Sunday, December 19, 2010

Playing Santa

So I got a phone call one day in the office, and it was a lady who attends Ascension Lutheran Church in far west El Paso. She was calling because her office was in need of more families to sponsor for the Christmas season, and she knew we did some work with lower income families in the Colonias of El Paso County.

Basically, the people of her office would purchase gifts, food, and other items needed by these families if we could give them some information. Erin and I sprung into action and began calling many of the families you have already read about. We started with three families, got their clothing sizes and wish lists, and I sent off that information.

Later in the day, the needs of all three families had been sponsored by the office, and Sandy called me looking for another. I said, sure. We could not get a hold of this family, but we guessed their sizes and needs, and yet another family was sponsored.

Two days later, Sandy calls back and says the response is overwhelming, and did I have another family, it just so happens I did. So now we are up to five families that would be sponsored this year.

This past Wednesday, like five vehicles arrived at the mission full of all the goods. Each family had two large bags of wrapped presents, and one HUGE box of food, that probably weighed 100 pounds. That evening, after and between Doctor appointments, Erin and I delivered two sets of the gifts (Since we were both leaving town on Friday, and wanted to make sure they had it).

Erin put on her Santa hat, and off we went. We decided since each child had like three gifts, we would let them open one now, and save the rest for Christmas. We also let the family open their gifts, if it was space heaters that they had asked for, since it would help warm up the house.

One of the families, only the new boyfriend was home, so we dropped off their stuff, and she called the next morning to thank us. It was for Mayra and the Wild Fire house for those of you who may know that house. (Yes, her kitchen and bath have appliances).

We then went to the Garcia house, and the girls and mom were home.

The next day, after more Dr. appointments, we delivered the rest of the goods. Enjoy the pics and have a very Merry Christmas.


The Garcia girls with their new jackets. (Provided from the mission as part of the Christmas distribution).

Showing off their presents. That box that Nadia (In the middle) is on is the box of food.

Open sesame

Yay, heaters

With Erin and their coats

Hi

Letters to Santa, they loved that him and I were buds

Nadia found roller skates in her package


With some of the food

The gifts in front of the tree at the Morales house

Alejandra shows off her new sweater

Homero Jr. shows off his socks

Still digging

The Morales family (Minus Jesus the oldest son) in front of their tree

The Terrazas family, minus mom Maria with their goodies

Diego opening his gift

Dad Diego Sr. and youngest, whose name I currently forget

Erin with the Saucedos, minus Dad.

Norma and Kaila opening her gift

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Number 16

This Thanksgiving, the annual pilgrimage from my home church, Our Father, in Centennial Colorado came loaded up with turkey and all the trimmings for the 16th year. As usual, the group planned to cook and serve meals on both sides of the border. They served here on Thanksgiving day, prepared food for Cristo Rey on Friday, and also served at San Lucas in Anapra on Friday, then served at Santisima Trinidad on Saturday.

Because of all the news about the Juarez, the group elected to avoid the downtown corridor, which meant the market would come to them here at the mission on Thursday and they would have a little extra free time for fun and homework if needed.

They also tackled some of the projects on campus we are working on. They were able to tile another room in the dorms (that reminds me, I need to go fix the door and put the threshold on that room), painted the parking blocks with reflective paint so people (ME) wont trip over them and almost have a bad fall, Painted the outside windows and doors of the kitchen and did a little cement work.

Pretty good for this group, but they seem to have it down to a science.

Enjoy the pics, I'll try and get some more blogs up soon, but I have 283 pages to read for school and 2 projects to work on, so who knows. Blessings on your week.

Natalie and Elise may have been a little tired from the drive.

Cake team.

Rolling silverware

Erin getting her "paint on". The paint crew was SUPER FAST

Chef Zach, who learned an important fact about Joe Sakic at dinner one night.

Jens was loving his apron

The line of people as we got ready to serve on campus

About to enjoy his meal

Serving team

Full house

They also made bags of candy for the kids at the mission sites. We used to pinatas, but that was very dangerous and people were getting hurt, so now each kid gets a bag. They get their hands marked and if they try to wash it off, Mireya would catch them.

One of the service projects for Friday and Saturday: tiling room B in YLM building #12.

Nick using his engineering skills

You have heard of where's Waldo? Well, where's Chris?

The service at San Lucas.

Getting excited for some Turkey

Happy diners

The salsa queen. Terry has become an excellent salsa maker. People don't believe it is homemade.

6 mo. old Luna (Panchis's granddaughter) and Abram (Gaby's boyfriend).

We like cake




Thank you

Passing out the candy through a window to keep it orderly

Serving at Santisima.

Genesis, we built a house for her Grandparents or Uncles or something. She is great.

OOOOH. I am full


The cake serving was getting a little out of control, so I had to step in and create order again. All ran smooth from there.

One of my new buds, he ate A LOT of turkey

Thanks to Erin for the pictures.