CUENCA & QUITO CHRISTMAS NEWS
In both cities, many plans were put into effect by our volunteers, directors and donors to make Christmas be a special experience for the children in the orphanages. Everyone had a great time and shared a Christmas not to be forgotten.

Cuenca
OSSO’s Little Ones:
The Christmas season and New Year’s Eve were very special for the children of OSSO’s Little Ones because they were in their new home and also because they were visited by many generous people who were wanting to spend some fun time with them. A few weeks before Christmas, as a recreational activity, we took them to the mall to see the Christmas lights and all the different people. It was fun to see the astonishment and joy in their faces caused by the new environment full of color and new sounds. They also attended a party, organized by the baby/toddler orphanage that is right next to ours, where they had the opportunity to be around many children, listen to music and eat candy. It was a good time for them.

On Friday, December 21st we had a special Christmas program on the patio of OSSO’s Little Ones where they participated for their first time in the traditional Pase del Niño, which consisted of a parade of the children around the walking paths that surround the building, accompanied by music and Christmas songs. After this, we had a puppet show organized by our orphanage staff. It was very special to see their faces light up and eager to discover what the puppets were trying to teach.

On New Year’s Eve we had a party on the front patio of our orphanage to burn the Año Viejo, another Ecuadorian tradition where people burn a doll, made with old clothes and stuffed with newspaper, that represents all the negative things that could have happened within the past year such as sicknesses, sadness, pain, etc. and the beginning of many new good experiences and goals. The kids enjoyed this experience and watched with curiosity as fire and sparks came from the burning doll.

All of these new experiences gave the kids the opportunity to see how important they are for us and for all those who participated and helped in different ways to have these activities. However, the ones who spent time with the kids were the ones who were blessed by watching these sweet moments through the eyes of these precious little ones.

The other orphanages:
The Christmas season was a great one this year here in Ecuador! It was full of fun activities traditional to Ecuador as well as the US. The orphanage for handicapped kids had events going on all month such as going to Baños to go swimming with some of the volunteers (they had so much fun!), and for those who attend school, going to their Christmas program where they were dressed up in traditional Ecuadorian clothing. They started by having a Christmas service learning about Christ and the spirit of Christmas. The kids then sang songs for the guests, and then they received gifts. It was especially fun to see the kids’ faces when their names were called and they received a gift. It was so fun to see how happy they were to receive something so little, but they were so excited. All of the children’s eyes lit up as they opened the small gift. The children also went to a parade which had many traditional and nontraditional floats, decorated horses and bands. On Christmas Eve a few volunteers went back to their house while they were sleeping and decorated the house and put presents under the Christmas tree. One of the little girls heard the girls and asked if it was Santa. The girls let out a “ho ho ho” and told her to go back to sleep and when she woke up there would be presents. They had so much fun opening the presents and seeing that Santa had remembered them for Christmas.

 At one of the orphanages a ways outside of town, we made many crafts and decorations to celebrate the season with them. Some of these included snowflakes made out of yarn and paper chain countdowns until Christmas. On the Saturday before Christmas, the children put on a Christmas program singing songs in Spanish for the volunteers. A few weeks before Christmas we asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas. All the children said the only thing they wanted was a toothbrush of their very own. The children were blessed with much more than toothbrushes. We received Christmas bags donated for them full of toys, books, and a toothbrush of their own. They couldn’t wait to receive their Christmas bags. They were full of excitement and gratitude for the gifts they received.

 At the all-girls orphanage, a previous adoptive family donated money for us to buy them each a big towel as well as a hand towel which had each girl’s name on them. And then another donor provided the means so that they also received cute slippers and Chapstick. These things were items the girls have wanted for a while and so they were so excited to receive them. They were especially excited to have cute items to come out of the shower with.

At the poor daycare just outside of Cuenca, we had the kids make their own Christmas trees made out of paper, and they were able to decorate them and take them to their houses. One of the volunteers’ moms came to visit and had received many donations from locals in their town. The kids lined up and received Christmas stockings and other gifts including stuffed animals, small toys and chocolate. The kids’ favorite part was the toothbrushes they received that were Bateman and Barbie toothbrushes and toothpaste. They were so excited to get them. The feeling was indescribable as their faces lit up when they saw everything they received. The kids were showing each other their “cool” new toothbrushes and toys and shared their candy. Seeing these kids’ faces brought tears to the eyes of all the volunteers there that day.

