NEW YEAR NEWS

Jose came to us in the middle of March of 2011. He had been abandoned and left in the park and was told by his parents that they would come back for him soon. He waited for three hours but they did not return he was abandoned so Jose sought out the help of the police.             His father is an alcoholic and is physically abusive with Jose and his mother. He has seven siblings and his older sister has not lived with the family for a while. When his mother was interviewed she told the psychologist that Jose was not well behaved and often had an attitude and would not shower. She also said he had been stealing. At this point he has had so Valeriano´s first day at home Valeriano this year me rebellious attitudes at times but does obey. With us, he is mostly eager to please and is very affectionate.             He was brought to our Home the afternoon of the day he was found and we have been granted temporary custody of him. His mother told us and the courts that it was better for him to stay here permanently because she is afraid of the extreme physical abuse from his alcoholic father.              Two weeks ago he had his audience and the judge decided that Jose has to go back with his family, but Jose talked to the judge and ask him to stay with us because he wants to have a better life and he wants to continue study and have better opportunities in the future. He told the Judge that for him our home is his home and he doesn’t want to leave. For a child that is 13 years old is a big decision to stay with us instead of going back home.  We are very thankful with the Lord because Jose is going to stay with us permanently and he is going to continue knowing God and receiving love and protection.                         Jose is 13 years old, he is in 5th grade. He is attending a private school and enjoys learning English and playing soccer and loves to give hugs!  He interacts very well with everybody at home. Valeriano is a very kind boy, when we celebrates birthdays at home he loves to make a nice card for that person or if somebody is sick he is always concern about that person and make little notes to make the person to feel better. He loves to help with the different things at home. He is improving in his English conversations with the visitors.  In the home we have the custom to celebrate our children's birthdays with a cake and a little present. The children are counting the days before their birthdays because they know they are going to have a special cake and a little present. For them to celebrate their birthdays means a lot because it makes them to feel loved and part of the family. We eat the cake in the afternoon when everybody is together. We sing happy birthday and the child receives an envelope with some money. When the girls are at home they help to bake the cake and they love to decorate it. Their favourite cakes are chocolate, strawberry, and lemon. Last month we celebrated Noe's and Silvestre´s birthday Silvestre´s Birthday Noe´s Birthday