Something to shere from January 2009

RECEIVING AND GIVING LOVE!

Casa Hogar los Angelitos began the year well. We are thankful for all who helped make the past year a great one. We give out our thanks in advance for the future help that will be provided to us. Mexican tradition celebrates January 6 as the arrival of three wise men at the birth of Jesus Christ. Tradition has it that upon their arrival, each wise man brought baby Jesus a gift; thus, the reason for a celebration on January 6. Families gather together and eat traditional, crown-shaped bread made especially for the occasion. It is a symbol of the crown placed on Jesus Christ head. They also exchange gifts, and enjoy the Mexican tradition of piñatas and candy.

Comercial Mexicana brought our children gifts, traditional bread and milk that the children enjoyed!



Happy BirthDay!!!

Happy BirthDay!!! We had many children celebrate birthdays in January and February. They were invited for lunch to Cabaña de Gaus Restaurant by child sponsors Lori and Brenda Muirhead, who sponsored the event. The children all loved the meal, shared with one another, and wanted to save food for their siblings that live at the Casa Hogar. Brenda Lepe demonstrated to be a great example for our younger children. Once the warm food was served, she helped and showed the others how to use their utensils properly. Brenda is in her third level of middle school and next year she will go on to high school. We are proud to say that she currently has a 9.8 GPA out of 10!
For our boys Uriel and Alfonso, this was a new experience; It was their first time at a restaurant. Cristian had been to a restaurant before, but not recently. The three boys did a great job using their utensils. They all were receptive and open to learning proper table manners.

After the meal came the dessert :) All the children enjoyed having cake after a nice meal. The majority of them had the intention of saving their individual pieces of cake for one of their little friends back at the Casa Hogar. Once they were told that the remaining cake was to be brought back for the other children, they went ahead and ate their pieces!

Thank you, Financiera Independencia for keeping us in your thoughts.
All through the year Financiera Independecia gathers funds for Casa Hogar los Angelitos, and in January they give us a check. When this takes place they also bring piñatas, cake and candy for our children.

3rd Annual Golf Tournament

Our teenage boys visited during the Golf Tournament. They all had a great time!

Thank you, S.S.A Mexico for sponsoring our annual Golf Tournament event.
On January 17th Casa Hogar los Angelitos A.C kicked off their annual Golf Tournament.
We received support from different individuals; among them was Bob Findley who actively sponsors two of our children, and Ambassadors Steve & Diana Stout, who are active in supporting Casa Hogar.

Benefit Dinner in Manzanillo
For the past 11 years Casa Hogar los Angelitos has hosted an Open House & Benefit Dinner. This year the event was held at the Grand Pavilion in Valle de las Garzas, Manzanillo Colima Mexico. The children held a spectacular presentation event of Pre-Hispanic and traditional Mexican dances. Janice Morgan was the chair person of the event and she did a great job putting together the event. She worked in coordination with a large group of wonderful people who donated their time before and after the event. It was a success because of their efforts.

OPEN HOUSE We appreciate all who participated as sponsors for our annual Manzanillo Open House. Tours were given to visitors, the children danced, and the teenage girls celebrated their quinceañeras in the company of their friends and the family they have who could spend time with them.Before the children performed the staff was presented to the spectators. The majority of the staff has worked with the project for more then a year. It was done as a form of appreciation for the excellent job they are doing with the children!

Many commented on how well the children performed and how it was a highlight of their evening.We strongly appreciate all the support given to the Casa Hogar los Angelitos project!

February

We initiated our Art Class this month with 14 of our childrens in attendence.

Architect Manuel Medina is donating his time as the Art Instructor.

He is doing such a great job!

Happy Birthday!

February:

Pilar

Katia

Claudia

Alfonso Alvarado

Katia

Emigdia

Jose Gutierrez

Staff:

Roberto

Sra. Lilia

Something to Reflect Upon

Why do we need Casas Hogares?

Edith Aida Sanchez Murguia

I was eating a few days ago with my friend Nancy Nystrom, whom I hold in very high esteem and with whom I have had a very intimate bond and friendship since 1997. She said to me, “Amiga, why don’t you talk about why we need Casas Hogares?” an unusual subject for us, perhaps, but one that concerns her tremendously, as she is at the forefront of Casa de los Angelitos here in Manzanillo. She has been an altruistic person, giving her time and the very best of herself to support kids from families with a range of problems that hurt their children preferentially. I promised her I would, and, well, a promise is a commitment, so today I am making good on it. A Casa Hogar shouldn’t be just another house that takes in abused, abandoned or orphaned children only to submit them to a series of norms that place limits around their behavior. The children in casas hogares should receive the attention that they lost, so that they may live in a balanced environment, effusive on the emotional level, that they may feel the joy of being alive, that they may do things with enthusiasm and enjoy the security of a home, so that later on, they might have constructive relationships with others, be successful in school and at work, be productive and have the capacity to adapt to changes. Simply put: THAT THEY MAY BE HAPPY. To achieve that a child lives in an authentic family environment where he or she can find understanding, attention, and maternal affection, he or she has the support of the people who care for and pay attention to each one of the children. Nobody can give what they don’t have, nor teach what they have never learned. A child who doesn’t receive love from the time he is little will have difficulty giving it when he is older. But if the environment that is found in a Casa Hogar is one of love, attention, care, preparation, they will achieve the majority of the goals for which Casas Hogares were created. The Casa Hogar should give a child that arrives there, first of all, self confidence. A child that has abilities will be able to face any test and will be capable of overcoming any of life’s crises. Children in casas hogares, through individualized attention, will discover and stimulate their talents. A child that triumphs in an activity will build self-esteem and will be capable of solving problems. The children that arrive at these homes should form, from the moment that they arrive, a consciousness of respect for the law, respect for the rights of others, respect for the truth. Guided by this concept, they will discover other virtues like honor, loyalty and worth, which are the same virtues that will help them develop their future. “If God is the powerful pilot that flies the plane on which we are all passengers, if He loves us, he guides us, let’s trust in Him, I trust in Him. There’s no reason not to be happy!” The child must know that through the darkness comes light, that every problem has a solution for those that believe that things will get better for them. That is why casas hogares are necessary, but very few of us worry about the fate of so many children that suffer abuse, rape, hunger, drug addiction. Get to know one of the casas hogares and its needs, and if you can and help, any resource is well used and they need a little of us. My respect and admiration go out to Fr. Jose Rodriguez and to my friend, Nancey Nystrom, for giving the affection and support that so many kids need. May God bless them always for that. And as always, I would like to thank you for your preference and your time, and those of you who have told me that you read my column on our web page and outside of my city, thank you very much as well and I remain at your service at: edithsanmcheareflex@hotmail.comhttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGPgJRpJSBap1a1ToYOHKkqR9z3ADmhCX4y-W53zDGiM7ouRNJxUanJeu4UkFqjd3eLj8GKy2_2SKikIXrQ-btgbRcXb1_VQXn3zJzYXDLOY8YuyaC2QIWVfYFv5zMObN1rEn/s1600-h/Imagen1.png