At the baby/toddler orphanage, many locals came to visit throughout the season bringing gifts, treats and love. All month the volunteers and workers helped the children learn and practice Christmas songs and dances. A few days before Christmas the kids put on their Christmas program. They began with mass and then did a pageant. The girls were dressed up in beautiful dresses and were escorted by a boy dressed in a suit. They were all so cute. After mass and the pageant the kids sang some songs, and then the program ended with a big Christmas dinner with new dishes that were donated by the Morrell family (also in attendance). The kids also received many educational games and music makers from the Morrell family during their visit for Christmas.

Overall, the Christmas season was incredible, full of the true spirit and love that is brought through service and the life and light of these children here in Ecuador.

 

Quito News
Everything in Quito has been going great! The whole month of December was filled with all sorts of fun parties and get-togethers, starting with the festivals of Quito at the beginning of December. It was great for our volunteers to watch and participate with the people of Quito as they celebrated their culture, both in the orphanages and around the city.

Our favorite part of the month by far, however, was the preparation and festivities for Christmas. Leading up to Christmas, we had lots of different groups of people come to the orphanages to celebrate with the kids, bringing toys and candy and sometimes even clowns. It was fun for us to be there with them, celebrating and watching them feel loved and remembered by so many people. We also did some preparation of our own to celebrate “La Navidad” with our kids. We spent a couple nights here in the house going through our supply room gathering and organizing clothes, shoes and toys, as well as preparing bags of candy and cookies for each of the kids. Then we set out the Friday before Christmas to take the gifts and candy and celebrate with our kids.

We spent the day driving to each of the sites, singing Christmas carols with the kids (both in English and Spanish) and watching them open up their different gifts. For one of the houses for handicapped kids, we were able to buy new shoes for each of the kids, which were very badly needed. Along with the shoes we took some new toothbrushes and socks. At the other house for handicapped kids we prepared a bag of clothes for each of them, with a few small toys for each as well. For the girls at the all-girls orphanages, we were able to give them each an activity kit (which had been donated) each of which included coloring books, a drawing pad, crayons, colored pencils, markers, glue, scissors and other fun art supplies. The girls loved them! We also took a big bag of clothes to be divided up between all the girls. At the two orphanages that are split up into family-style groupings, we prepared a big bag of toys and activities for each of the families, that they were able to share, along with a lot of clothes and shoes to be divided between all the families. Then of course, for our babies at the baby orphanage, we were able to bring them a very special and very needed gift. Thanks to a donation from one of our alumni, we were able to buy a new pair of shoes for each of the kids. Sor Maritza and the workers were all so excited and so grateful for the shoes. They told us that it was the best gift we could have given them. I know that for the kids, although the shoes were wonderful, it was most special to have all of their “moms” there with them, altogether for an afternoon to celebrate. Along with the shoes, we also brought some clothes and blankets and toys, as well as juice boxes and snacks.

Aside from visiting the orphanage we always work in, we also visited a home out near the Equator. It’s a home for young single mothers in difficult economic situations which helps them work and provide for themselves and their children, as well as letting them study. We were able to gather a small bag of clothes, shoes, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc. for each of the children, as well as some clothes for the mothers. It was a very special opportunity to be able to visit them and get to know them a little bit and see their sincere gratitude for us being there.

Also, along the way to all of the orphanages, we took a couple bags of toothbrushes and socks to give out to children on the streets. Even though it was a small gift, they were all so appreciative for what we gave them. It really opened our eyes to how much need there really is all around us.

It was an incredibly special day for all of us here in Quito. The best gift for us was to spend time with these incredible kids that we’ve all grown to love as if they were our own. We were able to live and feel what this whole Christmas season is really about. We’re all very grateful to all of you who have donated time and/or money to help change these kids’ lives. Even though they can’t tell you directly, we want to thank you from them. They are who they are today because of the love you have given and continue to give. Words cannot describe…thank you.

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