in Columbia. In recent days they’ve felt themselves being born again. After taking refuge for a month at the home of a Centro Latino volunteer, Salvadoran Daniel Córdova has begun a new stage of his life in Columbia with his family. The harsh climate of Buffalo, New York compelled him and his wife, Micaela Esparza, to look for a better place to raise their five children: Abrahán, 9; Saraí, 8; Benjamín, 7; Daniel (known as “Junior”), 5; and Abigaíl, who just turned 3. They grabbed a map and picked out Kansas City practically by chance. It looked like as good a place as any to settle down. At least, the weather seemed as if it would be more agreeable. So they began their own personal pilgrimage. They packed several necessities and set off for their “city of hope.” But destiny intervened; their car died in Columbia, at the intersection of College and University, and no amount of fiddling under the hood would restart it. A woman noticed their predicament and put them in contact with Centro Latino. One of the organization’s volunteers invited them to stay in her house for the night, or until the car was fixed. Strangely enough, after two days of diagnostics, the mechanic could find nothing wrong with the car. But the Córdova family had spent enough time in Columbia to see that it was a good place to raise their children. Many Columbians told them, “This is a peaceful and quiet city that has excellent educational opportunities.” So, Daniel speculated that the car’s momentary seizure was an act of God. After a few days of getting his family settled in their temporary home, Daniel headed back to Buffalo on a Greyhound bus to rent a U-Haul and bring back the family’s belongings. But once he arrived, he found nothing but destruction. Someone had stolen all of their belongings, and what they hadn’t been able to carry away, they had destroyed. It was a heavy blow for the Córdova family who had been working and saving to create a nice home for their nine years in Buffalo. They had equipped their house with all sorts of electrical appliances, the majority of which were meant to improve the children’s lives — a computer, two televisions, and two VCRs, for example. Daniel felt what was done could not be reversed, so he didn’t stay to find the culprits or contact the police. Instead, broken-hearted, the father of the family returned to Missouri, empty-handed. His wife and children were devastated, but they summoned the courage to begin a new life. “It’s terrible to see your children suffer,” said Daniel. “But it’s even worse when they are trying to console you.” Despite their hardships, the Córdova family was full of energy to keep moving ahead. Daniel quickly got a job and he feels happy to be here. He said that it’s a good place to live with his family, and that in the future, his hijitos, as he calls his little ones, will be able to study here. And the community of Columbia, for its part, has lent a hand in its own way. Alfredo Jiménez, of the Latin music group Del Alma, raised nearly $100 in emergency funds during their first two weeks in Columbia. And other community members, hearing of the family’s misfortune, organized a drive for household goods. The same weekend the family moved into the new house, they had nearly everything they needed for the house: beds, sofas, tables, chairs, electrical appliances, even a computer for the children. Micaela was overwhelmed by the generosity of her new friends. “We are very grateful to the entire community,” she said. For more information or to assist the Córdova family, contact Adelante at tracybarnett@earthlink.net or (573) 449-5381.