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Psalm 68:6 says that God “sets the lonely in families.” We are so excited to announce that after a four-year adoption process, Kevincito (little Kevin) is finally going home to be with his family! Last week we started telling Kevin’s story: how he arrived at Love & Hope Children’s Home, how he has grown and improved, how he has taught every person in this home about love.

Christine first met Kevin in 2007 on a short-term mission trip. She had come with a team of women to do community outreach and other projects, but would leave with a calling. Kevincito caught Christine’s eye and she loved him right away. Shortly after that first trip to El Salvador, Christine and her husband Dan felt a nudge to pursue Kevin’s adoption.

International adoption can be a long, frustrating and unpredictable process. It took Dan and Christine four long years to get everything in order to be able to take Kevin home. They continued to visit during this time, sent him special toys, and kept in contact with us about his health and therapy. Dan and Christine also prepared everything in Ohio for Kevin’s arrival. They didn’t know exactly when their new son would arrive, but they have known for quite some time who his doctors and therapists would be.

Once the process was complete in both the United States and El Salvador, things moved fast. Dan and Christine had about a month’s notice before they had to be in El Salvador to stand before a judge. After said court date last Wednesday, Kevin was their son!

Saying goodbye to Kevin has not been easy. Thankfully, he was able to spend some special time with his grandfather and his caregivers before leaving our home. Kevin’s grandpa came to Love & Hope the day before the court hearing to say goodbye. He has faithfully visited Kevin since he arrived at our home, even bringing food for Kevin to every visit. The staff and volunteers at Love & Hope have always admired the obvious love that Kevin’s grandpa has for his grandson. We are confident that he brought Kevin to us six years ago out of pure love, selflessly sacrificing their close relationship so that Kevin could live and be healthier.

Kevin also went to the beach for a day with his two caregivers. Both of them treat Kevin like a son, and letting him go has been no easy task. They are happy to know that Kevin will have a family and receive state-of-the-art care, but heartbroken to see him leave. These two women cared for Kevincito with a gentleness and affection that demonstrated nothing but pure love and dedication. We know that Kevin will miss them too.

The night before the court hearing, we held a despedida (farewell) for Kevin at home. First, we played some Kevincito themed games. The little kids did a relay race: pop a balloon as fast as you can in front of Kevin’s high chair. Then some of the older children taste-tested some of Kevin’s food. They had to guess what each food was! 

Next, Rachel allowed time for the kids to talk about Kevin, share stories about him, ask questions, and then finished with a prayer. We sang and recorded Kevin’s favorite song, “Alabaré,” so that Dan and Christine can play it for him in Ohio. We finished the party with some pizza and a cake in the shape of an airplane. 

This past weekend we were fortunate to see Kevin one more time at Pizza Hut. The kids had fun playing on the playground, eating pizza and greeting Kevin. When it was time to leave, everyone took a moment to say their final, bittersweet goodbyes to Kevincito. ¡Te amamos, Kevincito! 

This story is far from over. We here at Love & Hope cannot wait to see how God fulfills his abundant promises for Kevin in Ohio. The kids are excited to talk to Kevin and watch him grow via Skype. We are hopeful that one day he will be able to return to El Salvador to visit.

More than that, we look forward to the day when Kevincito will have a perfect body. The day that Kevin and his Salvadoran brothers and sisters will run and play together down streets of gold, then sit down together at the foot of their Jesus.

Earlier this week, we started telling the story of the smallest member of our family, Kevin. Kevincito (little Kevin) arrived at Love & Hope Children’s Home in 2006 at three-years-old. Now nine-years-old, Kevin has been responsible for fostering feelings and actions of patience, gentleness, acceptance and love in our children, staff members and volunteers. 

The stimulation and attention that Kevin has received at Love & Hope has helped him to thrive. Kevincito loves to sit in his highchair in the kitchen, watching the “show.” He laughs and smiles as the other kids run around, talk to each other, play, complete their homework, help cook, sing before meals and do their chores. 

