Showing posts with label Fundación El Camino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fundación El Camino. Show all posts
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
P.S....
By the way, I almost forgot... the answer to my trivia question: Colombia provides more than half of the FLOWERS sold in the U.S.
Also, be sure to check out the link to my El Camino Foundation blog. I have been updating the information about the individual children at the Foundation. The web link is located on the right column of the screne... just click on "El Camino Foundation." Enjoy!!!
I have also added a link to a YouTube video made by Pastor Carter Stucker of Oklahoma. He spent some time at the El Camino Foundation and created a great video about the home.
If you have any questions or comments, you may e-mail me at: sarita.butterfield@gmail.com
Also, feel free to leave comments on different posts throughout my blogs!
Also, be sure to check out the link to my El Camino Foundation blog. I have been updating the information about the individual children at the Foundation. The web link is located on the right column of the screne... just click on "El Camino Foundation." Enjoy!!!
I have also added a link to a YouTube video made by Pastor Carter Stucker of Oklahoma. He spent some time at the El Camino Foundation and created a great video about the home.
If you have any questions or comments, you may e-mail me at: sarita.butterfield@gmail.com
Also, feel free to leave comments on different posts throughout my blogs!
Monday, January 12, 2009
A Dark Morning...
I woke up at 5 a.m. to say good-bye to the children before they left for school. It was horrible! Absolutely depressing!!! There were some who couldn't even say good-bye to me... they sort of avoided me until the last moment. I got to see them all loaded into the school bus and got my hug and kiss from everyone.
Piled into the school bus.
I spent my last three nights in Colombia, writing 23 cards in Spanish - one for each child. I didn't have any amazing Christmas gifts, but I decided to write each of them their own special message.
I did have some left over Mary Kay inventory for the women on staff at the Foundation and a special Spanish-English dictionary for Efrain. (This is why I'm laying Mary Kay bags under the tree.)
Piled into the school bus.
I spent my last three nights in Colombia, writing 23 cards in Spanish - one for each child. I didn't have any amazing Christmas gifts, but I decided to write each of them their own special message.
I did have some left over Mary Kay inventory for the women on staff at the Foundation and a special Spanish-English dictionary for Efrain. (This is why I'm laying Mary Kay bags under the tree.)
Last Night of Devotions
A bittersweet ending to a wonderful trip.
At the end of devotions, I said a few words since it was my last night with them. Not exactly the happiest moment, but I tried to keep it upbeat. It was hard to even just tell them how much fun I had with them and how special they were. A very sad evening...
But on a happier/funnier note: If you look on the left side of the photo, you'll see a child standing up. That is Felipe. He ALWAYS falls asleep during devotions, it's like clockwork with him, and he is 13 years old. So in order to break that habit, we had him stand up during devotions! :)
At the end of devotions, I said a few words since it was my last night with them. Not exactly the happiest moment, but I tried to keep it upbeat. It was hard to even just tell them how much fun I had with them and how special they were. A very sad evening...
But on a happier/funnier note: If you look on the left side of the photo, you'll see a child standing up. That is Felipe. He ALWAYS falls asleep during devotions, it's like clockwork with him, and he is 13 years old. So in order to break that habit, we had him stand up during devotions! :)
FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIESTA!!!
IT'S PARTY TIME!!!
Our hostesses for the evening: Joy, Alayna and Natalie of Connecticut
Paulina, Natalie, Eugenio, and Sarita
Bring on the pizza!
Before it was time for gifts, there was a special time for honoring Gabriela. In this picture, Joy is washing Gabriela's feet while Orlando read blessings over her from the Bible.
The children took their turns giving their cards and flowers to Gabriela.
Esteban
Fabian (I love that smile!!!)
Ester Maria, giving her flower to her mama.
Each child got their own bag: a complete outfit, new shoes, and some toys or items that were personal to each child.
Just goofing around...
Three choices!
Brayan and Emilio (and Hermano Wilson) put on a little concert for us. They were amazing!
Fabian was the sound man.
Pinata #1 was for the younger kids... Alexandra, Winnie, Joy, and Leidi.
Look at them go!
Brayan, winding up to take a swing.
CANDY!!!
A big job of clean-up.
Our hostesses for the evening: Joy, Alayna and Natalie of Connecticut
Paulina, Natalie, Eugenio, and Sarita
Bring on the pizza!
Before it was time for gifts, there was a special time for honoring Gabriela. In this picture, Joy is washing Gabriela's feet while Orlando read blessings over her from the Bible.
The children took their turns giving their cards and flowers to Gabriela.
Esteban
Fabian (I love that smile!!!)
Ester Maria, giving her flower to her mama.
Each child got their own bag: a complete outfit, new shoes, and some toys or items that were personal to each child.
Just goofing around...
Three choices!
Brayan and Emilio (and Hermano Wilson) put on a little concert for us. They were amazing!
Fabian was the sound man.
