NOCHEBUENA (CHRISTMAS EVE!)

Waiting for Baby Jesus to arrive....

 The children from San Jose sing in honor of 

the occasion at Cristo Redentor Church

 and are invited to provide the closing exit song, too!

After the service, kids and adults from both 

Casas Hogares are invited to go to the

 house of one of the members of the

 Directorio, Ricardo, for a "family" gathering ...

a fun fiesta in honor of Jesus' birth!

 The teens especially are into the dancing

Margot is having a great time

Sisters Tamara and Katiuska really enjoy being together

But Katiuska and Miguel Angel also love to dance!  

As of course does Manuel

Jimena likes to snuggle with Tio Alejandro 

 Yasmin and Tia Gloria enjoy each other's company

Estrella likes the Christmas tree

Rosa Maria, Hermelinda, and Margot

Diego Armando and Deacon Juan Ayala share a laugh :)

Serbando, tutor at Sagrada Familia,
 with Estrella and Pamela

Lizbeth and Jimena

Siblings Martha and Juan Diego

Waldir and Ronald

 San Jose tutora, Carmen

Cousins Yasmin and Lizbeth with Tio Alejandro

 The treat of the evening....an entire roasted pig!

Deacon Juan and Ricardo do the carving,
but alas it needed more baking time....
so off to a nearby bakery they went

Meanwhile, some of the younger
kids, like Isela here, took the opportunity for a nap :)

Until all the younger ones were
asked to do a special dance

At midnight, the skies exploded with fireworks
and Ricardo's neighborhood came alive!
We all went out into the street to watch the display...

 But then back inside, where each child was given a
sparkler, and we all gathered around the nacimiento,
where the baby Jesus has now appeared.

and we had a special time of prayer,
 thanking the Lord for sending His Son,
 Jesus Christ, into the world for us.

GIFT TIME!  How exciting for each
of the kids to receive a box loaded with
gifts just for them from their friends from
Christ Church Plano!  The new additions
this year were amazed and overwhelmed!

 Wilber

Pamela and Yasmin (with
Nestor looking on)

Martha and Lizbeth

Giovanna and Susana read the enclosed notes with joy

 Diego Armando

 Tamara

 The littlest angel, Jimena

Cool shades for Miguel Angel

 Arelis

Victoria

AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

Skype call to Padre Ron and Tia Vicki

On Dec 23, Tio Alejandro brought his laptop 

so the San Jose kids could greet the Robertsons in Dallas.

Some of the newer kids had never met Padre Ron

but everyone has heard of him and prayed for his recovery.

Pamela introduces herself as her friends look on.

Yasmin greets her special friends

she has known for several years.

Diego Armando and Tia Gloria play a duet of "Joy to the World."

All the kids joined in to sing several Christmas carols

for Padre Ron, Tia Vicki, and their granddaughter Sadie.

Clausura at Colegio San Lucas

On Dec 23, the students gathered at San Lucas School 

for their final day called  "clausura" or closing.

Here Gimena and Tamara enjoy some time

before the closing ceremony.

 The four youngest girls gather.

Tamara, Pamela, Isela, and Gimena

Tia Gloria and Wilber enjoy a light-hearted moment.

Diego Armando was honored for finishing in 2nd place in his 5th grade classroom.

Roofing Day

Dec 21 was a momentous day as the concrete 

was poured for the roof of the entire first floor.

at the new construction site for Sagrada Familia.

 WOW!  What a  lot of progress.

In this area are the new dorms.

This part connects the new dorms to the dining area.

The concrete needs about 2 weeks to cure and then 

the poles can be removed so further work can be done inside.

After Christmas, they could start on the staircases.