Kevin is not just a bystander though; the kids’ love for Kevin is apparent in their interactions with him. The others hide behind his highchair, then pop out and growl to surprise him. They stand in front of him and let him wrap his hands in their hair. They slap his hands against their own as they sing his favorite song. During birthday celebrations, the kids pop balloons on purpose to make him laugh. They give him kisses and raspberries and nuzzle their noses into his ears to make funny noises. Kevin basks in all of the attention.

If Kevin kicks his shoe off, the other kids pick it up and re-secure it on his tiny foot. They offer to help feed him a spoonful or two of his meal. If Kevin is sick or coughing, they alert his caregivers and help to pat his back. The kids love to help push him around in his stroller and counter his sounds and yells with their own. 

The kids know that Kevin is different, but they don’t care. They have learned to interact with him in gentleness and patience. Quite often they wonder out loud, “Do you think Kevin will walk one day?” The kids love their hermanito (little brother) so much, and it shows in how they greet and play with him everyday. Kevin has been a teacher of love in this house. 

Kevin also shares a special relationship with his caregivers. These two darling women love Kevin like a son and know him inside and out. They know the meaning of every sound he makes, the purpose of every medicine and the benefit of every food supplement he takes. His caregivers entertain him, offer him his favorite toys, give him physical therapy, spend hours making homemade baby food and feeding him. They sing songs to him and whisper the love of Jesus into little ears. 

In 2007, a team of women from Ohio came to serve at Love & Hope Children’s Home for a week, doing community outreach and projects. Kevin (irresistible as he is) captured the heart of one of these women, Christine. Her affection for him was a pure, undefiled, love-the-least-of-these kind of love from the beginning. Now, almost six years later, Christine is taking Kevin home to the United States as her son! 

In a few days, we will continue Kevin’s story and adoption journey, our goodbyes and his new hellos.

 

This week, we want to tell you a story in several parts. It is a story about God’s grace and timing, his provision and amazing plan. This is Kevincito’s story.

In July 2006, an elderly man came to Love & Hope Children’s Home looking for a home for his three-year-old grandson that had severe disabilities. The boy was also extremely underweight for his age. We thought that with a good diet and a lot of love, Kevin’s health would improve quickly, as it had with other children who had arrived at Love & Hope in a state of malnutrition.

Kevin’s grandfather had been doing his best to care for him, but knowing that someone else would be able to offer Kevin better care and medical attention, he lovingly trusted us with his sweet, frail little boy.

When Kevin arrived at Love & Hope that summer, he was in serious condition. Unwilling to make eye contact, uncomfortable in every position, seeming to be constantly in pain, not able to support himself, and unable to keep even milk in his stomach, Kevin needed substantial medical attention and therapy. His caregivers experienced many sleepless nights caring for him and many long days trying to help him keep food down, stay cool and remain reasonably happy.

Still unable to gain weight but improving slowly, Kevin started receiving therapy at Funter, a therapy center here in El Salvador. Several times a week, he would receive physical, occupational and swim therapy. We could see over the next few years that our little man was getting stronger.

Gradually, with the help of doctors and nutritionists, we learned what an appropriate diet for Kevin would be. He started holding food down and eating regularly. He still wasn’t gaining weight, but he wasn’t losing it either.

Every so often, Kevin would get sick and end up in the hospital. His time in the hospital usually meant he lost some weight, but he would also come home healthier, hydrated and happy.

Kevincito is now nine-years-old. Though still extremely small and unable to gain much weight, Kevin is the happiest, healthiest and strongest we have ever seen him. Over the last two years he has improved immensely. Most nights he sleeps like any nine-year-old should and wakes up last despite the loud environment provided by the other little boys in his room. He eats a variety of natural foods and is able to keep them in his stomach most of the time.

Kevin loves sitting in his highchair while everyone else is eating. He finds their energy, conversations, songs and even crying very funny. It is not uncommon to walk into his room and find Kevin sitting up in his crib on his own and playing with his light-up and musical toys.

