Part 3 - Christmas Day

Our final stop. The last, but very much my favorite, moment on the 26th! The photo doesn't depict the mother and two other girls.

THIS is Christmas cheer!

An package for a very large family!

We spent a few hours in the morning as a family enjoying a simple breakfast and playing with Christmas gifts. The kids felt especially blessed, as did Tom and I. We set out around 9am to make the deliveries. We were greeted throughout the day with smiles and gratitude. ZERO complaints from the kids, this year they knew just what to expect. A long day, 'fast food' (as if there is any of that here), and heat. Smiles all around none the less! We made deliveries until 6pm.

THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH

It is so interesting to me, but with this year just as the last, there is always just enough and nothing left over. It isn't a coincidence. Down to the last set of butterfly wings, and the t-shirt I bought for no particular reason, it was all handed out to the hands that were waiting. The last family we delivered to was very special, and the memory will always stick with me. It is very similar to the story of 'The Pan' from 2009, but it's about a little makeup kit.

The Makeup Kits

Of course food and clothing are the priority for our Christmas deliveries. But we feel like it just wouldn't be Christmas without an additional toy or accessory. We try to find something age appropriate for all the kids. This year when I was shopping at Mundo Magico I felt inspired to put together 3 makeup kits. You know, those darling little bags to which I added some lip gloss, scented body spray, and some hair accessories. Instead of questioning who it could be for, as I did the year before with the pan, I just threw it in the cart and knew it was meant for someone.

I handed one of the 3 kits out on Christmas Eve to a grateful recipient. The other two kits sat in the back of the car, and uninspired they stayed there. We only had a few families to deliver to on the 26th, I was anxious I had wasted a purchase. OUR VERY LAST STOP, and the bags were still in the back of the car. I also had some stray men's cologne, a leftover pair of butterfly wings, men's socks, and some girl's clothing in a variety of sizes.

We didn't know much about this last family, only that they needed food. So we arrived with a very large food package to find all they had in their fridge was a pot of beans, NOTHING MORE. I was already tearful. Then we met the young lady and her two brothers (with disabilities.) The count for the house was a 6 year old girl, an 11 year old girl, a 13 year old girl, and 2 older boys = a perfectly matched home for the butterfly wings, two inspired makeup kits that were received with DELIGHT, men's cologne and socks, girl's clothing, and a whole lot of food. Empty car, full hands, brimming heart.

Part 2 Christmas Eve - Santa's...Truck in Cartagena

It's hard to describe in a few words how absolutely amazing this Christmas Eve experience was. In a few words, this is the English translation of what was said to us by a father who we met in the park as we handed out gifts, "we have been praying for a miracle this year. There are many children in town who wouldn't have received anything for Christmas..." EVERYONE who donated and participated in this project made the miracle happen. I feel humbled to have had the opportunity to watch people from all over the world, donate wholeheartedly to these people here in Costa Rica. Thank you so much for your support! I will try and paint a little picture for you about how the evening unfolded. It was so wonderful...

The idea for Santa out of the truck came last year. Tom and I were making our deliveries on Christmas, and Brody had found some kids hanging out on the streets and offered them pop and chips. They were so stoked, and Brody remembered them in his prayers for months. We decided then and there, in 2010 we would go find the kids on the streets, and give them a little Christmas. Thanks to the help of our friends from here in Costa Rica, New Zealand, Hungary, Norway, Canada, and the U.S., we were able to make that goal come true this year.

After days of planning and shopping, and with one delivery day under our belts, we were anxious to pile the loads of toys and treats in the truck for delivery. Several of us spent part of the day baking goods to hand out as well. We had a hundred cupcakes, another hundred cookies, juice and bananas, and a bunch of candies. Martin (our friend with the truck and a heart of gold) gathered the kids together as he announced, "ok kids, everyone listen up to Caralee, she is going to tell us how this is going to go down today and what the plan is..." I already had my game face on, so I jumped right into it "alright guys, yeah. Here we go! The plan is.....I have no plan." I had a vision in my mind about how it was going to go down, but when it came down to it, I was super nervous that all the hard work and energy would be for nothing...What if we couldn't find kids? What if we gave the stuff to kids who weren't really in need, how could we tell??? I became a little anxious. All these people were depending on me. The people who donated, the people who were in need, my friends who were coming out to deliver and be a part of the experience. We had a few ideas of what town we would head to first, but no real plan in place. So we got in our cars and started to drive. I pondered my anxious feelings as we headed out. I felt impressed, nobody was counting on me, we were all counting on God. He was going to help us find each other. That's a huge relief!

We drove through a town that was pretty deserted. Ok, no, onto the next. We drove through another little town and around the center park...still nothing. Then Tom knew where to go. The back streets of a town called Cartegena. We drove around a bit, handed out a toy from the back to a kid here and there. The good feelings started coming and my anxiety started to fade. We passed a 'house' where an older man was hanging out. That's where it all really started. My friend Amy said, "we have to start somewhere," hopped out of her car, and went straight to his door to give him a cookie. He was soooooooo happy, it was hilarious. Then some kids turned up, and then more, and then more. We drove on. We found more kids and gave them toys and treats. They started coming out of the wood works. Getting their toys and running, no, sprinting away, to tell their friends and bring them back. And bring them back they did! They gathered on corners and outside their houses. At one point we came to a little park where there was a dozen or so kids gathered. Our kids played there for a bit and we handed out more toys and treats. We were getting through the pile! It was there the gentleman told us of the needs in that town, he was so grateful. That was the moment where I just knew, we had found each other! They were praying to be found, and we were praying to find them. I felt a great warmth, satisfaction, love, gratitude, humility, all of that. We headed out of town and the kids were gathered on the corners. We got through about 75% of our toys and treats, which was fine, because I knew we could find homes for the rest on Christmas Day. As we left they thanked us with hugs and smiles and laughter. Christmas Spirit doesn't get any better than that. Thank you to all those who donated and participated, making it possible for this Christmas to be cheerful and hopeful for so many!

