Christmas At Casa de Esperanza

Every year in the end of November and the first of December are graduations and such.  This year was no exception.  We are busy for a couple of weeks and we move right in to Christmas preparations.  There were some other issues, some quite large, and we didn't move right in to preparing for Christmas.  Nicole and I picked a day to go shopping for the Casa children and we set it in stone.  Thankfully, we did.  Otherwise, the shopping might not have happened. 

No one, and I mean no one, knew what we were getting for the kids this year.  We did not put it on facebook or tell.  When we put it on facebook, the kids always end up knowing. 

Well, yay!  The shopping was done.  But we were not getting anything else done.  I was not sure we were going to pull of Christmas in 2016. 

I began wrapping Friday night. 

My staff left from 12:00 noon -4:00 p.m., meaning Nicole and I were with the kids until noon on Sunday.  The staff could not leave, I did not have enough things ready to be up there with kids.  The staff left any way.  They had things to do for their own families.

When we are here for Christmas, we have our own traditions.  Nicole cooks chili for supper for Christmas eve.  Matt cooks breakfast on Christmas morning and I make chicken lasagne for lunch on Christmas day.  I did it get it assembled and into the refrigerator before I went on duty. 

Nicole started preparing her chili.  Always before, we have done every Christmas activity in the girls' house.  This year we alternated between the two houses.  We ate Saturday night in the girls' house.  A lot of chili and coke was consumed.  I mean a lot.  And, there was still a lot left.  After dishes were done and the floors were swept and mopped we walked to the plaza in Santa Ana.

Nicole and I and 19 kids.  If there was any doubt that we are crazy, that should prove it.  People were every where.  Some were walking to the plaza like we were.  Some were walking to church.  I thought the cars on main street were driving too fast for as many people as were out.   I had little Josue by hand and Emma by the other.  Emma said, "oh this is such pretty night that we can share together.  Josue was making me a nervous wreck.  He was trying to break and run.

We stopped to see the nativity.  I let go of Josue's hand to take a picture and he was trying to climb into the nativity scene.  He is not Baby Jesus and he was not able to successfully climb the fence and enter the scene.

When we got home, everyone played outside for a while.  They had so much playing outside.  Nicole said I don't think they have this much fun in the day time. 

At 9:00, we went in for torejas.  It is a dessert and everyone has torejas for Christmas.  Some of staff made them before they left. 

Then it was movie time so everyone would settle down before they went to bed. 

I went to my house at 10:00.  Oh, by the way, I did have enough staff for one employee be in each night with the kids at night.  I had options.  I could fill all of those stocking at 10:00 and I was beyond tired or I could get up at 4:00 and do it.  I chose the latter.  I was pretty sure for a while that I did not start early enough.  I was quite impressed with myself with all the things that I accomplished between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m.

For the first time ever, we did Christmas in the boys house.  I liked it.  I hope everyone else did.  I wrote all the kids name on a separate piece of paper and put them in a bowl.  I drew the first child's name and big Josue got to open his present first.  When he was through, he drew the next name and so it went.  Before we worked through all 18 kids, Doris and Yair were getting very nervous that they were not getting anything.  But, finally they did.

That was very calm.  Then they tore into those new stockings and it was anything but calm. 

Matt had been cooking since 7:00, but it was going slower than it normally does.  Nicole and I pitched it and together we got it done.

On a normal Sunday morning, we are late to church.  Every single week.  Nicole and I decided that we would do family church. Church was starting at 11:00.  We had time for everyone to do their chores again. 

Jackson said the opening prayer.  Jose led singing.  Fernando gave a sweet little talk.  I was impressed and pleased that ha had actually prepared and put some thought into it and not just decided to wing it when it was time.  Matt led communion.  Communion is very serious to me.  During the cup, we lost it.  Everyone lost it.  There was nothing serious about what happened.  Glad it was family church.

About 10:00, I had run down to the house and put the lasagne in the oven.  I was thankful that I had put it together earlier. 

After lunch, staff begin returning.  I was very thankful for that,too.  I went to my house and had a Dr. Pepper and then coffee.

It was a great Christmas at Casa de Esperanza this year.

Merry Christmas

Casa de Esperanza

Making a difference, on child at a time

P.O. Box 9222

Columbus, MS 39705

cdehonduras.org/casa.acklenavenue.com

All of us at Casa de Esperanza wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

As we reflect on the blessings of 2016, the friends of Casa de Esperanza are among our greatest blessings.  We appreciate every one of you.

This Week's Service: The Dump

The dump ministry has been part of our ministry almost since the beginning.  It is a tough place.  A tough place to live and a tough place to visit. 

We decided we would take the older kids there to serve food.  This morning in devotional Nicole read from Matthew 25.  We talked to them for a long time.  It is hard to prepare adults for what they will see and smell at the dump.  And even more so, to prepare the kids.  They were excited because they were going some where.  That excitement evaporated quickly.

As we neared the dump, the smell was overpowering.  They were covering their noses and making gagging noises.

Fanny and a couple of other people jumped in the back of Matt's truck as he drove up.  We were behind Matt.

I have not been to the dump in two years.  Some things never change.  How, I wish they did, in this case. 

When Matt parked, Fanny jumped out of the back of the truck.  The van pulled up right beside Matt's truck.  I opened the door.  Fanny and I were face to face.  We hugged.  And cried.  And hugged and cried.

Luis told a few of the kids to get in the back of his truck and start serving.  Haley and Jackson jumped right in.  We had to encourage a few more to get in.  Haley knew just what to do and soon everyone was serving rice and beans and tortillas.  Water was being served outside the truck. 

Then Sonia and Johana arrived.  More hugging.  More crying.  I was so glad to see these girls.  Not glad to see them in the dump, but glad to see them.  I was trying to gauge the reactions of the kids, but I just kept hugging Fanny, Sonia and Johana.  And crying.  Johana said, "please don't cry.  We love you."   That really did not stop my crying.

Katy was in the back of the truck.  She was trying hard not to cry.  Jose and Fernando were talking to people.  They looked as if they were doing okay.  None of the kids were really okay.

Everyone knows Matt and he was just visiting with everyone.

School is out.  More kids are in the dump this time of year.  Some are working with parents while they are not in school.  And, some are just trying to eke out a few cents to buy food for themselves. 

Nicole saw her little friends, Melvin, Ashley and Yenzi.  She talked to them and hugged them, promising to have some help to them. 

The kids did see us not afraid of these people and not afraid to touch them and hug them.  We were so nasty when we left. 

We prayed before we left.  Fanny and Johana both wanted to hold my hand.  I cried some more. 

I told the kids to get back in the van.  Nohemy was in complete shock. Sisi was not even sure what she had seen.  Like with adults, it was a solemn, quiet ride back home.  We will be helping them process what they saw today.

Katy completely lost it at lunch.  I hugged her and comforted her for a while.  Then she said, "I think I want to finish eating."

I do think this was a good thing for the kids to see.  I think I needed to see the kids serving up that food.  And, I think I need to go to the dump more often.