Big Shout Outs

The last two months have been very difficult on everyone: the Casa kids, the staff, Matt, Nicole, their girls and me. We always want to thank the people who prayed for us and encouraged us. We know there were hundreds praying for us through the process of shutting down Casa de Esperanza. 

The November group came to do a carnival in Tierra del Padre, which they did, but they also spent a day at Casa sorting clothes and cleaning. A great big thank you for that service. Stephanie, Alan, Lanetta, Kim and Pat (aka Kimypat) came and cleaned and moved and helped with garage sales and many other things. You are heroes. You lightened our loads and encouraged us along the way. There are some people we could not have done this without their help. First of all a big shout out to our board. There were difficult decisions to make all along the way. Our board always showed their godliness in every decision. I am sure there were times Kent and Trey did not want to answer their phones when they saw our numbers. But they did. And, they never knew if they would be met with weeping, the need to vent or extreme elation. There were not many happy calls.  They held up our arms. And then there was our lawyer. He lived at DINAF trying to get the children placed. Tara Garcia and Trisha Lawrence deserve special thanks all of their own as they spent a day networking on our behalf in the final days as desperation set in. Bobby Moore and Donnie Anderson have long been friends of Casa de Esperanza. Not only were they there to encourage and assist, they purchased many things (some of which they did not need) to help us with the shut down expenses. Richard and Yessenia went way above and beyond the roles of friends and pastor to help us. They were with us when we told the kids and staff what was happening. We now know what hell sounds like with the weeping and gnashing of teeth. Richard and Yessenia counseled and consoled each and every one. They ran errands, they hauled trash, they moved big heavy things, they cleaned. They did everything. When time began to run so short, they made sure the kids received their MAGI boxes because they would not be around when the MAGI boxes were handed out to everyone. They were there the night I told the kids that some would be leaving the next morning, again praying, counseling and consoling. They went with me, more than once, to DINAF and were with me as we took kids to their new homes and said good-bye.

We do appreciate everyone who helped in any way.  As always we appreciate your prayers and words of encouragement, too.