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.

Ángela Is Next

Waiting her turn, Ángela looks on. Her brother, Xavier, and her sister, Lizet are in Casa San José as well.

Arelis

Arelis used to be one who smiled continually. Since her accident when she knocked out her two front teeth, she has been very self-conscious. A pediatric orthodontist is working with her and will help her regain her beautiful smile before too long.

Directores Pedro y María Pérez

Pedro and María P. do a great job of attending events our kids are in and Padre Ron especially appreciated it this year as he wasn´t present for the festivities. Tía Vicki was, of course, there taking pictures constantly.

Boys Not to be Out Done

The boys have their costumes and enjoy the folk dances as much as the girls.

Día del Padre

Fathers´ Day is a big deal in Perú. The school celebrates with an elaborate program of religious service, dances, and even plate lunches. Here we see Hermelinda with a friend and Ada in their dance costumes. It´s hard to believe they are now in Sagrada Familia!

Kevin

Kevin, Gloria and Sandy's son, is here to visit his parent and see their work. Kevin is a seminarian in the US and will be helping the kids practice English at Sagrada Familia as a part of his course work. Being an Englishspeaker, the kids will HAVE to use English!!! Thanks, Kevin

Saying Goodbye is Hard To Do

At the end of the month we will be saying "Goodbye" to our tutor Luis Quispe. Luis has been working at Casa Hogar Sagrada Familia since we began this house. All the kids will miss him. Luis has finished his seminary studies and will be leaving Arequipa at the end of the month to move to Juliaca where he will serve as a licensed lay minister assisting the newly ordained Fr. Ruben at Santa María Magdalena. It is exciting to see Luis take another step towards ordination, but sad to lose his presence here in Arequipa. Many thanks, Luis for your outstanding service.

The Arrival

The big day has come. Everybody at Sagrada Familia was waiting in the yard listening for the arrival of the combi bringing the 5 kids over- Waldir, Hermelinda, Adda Margooth, Miguel Angel, and Maricruz. Pedro had given his talk the night before about being sensitive to the newcomers. Balloons were filled, posters decorated, welcome cards completed, and snacks prepared.

Finally the vehicle arrived and the kids and Maria Perez began to pile out. Each kid bringing big bags of clothing and toys.

NEWBIES

Pedro welcomed the new kids. Maria Perez said goodbye (not without few tears!)and wished the best for them as they enter their teenage years.

Growing UP

What is it with kids? They keep GROWING!! We have 5 kids that have reached the age of twelve and need to be moved over to the teen home, Sagrada Familia. Xavier is 12 as well and we had planned to move him over too, but the Peruvian department of adoptions has recently declared him and his sisters Angela and Lizet as "adoptable". Now the government wants him to stay awhile longer at San Jose as they search for a family for the three of them.

Director Pedro came up with the idea of joining the two cabanas together to give us a bit more space for bedrooms at Sagrada Familia. That construction has been done and turned out quite well. Now the finishing touches are being done- the new camarotes(bunk beds)are in and the armarios (closets) are being finished. Add mattresses, pillows, blankets, more chairs and tables, and ,Voila! we're ready to receive the younger ones.

PROJECT HOPE

We are really very excited to announce the launch of PROJECT HOPE. This will be the name for our expansion project for Casa Hogar Sagrada Familia. We are out of dormitory space!! We have a three stage plan to expand and better utilize our property. First, after building an urgently needed retaining wall to keep the existing structure in place, we will build the first floor of a new dorm building. Read about it here at PROJECT HOPE.

Visiting the Casas

A really cool project the St. Matthew's team worked on were cube puzzles. They constructed 7-piece puzzles by gluing small wooden cubes together. Each child got one in a carrying bag. The team worked with them not only on forming cubes, but beds, houses, and about 15 other things one can build with a single cube or two kids working together can build with the 14 parts. Everyone had a blast and there was good interaction and real brain teasers figuring out the designs. Many thanks, team!

Pedro Works, Too

As well as the kids, Pedro, the Sagrada Director, and Alvaro, the Sagrada driver helped out as well. Everyone was tired, but enjoyed the exercise. Tired....but not TOO tired for a game of soccer.