Christmas Cards...

Tonight we made Christmas cards with the HML children. Little Alexander climbed upon my lap and only left to grab new markers. He was singing "Happy Birthday" and copying English words that I was saying. We even started singing "Feliz Navidad" at one point. Alexander is brothers with David who had come to me asking to spell Edilma and Mayra on his card. I wrote the girl's names on a separate paper and David copied the names. He then wanted "Amigos Siempre" written out so I wrote it on the piece of paper for him to copy. I watched as he gave the card to Mayra. She was smitten with joy. It is really special to watch the friendships these children have for another.

Maria wrote me a Christmas card. It was really sweet! She wrote inside the card--

"Te quiere amiga olel alma Cristina. y que dios te Bendiqe. y a tus amigos. y a tu familia. por la navidad que pases muy Bien. y te voy a extranar mucho. chao chao Besito. Bebe."
De: Maria
Para: Cristina

Last week Johanna gave her Christmas wreath she made for the activity to me. She's always giving me her crafts. It really is so sweet of them and I just love them as if they were all my little sisters and brothers! I pray for them. I pray for their safety. I pray they choose decisions to better themselves. I pray they never feel alone. I pray for independency. I pray for bravery. I pray for love. Man, do I pray for love.

These children deserve so much more. So much more. I love these children and am so proud of their courage and compassion for living in an orphanage and relying on each other to make it through. Please God, I beg of you, watch after these children and keep them close!

Santa's Helpers at HPT...

I went to Hogar Para Todas today to help with packages that Louise Aubin and her parents had packaged up for Christmas. I wasn't expecting to hand them out that day, but the worker wanted us to and I'm so glad she did! I lined the bags with the children's names on them on a table. A couple of the boys peeked to see if they had a bag but other than that, the bags were unbothered. The children did the activity for a couple hours without asking about the gifts. Victor and Bryan were able to come down in their chairs and hang out with us. It was great! Victor was nothing but smiles and loved listening to Christmas music and dancing with the workers and volunteers. They even brought down their 2 itty bittys, Victoria and Guadalupe, and let Jeremie and me hold them. They both were fast asleep. I had Guadalupe for a couple hours before I gave her up to Carlee to hold.

Guadalupe was so precious! She had a Matilde face from Tadeo. She was so sweet and snuggled right up to me. It's the little ones that hurt the most. It's the little ones that I wonder why. It's the little ones that I wonder how. It's the little ones I sit with and just stare. I stare at their beauty, their innocence, their patience. I can be hateful and turn my why's and how's into terrible thoughts but then I am reminded I am there to love. I'm not here to question the why's and how's. I am simply here to love. Snuggle as much as I can. Kiss as much as I can. Sing as much as I can. Speak of love and kindness as much as I can. These are children from God. How can I do anything but love these little ones!

It was time to give the children their gifts. They all patiently waited to hear their name be called. I called each child by their name, gave them their gift, and wished them a "Feliz Navidad". Every single child responded with, "muchas gracias!" It was really heartwarming. I loved every second of it!

A lot of times when I go to HPT, the older children seem disinterested. And it's a handful trying to get the smaller ones together to do an activity. But today, today was different. Everyone was involved with the activity. Everyone was patient. Everyone was kind. Everyone was gracious and loved everything they received. This is what Christmas is about. A simple gift that puts a huge smile on a child's face. Victor's smile was the best! He loved everything about today. Every time we caught glance, he would give me the biggest smile. Ahhh I love it! I may not be able to change the circumstances of these children but if I can put a smile on their faces, if only for a second, then I will be all right with that!

Feliz Navidad Hogar Para Todas-- Carmen, Dolores, Leonela, Jhon, Jonathan, Juan Pablo, Alexander, Victoria, Guadalupe, Valeria, Nancy, Victor, Bryan, y Naomi!

Manuel's Story...

This is a story about a boy named Manuel. Manuel was adopted from San Vicente de Paul, the same orphanage where OSSO volunteers lived and worked in Quito. He now lives in Idaho with his family of 5.

The Christmas of 2014 was a terribly difficult Christmas for the OSSO program. The program was considering closing either Cuenca or Quito, because we simply didn’t have volunteers. The OSSO orphanage for Special Needs children was also in danger of closing its doors. In January 2016, OSSO had to remove its volunteers from Quito, but with hopes of reopening it.

Now back to Manuel. He didn’t know the struggles with the OSSO program but he felt impressed to write a letter to Santa that year. This is coming from his mother…

  