Getting started...

A little corner gathering.

It was a lot of excitement, but no chaos. They were very grateful and courteous.

Tom helping one of the kids test out his new toy.

They look a little miserable with their homemade treats, but they all go straight faced for photos. lol.

Word got out, and they came a runnin'!

It was so easy for all the kids to be involved, even little Elle (2).

At the park.

He did pretty well!

Christmas Delivery

Gathering some gifts for her kids at home. She was so grateful.

Martin - this picture speaks volumes!

This guy helped us get the ball rolling, by excepting some homemade cookies as if it was a hundred bucks!

Part 1 December 23rd - Deliveries to Lorena. THANK YOU COUNTRY DAY!

THE TRUCK IS LOADED AND READY TO GO FOR THE NIGHT OF THE 23RD!

LORENA, HERE WE COME :)

We had twelve families we delivered to on the night of the 23rd. Ms. Jaquoline worked for many hours over 3 days sorting through all of the donations we received from the Country Day, La Paz, and Educarte families. There were mountains of toys, food, bedding, and new/used clothing to go through, and she did an amazing job making sure each family got everything they needed. Each family got a food bundle, hygiene kit, clothing/shoes, bath towels, bed sheets/pillows, a kitchen supply kit (dishes/hand towels/dish soap/etc.), and a toys for the children. Some families needed other basics such as camping stove for cooking, a garden hose for bathing, large Tupperwares for storage, etc, and each were given as much as possible according to their needs. With the help of all our donations, both in-kind and cash, we were able to provide some basic life necessities and a few simple joys to a lot of people on the 23rd. Thank you for your support!

IT WAS PACKED INSIDE TOO!

MERRY CHRISTMAS SWEET GIRL!

THEIR HOUSE HAS NO ELECTRICITY, I THINK SHE HAD TO WAIT 'TILL MORNING TO SEE HER PRESENTS...

THIS TOY WAS A SECOND HAD TOY DONATED IN PERFECT CONDITION!

HERE IS THE HAPPY RECIPIENT! (Thanks Pam!)

A FEW SPECIAL MOMENTS.....

We are God's Hands

I am sharing this story with the permission of my friend Dawn, who was a major part of organizing this project. She called me to share her special experience, and I want to share it with all of you. It is one example of how, I believe, God watches out for all of His children, and you are His hands!

From the beginning Dawn, with the Mano a Mano group, had made several visits to the pueblo of Lorena. Dawn has a really special way with people, and her bright smile makes her immediately lovable. While she was a major part in organizing the project as a whole to provide for all the families, she wanted to personally sponsor one family in particular. The scheduled delivery date for the donations was Dec. 23rd. Due to a family emergency, Dawn had to leave Costa Rica about a week before the deliveries. Her plan was to bring her donations by the school, to be delivered on the 23rd with the rest of the donations. She felt impressed to take the package for her family before she left. She made arrangements, and then had obstacles that prevented her from going. She felt even more strongly impressed that she had to make that delivery before she left. She made the time, and made the delivery. When she arrived with her packages, she was greeted with all too happy arms. They had no food, and no means to get any that day. Dawn brought food, and hope, and love.

Thanks Dawn for listening to that still, small voice. We all need to take time to hear it, follow it, and make God's job a little easier :)

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If She Can Do It...

I didn't ask Sarah her permission to share how her actions impressed me, because she would have said "no way!" She's too humble, but she is my hero!

Sarah is the founder of the Mano a Mano club at Country Day School. She played a major roll in organizing this project. She also gave birth to a beautiful, 8lb, baby girl on Dec. 11th via c-section. By December 15 (4 days after surgery,) she was at the Country Day Christmas Dinner, which we had organized as a food drive to benefit the Christmas in Costa Rica project. She was busy saving the day by ironing out some last minute party details. I would have broke in two, I swear, had she not come to my rescue. Then, on December 23rd (only 12 days post surgery) we loaded her new baby up, along with our two daughters, for a shopping trip in Liberia. Multiple stores, a short break at McDonalds, and two hours of driving, equaled about 5.5 hours round-trip. Directly after which we loaded up the truck with ALL the donations and set about making the deliveries to Lorena. Overall, I think she put in about a 10 hour day. I am amazed at her will-power. Her desire to help and see the project through to the end was stronger than her exhaustion, her surgery pain, and the inconvenience of toting a newborn around. Thank you Sarah, for being an example of sacrifice and sheer staying power!

Sarah, with newborn baby Sallie. Only 12 days old and off on her first service project!

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When Others Come First

Jackeline is the Pre-K/K teacher's assistant at Country Day School. She was primary responsible in helping us find the families in need in Lorena. She spent hours and hours organizing the goods that came in as donations, and was concise and fair by every account. The Lorena deliveries could not have happened without here. By many standards, she was in need this Christmas herself. But she gave not thought to her own needs, and worked hard to make Christmas good for others. Thanks Jackeline!