Get to know José, Manuel, Margot, and Susana

Click on this link to see the latest interviews with four of our older kids.

INTERVIEWS WITH OUR TEENS

Check out the interviews with Jos

More Pics

You can see more pics here.

PRIMERA PIEDRA/GROUND BREAKING

What a delight to have Project Hope getting off the ground! This construction will allow us to receive more teens at Sagrada Familia. First phase is a much-needed retaining wall and first floor dorms. We had our celebration on Oct.3 and were excited to have our distinguished visitors here!

PRIMERA PIEDRA- GROUND BREAKING

What a delight to have Project Hope getting off the ground! This construction will allow us to receive more teens at Sagrada Familia. First phase is a much-needed retaining wall and first floor dorms. We had our celebration on Oct.3 and were excited to have our distinguished visitors here!

Friends

Of course, it was great to have friends here to visit with us as well as visit with the kids.

New Cubbies

Some of you probably remember the two rickety wooden boxes that held the kids´ book bags. Remember the tops were loose and you had to sit CAREFULLY not to fall in? Well, one of our new pieces of furniture is this cool set of cubbies to hold the bags. Ángela, Lizbeth, and Yasmin are all smiles.

Keeping Everything Straight

Over the years we have seen growth and expansion with the Casas. This year it was time to have an audit to help us keep everything accounted for in an orderly manner. I have to give an "aplauso" (applause) to Maria Andia for handling so many different financial pieces in this part of Peru. Many thanks, Maria for the wonderful job you do juggling diocesan requirements, Amigos del Peru requirements and Padre Ron requirements! To our auditor, Toni Brown, it was "business as usual." Padre would be a quivering mass of jelly on the floor if he had to keep up with all the details they deal with! Thanks again Maria and Toni.

Ready, Set, Go! WOOF!!!

October is a big month for the Casas. On the 24th is the big run. This has been a great fund raiser and will be especially important this year with our Project Hope construction plans at Sagrada Familia. If you'd like to support all the two-legged and four-legged runners, check out this webpage

New Acolyte

Katiuska seems to be doing really well in her new school along with Lizbeth and Xavier. But Katiuska has been asking Padre Ron about becoming an acolyte. Yesterday Padre went over with a communion set and they practiced setting up the credence table and how to present the wine and water, and how to do the lavabo. Both enjoyed the practice. Sunday Katiuska will shadow Giovana and get out some of the butterflies so she can do it on her own the next time. Go girl!

Project Hope Takes Off!

Wow! GOD IS GOOD!...all the time! ALL THE TIME...God is good! Well, we are about to do the "first stone" ceremony at Sagrada Familia on Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. This is the ground breaking ceremony for the dormitory unit so needed there. Who do we thank?
ALL our supporting churches and those wonderful individuals who have had a burden for our Casas Hogares kids. Christ Church, Plano, got the ball rolling when it seemed too overwhelming for us to attempt, and it has been awesome to see how many friends and churches have taken up the banner from as far away as England. We planned it in phases to be completed as funds are available: Phase 1-a much needed retaining wall and dorm unit for 12 girls. Phase 2-a similar upstairs unit for 12 boys. Phase 3-an expanded kitchen and dining room with computer room and library. Phase 4- a possible set of 4 bedrooms for "transitional" living before launch to fully independent living. Pray that this construction will be finished by Feb. 2010 so we can move over the next set of teenagers from Casa Hogar San Jose when the "Roof Dog" team comes down.

You can see the plans at http://ronandvicki.net/first_stone.htm

Questions- - -

Susana officially turns 17 on Oct. 28. Unlike most teens, she went through a phase when she consistently said she was YOUNGER! She didn't want to come to grips with how close she was getting to being 18 years old- the age of adulthood here. Her fear was that she would have to move out and had nowhere to go, no job, and no way to support herself. She finally voiced that to Director Pedro. As many of you know, we are at the point of ground breaking for a construction project to build more adequate dorm space here at Sagrada Familia. Without the additional space, we cannot receive any more teens into our Home. Pedro showed her the plans.

