Spreading Holiday Cheer in Corazon

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      As some of you who follow our mission Facebook page may know, we were blessed to have a friend who traveled to St. Louis over Thanksgiving break and returned with 3 suitcases full of supplies that were gathered for us by some friends and family.  On top of the umpteen number of craft items, there was also a large quantity of trinkets and goody bag items donated by a girl scout leader.  We decided to use this as a perfect opportunity to get our own kids involved as well as spread some Christmas cheer.  So, we used some of the funds from our generous donors and purchased some school supplies, hair accessories, "hotwheels" cars, and candy.  Between those and the items already donated, our girls were able to fill up enough bags for every student at Corazon R.C. school to receive a gift bag.
     Last Tuesday, armed with lesson plans, craft supplies and gift bags, we decided to give our girls a "work day" and hopped in a truck and headed to Corazon.   The school, located in a village about a 1-1 1/2 hour drive from PG, has 59 students with 3 teachers.  The kids are divided into Lower division (Infant 1, 2, and Standard 1), Middle Division (Standard 2, 3, 4) and Upper Division (Standard 5,6).  As soon as we arrived, the girls and I (Julie) realized that this was a far cry from our experience at the school in Punta Gorda.  Here, there is a 2 room school building.  Because there are enough students for 3 teachers, the Middle Division grades have to attend classes in a thatched shelter with no walls.  We quickly learned that even the breeze could be difficult to work with in an outdoor classroom as papers and supplies were always blowing off the desks.  Unlike at the school in PG, almost half of the students here cannot afford a school uniform and probably one out of ten students could not afford shoes.  There were definitely no snacks at break time either.
     Regardless, the students were very curious and friendly and seemed very excited to have us visiting them.  Andy and I, and our girls, divided into two classrooms and rotated accordingly.  Andy was happy to get back into the classroom, as he's been working mainly with teachers here.  He gave the kids a hands on lesson using a manger scene that emphasized the real gift of Christmas and the kids really seemed to enjoy it.  Myself, and our younger two girls started with the Lower Division and began by reading them the story of Saint Nicholas with rich images on our computer.  The children were mostly familiar with Santa Claus but I don't think he visits them so their understanding of him is a bit different.  After the story we did a craft with the kids (thanks to some of our great craft donations).  Each student made a foam sticker Christmas ornament.  Although the kids may not have any Christmas decorations at home, let alone a Christmas tree, the students were really excited when I told them that they could bring the ornaments home with them.
     This was fun but for me, the real highlight of the visit was when our girls got to hand out the gifts bags to the students.  Lillian passed out the bags for the girls and Sarah passed out the bags for the boys.  The look on their face, especially the Lower Division kids, was complete excitement.  For the first time since we've moved here, I was moved to near tears by the children.  I cannot remember the last time I've seen a child this excited--one would think by their reaction that they'd just won a trip to Disneyworld. The bags were clear and the children's faces lit up as they saw their toy "trucks", rings, and bracelets.  One by one they showed them to the teacher and compared items with each other.   I made the children promise not to open the bags until later but by the end of the day there were dozens of kids adorned in plastic rings, bracelets, and playing with jumping spiders.  Even the older students were excited to get the gift bags.  One Std. 6 student asked me what a certain item was.  As I demonstrated to her it was a bracelet by placing it on her wrist, her whole face lit up and she gasped in excitement.  The students were even excited to use their new pencils and sharpeners and Emily had a great time working with the younger students as they eagerly wanted to draw pictures their new gifts and pictures of Christmas trees (resembling more of a palm tree).
     I know that being here long term for us is more about making little steps in the hopes of making big impacts for Christ.  That often means little visible reward for us. We really do strive to work with the "hand up" not "hand out" mentality but there's just something special about Christmas and the joy of giving.  The gifts that we were blessed to share with the kids of Corazon are quite possibly the only gifts that they'll receive this Christmas and for that moment, they could not have been much happier. Our girls got an opportunity to experience what real giving is about and we got an opportunity to share the real message of Christmas with those around us.  And for that, we feel so blessed.
     For those of you who have donated craft items and supplies and for those of you who have donated financially to this mission I want to take this time to say Thank You!  Each of you has made it possible for us to share with the students at Corazon.   This has been a highlight of our time here and we feel so unbelievably blessed that you gave us this opportunity.
     We would like to wish every one a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.  May you see this season as an opportunity to reach out to those in need in your very own neighborhood or family.  You do not have to travel thousands of miles away to share the gift of yourself.  You can share the message of Christmas right now, right where you are, in whatever phase in life you are in.