I’ve taken a little while to write this blog because I wasn’t ready for this month to end. As I type, it’s becoming real that I am leaving a place and people I have grown to love.
For the month of December I was at Mi Casa, an orphanage in Santa Tecla, El Salvador. Our team lived at the girl’s house, with the boys’ house right across the street. One of my goals for this month was to love hard and there was plenty of opportunity to do this at Mi Casa.
Bob and his wife Maricela have been supporting Mi Casa for over 25 years, but moved down to El Salvador, from the U.S. about 6 years ago to be invested full time. Many of the children here come from backgrounds of gang violence, abuse and neglect. The reality is that many of them would be in a gang or dead had they not been placed in an orphanage.
These kids were on summer break during our stay so we were able to plan activities and events which made for a memorable month.
- God showed us the girls’ smiles and confidence grow as we put on a mid-week talent show. It gave them a space to be proud and share what they loved – singing, dancing, poetry, cooking, karate, art
- We were thoroughly entertained in the boys’ kitchen as they showed off their cooking skills. It was so cool to see them help make meals each day (when they weren’t obligated to) and genuinely enjoy it. They also taught us a few tricks.
- The girls’ PJ party was a hit with a dance party, glow sticks, nail polish, braids, completed with a movie with popcorn and snacks.
- At the boys’ PJ party they sang hearts out during karaoke and got super creative with hiding spots when we played ultimate spoons
- We created a “thankfulness” paper chain, where the girls and boys wrote down several things they were thankful for and we turned them in Christmas decorations. We did several other Christmas themed crafts with the kids to decorate for the season.
- It was very cool to see vulnerability and openness with the boys as we sang worship songs in English and Spanish in their backyard and they were able to open up to a couple of my teammates.
- Our team helped put together a quincenira for one of the girls and her gratitude for the dress, decorations and her gifts melted my heart.
- We planned a Field Day outing for all the kids. With each activity at the park, the unique personalities of each child came out – the determination, the non-competivie, the leaders, the team players, the encouragers
- On Christmas eve we cooked dinner for 30 people and gave the house tias and tio a break. We stayed up late that night singing Spanish and English Christmas carols and then at midnight we set off fireworks in the street. So fun!
- On Christmas morning we woke up early to surprise the girls by transforming the living room into a winter wonderland and making pancakes. For the boys we made pancakes, topped with ice cream and chocolate.
Mi Casa is a place where lives can find value, purpose and confidence in the arms of Jesus. I got to know some of the older girls and had the chance to chat with them while straightening hair and painting nails. It’s so cool the conversations that were had and how the simple things can build a level of trust. As I straightened one girls’ hair I felt so at ease as she quizzed me on Spanish words. We cooked tortillas and pupusas together, and laughed together despite the language barrier.
It’s hard to believe the situations that these kids came from. Some of the older girls were in a convent orphanage prior to coming to Mi Casa. Because the convent is a religious place, it was very rare for government officials to investigate the living conditions or well-being of the children. So long as they had food, a roof over their head and a couple pieces of clothing, that would suffice. A judge asked Bob if he would take some of the girls into Mi Casa because word got out that the girls were being mistreated at the convent. When Bob first laid eyes on the girls what he saw was shocking. You could see the lice from a distance covering their head. Their bodies were thin and eyes were lifeless as they stood before Bob and one of his staff. The need was too great to ignore and he made a decision to take them all. Meeting these girls now, all I could see was laughter, a welcoming atmosphere and light in their eyes.
A solid education will help these kids break the cycle of violence, abuse and neglect their families. The public schools in the area are corrupt and unsafe. Bob works with his team to get sponsors to be able to send the kids to Christian school. For this school year they are still in need of funds to support the kids.
Many of these young boys and girls want to have families of their own one day. The sad fact is that most people in this area (young and old) have been affected by gang violence, and are living with fear, anger and hurt. Sometimes, just breaking the cycle in one kid can impact the future of many others.
I invite you to pray with me for school funding for these kids and that Bob and the Mi Casa family will continue to grow their influence. Learn more at their website: http://www.micasakids.org/#mi-casa-kids-international
A few other highlights from the month:
- On one of our off days, our new friend Evie took the team to a crater later and the beach at El Tunco.
- One of the members of Union Church (the church where Bob attends) hosted a Christmas party where we sang Spanish Christmas carols with a mariachi band
- Weekly trips to the market with Beatrice was an fun part of the week as we bargained our way through the busy streets for our groceries
It’s a bit late, but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
