Our fifth annual Christmas Store was a smashing success again this year. More than 150 children were able to receive gifts through our Christmas Store. The festivities included coffee, pozole, and lots of holiday cheer and excitement! For an explanation of the Christmas Store and why we do it, please click here. Kids get in the mix too by using their Launch Pad bucks to buy gifts for their parents and other family members. They get so excited to spend the “money” they have saved diligently during the weekly program! Strong family bonds The best part of the annual Christmas Store is seeing … [Read more...]
Taking Care of Our Family in Community
The holy family receives the gifts of the Magi After the 12th day of Christmas, as the church traditionally celebrates it, the Magi visit Jesus and his family. The warmth and the simplicity of this scene, no matter how or where you imagine it happening, evokes an extraordinary picture of the new holy family. No doubt Mary loved her baby with a fierce love, and Joseph desired to provide for and protect them as a new father. It must have been an experience of great contrasts. The little family of humble means hosted the exotic Magi and received their opulent gifts for the tiny baby Jesus. … [Read more...]
Donor Spotlight
2016 has been a year of changes and growth. We are so grateful for all of our donors and ministry partners, and we wanted to highlight a few stories of how they came to be part of our Ciudad Nueva family and how we are blessed through their giving. Laura’s story About seven years ago, Laura was invited by a close friend of hers to help out with a volunteer opportunity at Ciudad Nueva. That simple invitation has turned into a long friendship with our ministry. “A good friend of mine was teaching a jewelry-making enrichment class once a week at Ciudad Nueva,” says Laura. “She asked if … [Read more...]
The Greatest Gifts
It’s a Wonderful Life is an all-time favorite Christmas movie for many. In this classic tale, the main character, George Bailey, is at the edge of ruin. His guardian angel intervenes and shows George what the world would be like if he were never born. George realizes that despite the hardships he was experiencing, his life truly made a difference in his family and community. I have often thought of the ripple effect that our lives have on those around us. Just a simple act of generosity or kindness can make a difference beyond what we can see, just as George learned in the … [Read more...]
A Thanks-Giving
Thanksgiving has always been a fun holiday for me, though perhaps celebrated differently in my childhood home than in a typical American household. Growing up outside of the US, my family would often celebrate Thanksgiving with people from all over the world. My mom would invite friends from all over the place to share Thanksgiving with us in our apartment in Amman, Jordan or Nicosia, Cyprus. These memories of giving thanks with people from a variety of countries and cultures are special to me, and serve as a reminder to me of the original reason for the holiday. Sometimes traditional … [Read more...]
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