Day 6 - Such a good Day!!!

Today was an AWESOME DAY!  Bree, Makaaela, Abbi and I got to hang out at CDL this morning and learn how to make tortillas with Rosa, CDL's head cook.  It was sooooo fun and Pastor Daniel even got in on it and shared his techniques.  After the team got back from the reno house, we split into groups and headed out to give out food hampers.  There was a mix of blessing CDL volunteers, CDL moms and La Hermosa church members that were in need.  One of the hampers our team delivered was to Suzanna.  Suzanna is one of CDL kitchen volunteers and when we arrived she was in her new Freestyle clothes from the Saturday night ladies night.  She felt so blessed from all that we have done and told us that when we come it strengthens the people.  Such a wonderful lady!

We also delivered to Hermana Blanca and her family.  Blanca comes once a week and does hair for all the girls at CDL.  She gave us each a shell when we left and arrived later in the afternoon with a freshly baked carrot cake for the team that said 'Good Bless Canada' or in other words 'God bless Canada!'

 

The afternoon was filled with fun at the park - ropes course again, soccer playing and lots of interaction with the community.  Makaaela started talking with a woman in the playground and was able to pray for her for healing.  The woman was so blessed she ran after Makaaela to give her her phone number and told her if she ever needed anything to call!  

Special thanks to my big brother and sister for providing the funds for some new soccer balls for the kids at CDL!!

When the kids returned from the park, the girls were all set to perform their presentation complete with costumes and skirts.  They were so excited that they chose to stay back from the ropes course so they could practice and be ready.

This performance was definitely a HIGHlight!  They were all so filled with joy and excitement to share what they had learned.  To see the transformation in the kids was so amazing as well.  Our littlest ballerina, Camela, was not interested in joining in the first day.  She didn't want to dance or be a part but the second day she had a smile on her face and was happy to walk around with me.  But when we were showing our moves, she was actually doing her arm positions and pliets!!  Wow!

Makaaela taught the older girls an awesome hip hop piece which they shared first.  Such a thrill for them and they did so well!

The older girls then changed into their ballet outfits and shared their new moves.  They showed off their pliets and arm positions, tendues, and sautes and danced across the floor in groups of two.  

What a blessing to be able to leave all these costumes from Jazz-ma-tazz plus Abbi and Sadie's old body suits and skirts and some scarves for the children to continue to dance in.  

 The evening brought more emotion as we finished the house reno and dedicated it to the Lord.  Pictured here is Isabell and Ramone and their parents.  There were tears and laughter as we shared and prayed and were able to really see the impact that our project would have on this family.  Isabell and Ramone were both very grateful and we were overwhelmed by goodness of God.  She said God was fulfilling all of her dreams!

 Here is the team proudly standing with Isabell and her family in front of their new home!

So what can I say but, 'Wow God!'  You are so good Jesus.  This day was above and beyond what I could ask and imagine and I am humbled and blessed again to be serving my God in this beautiful place.  Tomorrow we pack up and head home...the time has flown by and I am already looking forward to coming back again.  Please pray for grace and peace for my kids and safe travels as we return.  

Francisco and Theresa

I didn't get a chance to blog about our moments with Francisco yesterday so thought I'd do a quick one right now.  Francisco is the only dad in the program and has quite the story.  Theresa and Lionel are his kids and he actually found his daughter abandoned on the side of the road and took her in.  The mother is in jail and he took time to find his son who was left with a friend and brought him to live with him as well.  He is a father that, though he struggles with many things, has chosen to fight for his kids.  We blessed the moms at Casa De Luz and we wanted to bless him as well.  We brought him Freestyle clothes, shoes, and a bag of toiletry items as well.  

Today, his daughter danced in our final presentation.  She is the kind of girl that isn't naturally feminine.    She doesn't have a high self-esteem and today was a beautiful day.  Today she danced.  Today she was a given a pretty skirt and took the moves she learned and shared it.  As the kids and teachers and team cheered for her and the other, she was choking up.  

I went up to her after and told her how proud I was of her and how well she did.  The next time I saw her she came running with open arms to give me a big hug.  There is something powerful about showing a little girl that they are beautiful, valuable and feminine.  She received it!  Such a beautiful moment today.