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!