Our Nannies Visit the Children's Village Construction Site

We brought a group of our nannies to see the new children's home today. They are so excited about the move. We have had to move our move in date to about November 1st as the rain has slowed everything down. We have had huge amounts of rain but the good thing is that the roof is on and once our windows are in the floors can be put down. We are still short funding to finish portions of the project so if anyone out there is interested in helping we really can use your help. Thank you to everyone who has made this dream for the children come true.



The nannies visit the new children's home


Maria Jose, Gaby and Daisy at the entrance


The front entrance


Administrative area


New door


The cupulas are almost finished


Students and teacher in their new classroom


Our nannies

Happy Independence Day Guatemala!

Guatemala celebrated independence day on September 15th. We had a wonderful celebration with poems, music and dancing. The children prepared typical Guatemalan food and served all the adults. At events like this, when I see the joy and happiness on the faces of the children, that I remember why I came to Guatemala. We have so many "older" kids who have really suffered in their short lives. To be able to provide them with events that bring them joy and happiness is a true gift.


Gaby, Santos and Danny carry the Guatemalan and Semillas de Amor flags.


Santos and Jefferson


The "little guys" ready for the presentation.





Gaby recites a poem that she had written about her love of her country.


Francisco and our teacher, Ceci, pledging.


Maria Jose and Daisy.





The Dance....


The girls with their basket of rose petals.




















Brayan selling oranges.


Griselda, Daisy, Maria Jose and Gaby selling guacamole and other traditional Guatemala delicacies.



Sonia and Deisy.


Griselda.


The kids selling their foods.


Santos


Gaby and Brayan.



Griselda, Daisy and Maria Jose


An artist's vision of the Guatemala's national tree--La Ceiba.


Santos, Danny and Brayan.



Marta and Miguel








Roberto and Carmen





Esperanza and Griselda





Francisco and his chuchito





Gaby sharing her typica food with our dog Bodhi.



Evelyn sharing her food with Bodhi.


Brayan enjoying a little time out.

Abandoned Newborn Found Under Trailer in Construction Site

A little less than a month ago, my daughters and I, were on a late afternoon walk with our three dogs (the mascots of Semillas de Amor). We were walking through a construction site when we heard crying. It was hard to see where it was coming from because of all the construction equipment. I finally found what seemed like the site, a big shipping container. There was a little space to crawl under the container and because it had been raining was very muddy. I crawled under the container and could see a silhouette of something very tiny. I stayed under the container and asked the kids to run up to the security gate and get a flashlight. They came running back with one. The light was very low so I still could not quite see what was crying so hard. But when I put my hand on the little body it stopped crying and began to whimper. It was then that I realized that the little body was tied up with fishing line and then tied to a piece of metal sticking out of the ground. I could not untie him so sent the kids back to the security gate for a knife. This time the security guard showed up with the knife and a gun since he had no idea what I was up to and all he could see were my legs sticking out from under the container. I cut loose the baby and handed him out to my daughter Gaby. The baby was a tiny, less than a week old puppy. His eyes were closed and he was so cold. We set up my small walk in closet as an intensive care unit and went to work. Lots of sleepless nights later the little puppy is doing really well. We named him Sirius after the brightest star in the sky from the Dog constellation. Now Semillas de Amor has one more mascot, little Sirius. Welcome home Sirius!




Sirius, the day we found him.



A very worried Gaby warming up our new baby the day we found him.


Eyes open eleven days after coming home!!!




Sirius meeting BIG brother Bodhi.


Nap time for Gaby and Sirius.




Our little pocket puppy.


Mama Gaby


Sirius "working" with Sonia.

More Construction Updates

The construction of the children's village is really moving forward. We have had huge amounts of rain and despite the rain, lack of running water and electricity the construction has moved so quickly and without any major difficulties. We still are short about $20,000.00 to finish and would love donations to keep things moving. We still have an October move date but that will depend on the windows being finished and installed as well as our electricity being installed. I hope you are enjoying the progress of the construction as much as we have!


Side of the building, which faces the parking area.


The two tall structures, covered with plastic, are the cupulas that will be over the children's and employee dining areas.


Construction inside the cupula.





Our new green rain spouts.








Cypress wood drying inside the construction. We have had so much rain that everything is very wet.



Beginnings of the roof of a classroom.



Classroom.

Final Stages of Building

We are nearing completion of the children's home and should be moving in October. There has been lots of rain and the construction has had to slow down a bit. We are about $20,000.00 short of the money needed to finish construction. As always, we really appreciate you kindness and generosity to help us finish our home for the children.