Pinata #1 was for the younger kids... Alexandra, Winnie, Joy, and Leidi.
Look at them go!
Brayan, winding up to take a swing.
CANDY!!!
A big job of clean-up.
Empanadas!!!
What is an empanada???
Probably the best Colombian food ever!!!
A deep-fried shell, full of beef, potato, and other wonderful goodness!
Alexandra and her sisters-in-law, working hard on our special meal.
The amazing process...
Waiting... patiently... for my empanadas!
Luis Miguel and Marcos, showing off the fact that they have empanadas and I don't.
Kevin and Luis Alfredo also enjoying their empanadas.
Probably the best Colombian food ever!!!
A deep-fried shell, full of beef, potato, and other wonderful goodness!
Alexandra and her sisters-in-law, working hard on our special meal.
The amazing process...
Waiting... patiently... for my empanadas!
Luis Miguel and Marcos, showing off the fact that they have empanadas and I don't.
Kevin and Luis Alfredo also enjoying their empanadas.
English Lessons
The children weren't the only ones learning English and studying under my tutelage. Efrain has also been practicing his English whenever Americans come to visit, so we studied quite a bit while I was there. He's really doing a great job, considering most of his studying has been on his own.
More Fun @ El Camino
Bubbles & Sidewalk Chalk!!!
Kevin
Ester Maria
My little sweetie, Fabian, wrote this on the sidewalk. There was also a heart that did not fit in the picture. He was definitely one of my special little friends.
Pool fun!
It's amazing how cold it can be outside of the pool when it is 85-90 degrees in Colombia. This is Katherine, by the way. Absolutely adorable!!!
Hanging out in the children's "dining room."
Kevin
Ester Maria
My little sweetie, Fabian, wrote this on the sidewalk. There was also a heart that did not fit in the picture. He was definitely one of my special little friends.
Pool fun!
It's amazing how cold it can be outside of the pool when it is 85-90 degrees in Colombia. This is Katherine, by the way. Absolutely adorable!!!
Hanging out in the children's "dining room."
Cards for Mama
We had some more visitors from the States for the first weekend of December. They brought a bunch of presents and decorations from their church to have a big Christmas party.
While Paulina and I were playing in Cali, the children were preparing their gifts for "Mama" Gabriela...
Each child was instructed to create a special card for Gabriela.
Marcos, hard at work.
Emilio & Luis Miguel
Esteban just liked to play with the stickers.
The plan is: The children will give their cards along with a flower to Gabriela, one at a time, at the party. A big THANK YOU to their special Mama!
While Paulina and I were playing in Cali, the children were preparing their gifts for "Mama" Gabriela...
Each child was instructed to create a special card for Gabriela.
Marcos, hard at work.
Emilio & Luis Miguel
Esteban just liked to play with the stickers.
The plan is: The children will give their cards along with a flower to Gabriela, one at a time, at the party. A big THANK YOU to their special Mama!
We Have A Hero In Our Midst
This picture was taken to commemorate a very special day for 16-year-old Brayan.
Brayan was getting into some trouble at school and had to stay behind at the home to work, while the other children went to school. That day, a group of young children from a local Catholic school came to El Camino for a day of fun and pool time. As Brayan was doing some painting near the pool, he heard someone yelling for help. He thought the girl was just playing until he actually saw her going under and swallowing water. She had jumped into the pool at a point where it was too deep for her. Without thinking, Brayan scrambled off the ladder, threw off his shirt, and jumped into the pool.
Eugenio, Paulina, Orlando, and I were having a meeting with his principal later that day, and we made sure to make a big deal out of what he did. Brayan had thought nothing of it, but Eugenio wanted him to know that he was a hero.
Brayan was getting into some trouble at school and had to stay behind at the home to work, while the other children went to school. That day, a group of young children from a local Catholic school came to El Camino for a day of fun and pool time. As Brayan was doing some painting near the pool, he heard someone yelling for help. He thought the girl was just playing until he actually saw her going under and swallowing water. She had jumped into the pool at a point where it was too deep for her. Without thinking, Brayan scrambled off the ladder, threw off his shirt, and jumped into the pool.
Eugenio, Paulina, Orlando, and I were having a meeting with his principal later that day, and we made sure to make a big deal out of what he did. Brayan had thought nothing of it, but Eugenio wanted him to know that he was a hero.
Ladies & Gentlemen, May I Present to You...
... OUR NEW BAKERY!!!
Here are some more pictures of Orlando and Efrain painting... Colombian style. The roof they are standing on is simply some sheets of metal on top of bamboo rods. Not exactly the safest thing to be standing on, but it sure was funny listening to the two of them sqeeling as they worked!!! :)
Here are some more pictures of Orlando and Efrain painting... Colombian style. The roof they are standing on is simply some sheets of metal on top of bamboo rods. Not exactly the safest thing to be standing on, but it sure was funny listening to the two of them sqeeling as they worked!!! :)
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