Casa Update

Dear Family and Friends,
Amazing how fast time flies, already one quarter of the year has passed.
All of the children were on summer break January and February.
January was spent playing soccer, doing crafts, chores and enjoying their
freedom.  Roberto, 16, was in a special summer school in Cusco.  It was the
first time that he has been away from home for an extended amount of time.
He was in Cusco all week and came home Saturday evening and Sunday.  He
actually had a room to himself, and enjoyed the peace and quiet.  It took a
few days for him to readjust to his large family life.

Mid January Chandler Sky Foundation sponsored a summer program in Saccllo.
About 45 children signed up and 3 teachers led the classes.  This summer
program is elemental to the children being ready for their next school year.
They get extra help in all academic areas, preparing them and
strengthening their knowledge to enter the next grade level.
  
The soup kitchen, Sopa del Dia, functioned throughout the summer break,
feeding 95 children and 12 elderly lunch three times a week.  The food for
the elderly is taken to their homes as many of these people cannot get out
and about.  For many of the children and elderly this is their main or only
meal of the day.  The health improvement in the children is apparent at
first sight and even more evident as you spend more time with them.  Their
teacher is raving joyfully that now they can actually concentrate on the
school work and have a much better retention of the material.
   
We are now combining birthdays each month in January Urpi turned five on th
23rd and Yulissa turned 12 on the 29th.  In February Melina turned 7 on the
2nd, because their birthdays are so close we celebrated all 3 together.
   
In February Allen and Marie took the kids on their annual camping trip to
the warm springs in Cconocc.  The children absolutely love the four days in
the water.  Most of them can swim, at least enough to stay afloat.  This is
the only time that they get to be near water and swim all year long.  Here
in the high Andes it is too cold and there is not much water.
   
Also, the children started spinning and dying natural wool yarns.  They are
using all natural dyes from plants, the children help collect the plants and
then use them to dye their wool.  Most of the girls are great at the art of
knitting and crocheting. After two months of practice we are going to start
teach them to work on the loom.  Their teacher, Profe. Bertha, is a
wonderful young woman from our community actually lives by spinning, dying,
and weaving with the yarn from her animals.
   
In March Luz Marina turned 15 years old, we went all out and had a typical
Latin quinceñera party.  In Latin America this is a coming out of sorts, it
is the most important birthday for a young woman.  Luz Ma was stunning in
her full length formal cream colour gown.  Papa Marco and Papa Allen
presented her and danced the waltz. (which was practiced nightly by Luz Ma
with her sisters).  She was so beautiful and proud.  It was her day to be a
fairy tale princess.
   
School started back March 1st, which is always a huge ordeal.  With 20
children attending school, there is a lot of work to be done getting all of
the notebooks and school books covered new shoes, uniforms, and school
supplies.  This year we were able to fix up all of the sweaters from years
before to fit everyone, the dining room looked like a sewing room for a
couple of weeks.
   
Also, we are kept busy with helping our community families with their
school supplies in a program where they can buy through us for wholesale and
also pay it off in low payments over several months, with work, or with
potatoes or corn.
   
The first week in April we were visited by a wonderful group of young
professionals from Germany representing Peter Maffay, a German musician,
they filmed us as part of Peters Alliance for Children Tour.  It was a
wonderful experience for all of us here at Casa.
   
April birthdays were celebrated on April 9th:
Ivan April 2nd, turned 8
Mama Patty April 2nd
Zenobia April 5th, turned 7
Mama Marie April 10th
Soraida April 14th, turned 9
   
Our gardens and greenhouse are flourishing under Allen≠s supervision; there
is always a new experiment for everyone to try. All of the children are healthy and happy;
even with many of them going into adolescence.
   
Please remember us in your thoughts and prayers as we try to raise the
amount needed to have our budget for 2006.

To see current photos from 2006 please go to:
www.casademilagros.shutterfly.com
Please click on and see all of the children's beautiful faces and their
adventures form this summer.
   
Thank you for all of your love, support and prayers.
Sending blessings and love from our home to yours,
Mama Kia, Mama Marie, Papa Allen and all at Casa de Milagros