Dear family and friends,

Last night I had my boys write their letter to Santa because I needed some ideas for gifts. Manuel sat down across the table from us, focused and intent on his own letter. I looked at him at one point as his letter neared the end of the page and thought “Great…he’s going to be sorely disappointed Christmas morning if his list is that long.” It was late, so I hurried Jonny along as he drew his picture for Santa, and Manuel as he went back to his room looking for a picture of him and his siblings to include with his letter, along with one of his homemade key chains for Santa (maybe Santa’s sleigh requires keys?). They sealed their letters, addressed them, and then I used my “I’m out of stamps, so I’ll mail these tomorrow” excuse to sneak them into my room to read after they left for school today. Well, this morning I sat down, ready to read his letter and somehow narrow it down into a list that fit our small budget. A few minutes later, I refolded his letter, sobbing and feeling completely helpless. Manuel had not asked for one toy, not one game…not one physical “thing.” I’d like to share his whole letter with you, but I feel like it would be too much an invasion of his privacy, as it was very personal…almost reminiscent of a plea to our Heavenly Father. That’s really what it was. A prayer.
 Here’s what I will share with you…Manuel wished for a few things for Christmas: He wished to not be sick and to be healthy and strong again. He wished to not have to get hearing aids. He asked Santa to bless his family here and in Ecuador. He asked that if Santa got to be in his birth parents’ house, that he would give Manuel a good feeling. And lastly, (and here’s where I need your help), he asked Santa to “…Please bless people out on the street and in the orphanage. Because I was one of them and I wanted a family as bad as they do right now.” As a mother, his whole letter shook me. I had no idea that these things were so prominent in Manuel’s mind. And all I felt was helpless, because what could I do to make any of these things come true?

As you know, we are all sitting here because of the OSSO program. Volunteers signed up, and we had just enough to keep the program going. Donations came in, and step by step, the program was able to make it another week, and then another month. The special needs orphanage was able to stay open and continue to care for the children. The miracle didn’t come in a million dollar check. The miracle didn’t come with 50 volunteer applications over night. The miracle came 1 by 1, and the miracle continues with volunteers like yourself.

OSSO began something new to include a required donation as part of volunteer program fees. Along with Manuel, we want to thank you. Many OSSO volunteers work hard to pay their program fees. Many volunteers have their program fees generously paid by their family, friends, or through fundraising. We want you to understand a little better how your donations have blessed the children you serve daily.

On behalf of …(names and where $500 donation went towards: tias salaries, milk for HML, transportation, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, medicine, doctor visits, and medical surgeries)

From the children you serve and love, we thank you! We encourage you to think of at least one person who helped you get here to Ecuador. Whether they donated for your program fees, or supported you in other ways. We encourage you to make a phone call, or send an e-mail to explain how their support for you has blessed the children in Ecuador.

You being here matters and we thank you!

Manuel with volunteer Amber at SVP orphanage in Quito

Manuel with his doctor from Boston, who performed his life saving tracheotomy surgery at the Baca Ortiz hospital in Quito

Manuel with his little brother Jonny and sister Emree

It is always a pleasure to share Manuel's story and his sweet prayer. Tears always fill my eyes, no matter how many times I read his story. When serving in orphanages, a lot of times I catch myself pondering on, "what difference am I truly making?" Truth is, I'm not making a difference that will change their lives forever. However, a small donation of $500 puts food in their belly's, pays for a worker to care for the children all day and all night, pays for transportation to have children go to school, keeps a clean orphanage, provides only about 2 weeks worth of diapers, provides medicine, pays for doctors visits, and helps cover the medical expenses for children's surgeries. When you put the basic needs of a child first, $500 is nothing. It's not. How grateful I am this Thanksgiving to see the works of volunteers donation money be put to use, be surrounded by amazing human beings who truly have the hearts to serve, and to be in the presence of God's beautiful children. May God always and forever bless the children living in the streets and in orphanages. Like Manuel, that too is my prayer.

Gratitude Dinner...

Whenever a big group leaves, I like to do a gratitude dinner thanking the volunteers for their time, sacrifice, and money to make the OSSO volunteer program work. Without them, we would not have a program nor would we be able to help fund the special needs orphanage. This groups dinner just so happened to be on Thanksgiving. What a perfect day to celebrate our gratitude for one another, the children, workers, and those who have helped get us to Ecuador to serve in orphanages.

It was perfect!

After eating dinner which was chicken cream chowder, I present them with a story and share what they can do to continue support the children at Los Pequenitos de OSSO. 

 Carlee Danielson * Michelle Olsen * Jeremie Johnson

Cecile & Louise Aubin * Jacob Schvaneveldt * Kaitlyn Mecham

Not pictured: EmRee Moody

Can't have too much dessert... fruit cake, pumpkin pie, and peach cobbler!

Cuy Night...

CUY!!!

Horribly Sick...

I feel awful today! My head is throbbing and my nose is on fire. I didn't sleep well because it felt like there was a balloon filling up in my head. I've gone through a box of tissues and I can barely even see straight. I'm suppose to be going grocery shopping this afternoon, but I don't think I'm going to make it! Heaven help me!

Primary Program...

Nancy was in the Primary program so we loaded up the bus to support her. We were able to take Cristian, Bryancito, Dayana, Laura, and Christian; with the help of Carlee, Michelle, Louisa, and EmRee. 

All was well until Bryan wanted more sacrament breadm Cristian and Bryan started fighting over books, and Dayana needed to go "pepe" and "popo" every 10 minutes. Dayana got restless but was able to entertain her with quiet activities. Cristian kept yelling out so finally I grabbed him from the row behind me and took him outside. Bryan was happy with cookies and all the books because Cristian was taken outside. How do people do this every Sunday??

Nancy did great! She always looked at us when she sang songs and smiled. She memorized her part and did wonderful. She was bashful and laughed but still nailed it. Way to go Nancy!!