As Pedro talked, the lightbulb came on and Susana realized that her courses in cosmetology really had a purpose! When she realized that we are making provisions for a period of transition, she began to see she wouldn't be out on the street. The possible "apartments" we might build sounded great to her. Finally, she asked Pedro,"So, we'll live independently upstairs here and then go down to the dining room for all our meals?" Pedro smiled and said, "Not quite, Susana. You all will be COOKING your OWN meals upstairs..Oh, and CLEANING UP afterwards as well."

Growing up is a gradual process, isn't it??

KIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like it is time to consider replacement of some lost glasses, new prescriptions of others, and an eye exam for another one! Margot will be the first as SHE has raised part of the cost of her glasses with her chocolate sales! Hmm.., what will Susana, Giovana, and Miguel Ángel do to keep up and help with the cost of their glasses?

On The Job Training

Soon Edgar and Jose will begin some practicums in cooking. José, by the way will be starting the equivalent of 9th grade.Good luck, boys!

Movin On UP

Susana, Giovana, and Edgar are about to start 11th grade-the last year of school. My, how time flies!

Manuel

Manuel will shortly be entering 8th grade. Currently in his electronic's class he is studying radio repair and really enjoying it.

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

Recently Director Pedro told me that Margot has continued to make and market her chocolates. Currently she has some S/70 set aside for emergency needs. Great job, Margot!

Embroidery Project

We are looking at beginning an embroidery class for our teenagers. Similar to the "Arpillera" project in Lima that generates so much income for the ladies in the shanties, embroidery is a big skill here and in the Colcha Canyon. Traditionally this is a male artform, but the ladies are beginning to catch on to it. This would be a great cottage industry for our young adults to supplement their income in years to come. All the designs are sewn by holding an unmarked piece of material under a running sewing machine and creating the images directly from the imagination of the artists. We may even have a sponsor to help us get this project off the ground!! Here are a couple of samples of the type of product we expect.

MARTA'S PIGLET CELEBRATES THE SEASON

Well, Christmas is just 4 months away. With this vacation time our kids have done some really great pictures at both the Casas to use on our Christmas cards this year. Now we'll have to figure out which ones to print for sale in the US. We want to be ahead of the pack this year! Maybe a scripture or bilingual greeting inside and big enough to hold a 4X6 photo inside. I hope we can put a small picture of the artist on the back of the card as well. With luck, you will be able to get these in Plano, TX by October.

Sagrada Familia Kids Put On a Show

Not to be outdone, our older kids put on some of their own routines as well.

San José Kids Have Fun

St. Peter & St. Paul

With the kids out of school for holidays and H1N1 worries, it was a great time to have this group here. If only we could get the kids to loosen up and have some fun!

River Missionaries

We were delighted to have Wayne and Lynnea with us for three days. Wayne was the child of Amazon River missionaries and has returned in recent years to bring the Word to those living around Iquitos on the river. The kids were fascinated with his tales about the jungle and hunting for lizards for dinner as a kid! Don´t think any were ready to try a taste.

Kids

Here is a good picture of the Sagrada Familia kids in one of their more SOLEMN moments!

Lunch at the Robertsons

Sunday we had the older kids over for lunch and games. The younger kids were not able to come as measles is prevalent. Keep our kids in your prayers as many are sick as well as Director Pedro and Directora María. Victoria and Giovanna are doing a dance routine for Nani and Joann

Tía Nani Visits

Tía Nani spent a week here at Casa Sagrada Familia teaching the kids about family meals, special meals and the Lord´s Table. Oh, we also did cool stuff like Rice Krispie treats, pizza, and Smores! They had a GREAT time!

Sagrada Familia Kids

Here´s another good picture from lunch with the Robertsons. If the kids just weren´t so SERIOUS!

Bishop Godfrey Visits

I'm pleased to say that Bishop Godfrey was able to visit both Casas this July during his visit to Southern Peru. Besides talking to directors and staff, he visited with the younger kids at San José. The kids "wowed" him with their presentation of Peruvian music. He had the kids perform their pieces as a gradual on Sunday.