The month of December, we had the privilege of staying with Mi Casa, an orphanage in Santa Tecla, El Salvador that has been running for 26 years. I was sure this would be the toughest month, being away from my family for Christmas. Instead of feeling the void of my family, God filled it and extended my family. I was impressed with Mi Casa from the moment I met them till the day we had to leave. And yes I said had to leave because if it were up to my team and I, we would have stayed. The first day we met, our host and some of the kids came to pick us up. They rushed in the room and greeted us with some of the best hugs we’d ever received. They had already read our bios and blogs and knew each one of our faces and called us by name. When we got to the children’s home, we were greeted with more hugs, handmade signs and our printed pictures. Truth is, before our eyes ever met, we were family.
Before I begin, its important to introduce the man behind it all. We thoroughly enjoyed every second we got to spend with not only the kids, but their Papi, Bob. The love of God is so evident through him. His faith is incredible and its clear through everything he has done with Mi Casa. It wasn’t until 6 years ago that God moved Bob and his wife down to El Salvador permanently. Before this, he was running the orphanage and his own business from the states. He said he used to drive a fancy BMW and now he drives a minivan. A minivan full of kids and full of love. He has never felt more joy, never felt more love, and never been closer to the Lord. Since he moved to El Salvador, there have been many hardships, but he does the same thing every night. He lays everything at the feet of Jesus and trust Him to take it from there. Because of this, the kids get to dwell in a place of safety, comfort, and love.
Two houses, perfect for an orphanage sit across from one another. As Bob would say, “By the grace of God,” both houses had been donated years ago. There are currently 11 girls on one side of the street and 8 boys across the way. It is the ideal set up for Mi Casa, and Bob knows there is only One to thank.
One night we sat, listening to Bob explain why sending every single kid to private school is a top priority. One by one, our hearts broke for the children of El Salvador. Be prepared, because yours will too. Public schools in El Salvador are dangerous to say the least. The gangs bring unpredictable risk to the schools. Every student who enters is in jeopardy. The violence is out of control. There is physical, mental and even sexual abuse. Girls can be pulled into the bathroom and raped or even raped in the classroom. One teacher can have up to 70 students in one class. There is no structure, there is no learning, there is no discipline and with that, there is no education. If the youth of El Salvador want to have a chance at a successful future, education is their key.
The children of Mi Casa are seeking a bilingual education. They value learning and God is making the way paving a path to fulfill their dreams. Some of the girls aspire to be doctors, administrators, chefs, police officers, and artist. While some of the others are unsure of what their future will hold, they just know they want to help others and serve. At their age, I cant get over how beautiful that is. Some of the boys dream to be teachers, vets, geologist, soccer players, producers, optometrist, and civil engineers. Others want to be soldiers and missionaries. Their aspirations are inspiring. They have high hopes for their futures and I do too. After living with them for a month, I am absolutely positive that years down the road, I will know them as doctors, teachers, engineers,chefs, missionaries, and much more. Every single kid that has gone through Mi Casa so far is currently living a successful life. That says something about this place, considering the dangers of the country they live in.
Bob and his staff have done an amazing job with every kid at Mi Casa. Their work ethic and character is admirable. They are everything you dream your children will be. They are respectful, disciplined, and mannered. They have come from some of the darkest places, but most of the time you would never know it. They are happy. They smile. They dance. They sing. They love. Loving comes natural to them, because at Mi Casa they are shown just that. The Tio’s and Tia’s that care for them daily are full of everything these kids need. On a daily basis chores are completed, morals are molded, clothes are cleaned, Bible studies are brought, playtime is present, stomachs are satisfied, education is evolving, and love is lavished.
If I tried to explain to you just how thoughtful everyone at Mi Casa is, you wouldn’t believe me. From the staff to the Tio’s and Tia’s to the kids. From the 6 year old to the 20 year old. They will change your life. They might have all come from different backgrounds and circumstances, but they are family. They serve and love each other in a way that echoes the love of Jesus. I cannot wrap my mind around how selfless the kids are to each other and to the Tio’s and Tia’s. They are thoughtful. They are selfless. They are love. Thousands of miles away and missing our homes, we never doubted that we had a casa in El Salvador for the month of December and for the rest of our lives.
I have no doubt that in the future, this is a place where God wants me to place my money. If you are looking for ways to donate, your money would be serving such an amazing purpose. Mi Casa is completely depending on Jesus and donors. By the end of January they are needing to have around 40,000 in funds to keep the kids in private school. This is just for education and doesn’t even include the funds they need just to keep the orphanage running. Soon, at least 7 more kids will be arriving at the orphanage. Their website gives the breakdown of exactly what is needed and a lot of neat information about Mi Casa. I encourage you to take a look at what God is doing in one of the most dangerous places in the world.
http://www.micasakids.org/specific-needs
Things I’ll miss about El Salvador…
Number one for a reason – the kids, the staff, Tio’s &Tia’s & Evie
sleepovers
fireworks
hugs
roller coaster van rides
walks to see Anna Gladys (aka lets get some sweets)
Gracie the pug
movie nights
trampoline talks
painted nails
campout nights
larger than life smiles
pancakes with sprinkles
hot chocolate
belly laughs
beanbags
being called fri’gol’ and Lizzie McGuire
karaoke
impromptu Spanish lessons
XoXo
