Dear Friends,
December is my favorite month to be in Nicaragua. The weather is pleasant, and the children are winding down another school year (their school year follows the calendar year). The anticipation of Christmas is clearly evident.
Thank you for your response for our secret santa request three weeks ago. We look forward to sharing with you what this will mean to Alexander and his family. We will take Alexander to Managua on Tuesday. (He doesn’t know anything about this yet).
Our annual appeal has begun. Hopefully it arrived in your mailbox. Thank you for considering us in your year-end giving when so many are asking for your generosity. We’re honored by your faith in our work. And this year, your contribution will be matched up to $16,000! We are off to a good beginning.
We will be in touch once more before Christmas. Please remember the good people here in Nicaragua who are so grateful for your presence in their lives…as we are.
With gratitude.
Chuck
OUR GIRLS’ KICKBALL TEAM: OFFICIALLY AMONG THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY!
Last weekend, they left our barrio at 4:00 AM on Saturday to travel to Managua in order to compete in the semi-finals. Then, on Sunday, they did it again to compete in the finals against the 10 remaining teams from all around the country. The result? 3rd place national champions! The news spread quickly as Maycól and the team were interviewed for television and newspaper coverage of the tournament. The girls returned to our barrio and received a cheering welcome. We’re so proud of them! Felicidades!
Congratulations to Alexander Antonio Corea Muños
Three years ago Alexander came to us for help. He was behind in school and could not read or write. His mother wanted him in a positive environment. We sought a sponsor for him, and Michael Wilson stepped up to help.
Alex took accelerated classes in the public schools for 4 hours a day (Four hours of school is the usual instruction time frame here) to get caught up. Simultaneously, he worked hard in our program after his normal school day. Yesterday morning, he graduated from primary school and will begin secondary school in February.
Right after graduation, he stopped by, wearing his sash to display his diploma and to say thank you. Michael Wilson, we pass that thanks onto you. Alexander, we’re proud of you!
A TRIBUTE TO A QUIET, CONSISTENT EXAMPLE OF BEAUTY: ISABEL
Our school year ends on December 15th and will resume at the end of January. Our beautiful chef of our “Comedor Sandeep Panwalker” , Isabel, asks, “What will the children eat in between while school is not in session? What will the street kids eat? If I agree to work, can you still pay for the food”? She didn’t ask, “Can you pay me?” (We do).
So, our director, Maycól, continues to buy food, and whether school is in session or not, Isabel cooks and distributes food. From time-to-time, she goes onto the street with any extra food to distribute. To her, a hungry child is a hungry child, and every human being needs food. Whether or not the child is a student is irrelevant.
We can’t argue with this love-logic. Thank you Isabel. You help children, you teach us, and you inspire us every day. We are so fortunate to have you as part of our mission!
