Today was a special day for me, after my morning class I had arranged with the Director of the home where Paola stays to go and visit the home.
I had a little time before my appointment so I spent a wonderful hour in the main plaza watching all the activity. This scene caught my eye.
The time passed quickly and then I was meeting with the Madre of the Casa Hogar Santa Julia home. I brought this lovely Poinsettia for the Madres.
Before I was shown around Robin my host told me a little of the history of the home. 10 years ago all the buildings and the land were donated by an American woman as she was sick and had to return to the USA. The buildings were all in a terrible state with no water or electricity. Gradually over the years and without any funding whatsoever the whole complex has developed into what it is today.
Hard to describe but the sense of peace and love I felt there was overbearing. The Madres have to be credited for creating this atmosphere for these girls. there are 40 girls from ages 4 –18 and one special 6 month old baby boy.
The girls were all very well dressed, clean, smiling and appeared happy. I knew some of the girls from the English class and I was overcome with hugs and kisses.
Come with me on this tour of their special home.
Beautiful flowers and fruit trees.
Some of the girls were in the dining room.
They have small chores that they do each day.
The playground
The Madres quarters.
One of the new dormitories.
Guess who was there to greet me??? Yes Paola
We went around together for a while and I had brought her a few little gifts. I asked Robin if it was OK to give them to her in front of the other girls and she replied of course, wait till you see what happens!!!
Yes she shared with the other girls!!
Paola has been at the home for nearly two years and she is now 7 years old. Her Mother lives in the town but is unable to take care of her and Paola’s 2 brothers, who are in the home for the boys.
It was so humbling to be able to visit and see what an incredible difference people are making in these small lives. Credit to everyone who gives of their time, knowledge and money. Of the 40 girls who live at Santa Julia about 14 are sponsored wouldn’t it be a wonderful story if we all got together and made sure that each girl was sponsored by next Christmas. I intend to do my part when I get back to Nanaimo, you have been warned!!!
Sadly I had to leave and it was a fantastic time for me because now when I write and send e mails to Paola I know where she sleeps and eats and plays.
The afternoon was passed visiting friends back at the RV park. Then back to the school for the last English class for the girls from the home and their teacher Lilly had organized a party for them with cake, pop, popcorn and I brought chips and a small toy for each girl.
The cake that Lilly made had this lovely creamy icing and the girls decided to make a mess of their faces!!!
and of course Paola was not going to be left out of this one!!!
What a great party and I was happy to see that Paola was already wearing a pair of the ear rings I had given her that afternoon.
It truly was an amazing day and the images of the above photo will stay with me and bring a smile to my face for years.
More photos taken this afternoon in Nanaimo!!
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