St. Matthew's Catedral, Dallas, Team

This team came up with a great mind expander gift for the kids. They made individual cube puzzles for each Casa kid-complete with its own little bag. Besides just making a cube there are a huge number of possible figures one can form. In addition, the team tied in the idea that we are all different, but each is valuable in our own right and together we can even expand the possibilites of ways to serve the Lord. Great job!

Just Humming Along

Recently we have reviewed several sets of plans for the new dormatory addition at Sagrada Familia. We are narrowing down the options to have something to present to the bishop shortly for his consideration. In the meantime we have finished the addition between the two cabanas and will be moving six kids over when the rooms are furnished. The maestro has to let the wood dry for two weeks before he can work with it. These rooms are surprisingly roomier than we had thought. Continue to pray that construction plans may come together quickly and be approved in a timely manner as well. Father, it is in YOUR hands. Use OUR hands to fulfill your desires. Amen.

Good Sport!

When the Roof Dogs were here, we were short one adult dancer. Can you figure out which one was the stand in?? Carmen enjoyed her part, but it´s the curvacious one in the white headdress who got the most attention. Alvaro, our van driver filled in the gap in the line and saved the day! Thanks for being a good sport,Alvaro! Manuel was able to keep a straight face for the photo, too!

Via Crucis

THE WAY OF THE CROSS This was an enactment put on by the students of San Lucas school where most of our Casas kids attend. It was well done although it did have school house excitement and levity to it! The kids couldn't seem to muster up a serious face but for an instant! Ingenious costumes, too. Our camera batteries went out so we only got shots of the younger Romans! May Jesus's sufferings stand between you and God's Judgement, now and always. Amen.

Julo César

Well, yesterday we said, "Goodbye," to our youngest resident in the Casas, Julio César. We know that the court has blessed us with the care of children with great needs and that at some point we may have to surrender them up. That is the case here. The court's goal and our goal is to reunite families wherever possible. Julio now has a younger brother and his mom has undergone therapy and has a job starting soon. The court has granted her custody of her second child Julio. Julio´s older sister is Adda Margooth who is also in San José. Adda is moving next week to the teen home Sagrada Familia.

When I asked María Perez about how Adda felt about her little brother going back to their mother, but her staying. María said that Adda said she personally was happy where she was and didn´t want to move back home. We suspect that next year the judge will ask Adda to decide where she want to live and she will have to decide then. María says the courts will honor what the teen says.

Even though we want to reunite families, we alway feel a twinge of heart and worry about whether the judge is doing the right thing at the right time. That worry we must leave in God´s hands and we pray that the Lord Jesus has touched and healed some of the hurts in the hearts of these little lives that have been under our care. We love you, Julio César.