On Fridays, Kevin receives riding therapy. When he started a year ago, he sat like a baby on the horse with the instructor. Kevin has improved to the point of being able to sit-up on the horse by himself. When he is done with the session, he is covered in sweat and breathing deep from all the hard work!

Probably our favorite time to watch Kevincito is at the beach. He loves it: the pool, the sand, the waves, the sun. He can sit by himself in the sand for a long time, curling his fingers into it, licking the salt water off of his lips.

Kevin’s improvement over the last seven years has amazed us. The resilience and strength present in his little body is inspiring. The best part is that for Kevin, a new journey is beginning. Kevin is being adopted! Before we tell you that story, though, we need to tell you about how this sweet, handsome boy has captured the hearts of everyone at Love & Hope Children’s Home. Check back in a few days to read about the special relationship Kevin shares with the rest of our children.

Soccer, as we like to call it in the United States, carries a lot of weight down here in El Salvador. Futból is everyone’s favorite sport. It is the sport that everyone cheers for, everyone understands, and everyone knows how to play (even if just for fun). The children at Love & Hope Children’s Home are no exception! 

Every Monday and Wednesday at 4:00, about 10 of the children get dressed and ready to go to soccer practice at our local park. They walk down the hill, cleats on, water bottles in hand, tote bags strapped to their shoulders, excited to see their friends and play their favorite game. The three girls from Love & Hope that play are the only girls on the team. Even our two littlest boys participate!

All of the participants convene on the cancha (field) and split into groups by age. They stretch, exercise, run and practice fundamental soccer skills at the direction of their coach. Toward the end of practice, the teams scrimmage. Before heading home for the evening, one of the players leads the entire group in prayer. 

Saturday is game day. Early on Saturday morning when most kids would be groaning about getting out of bed, our futbólistas (soccer players) pop-up, take their showers and put on their red and yellow uniforms. They have so much to look forward to! Sometimes games are at the local park and other times a little bit of travel is involved. Either way, they all come home in a good mood ready to recount the highlights of the game.

Thanks to our sponsors and donors our children are able to participate in soccer. Futból has been a great way for many of our children to find recreation, discover their talent, make new friends and gain confidence. We love watching them find motivation to practice (constantly) and learn about team work and commitment!

Here in El Salvador, Valentine’s Day is more commonly referred to as El Día de Amor y Amistad, or Love and Friendship Day. We had a lot of fun this past Thursday celebrating love and friendship together.

We started early with heart-shaped pepperoni on top of heart-shaped pizza for dinner on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, the children were excited to go to school in jeans (rather than their normal uniforms), and they enjoyed heart-shaped pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast. At school the kids had parties and ventas, or sales, from which they could buy flowers for their friends or a special snack. 

When the kids came home from school, they worked on putting together a costume. After lunch, the caregivers put on a short skit for the kids about the true love of God, and then we had a costume contest. The winners received quite a special treat: a meal from Burger King!

Later, we went up to the terrace for a few games. The kids had to try and get a cookie from their forehead to their mouth without using their hands! There was also a little sock-wrestling. At dinner it was time for more heart-shaped food, but not before everyone took a minute to write down what love means. ¿Que es el amor? Here are some of the answers the children came up with:

Amor es felicidad. Love is happiness.

Amor es sinceridad. Love is sincerity.

Amor es ser amable con nuestros hermanos. Love is being nice to our brothers.

Amor es jugar con amigos. Love is playing with friends.

Amor es armonía. Love is harmony.

Amor es paz. Love is peace.

Amor es respeto a los demas. Love is respect for others.

Amor es confianza. Love is trust. 

Amor es que Dios nos dió la salvación. Love is that God gave us salvation. 

After everyone had completed the activity, dinner was served on decorated tables and plates: heart-shaped cheeseburgers, heart-shaped twice-baked potatoes, and ice cream floats. Yum!

The last Valentine’s surprise was a scavenger hunt. Every child was given one clue. If they figured out their clue, they were rewarded with a bag of candy! Don’t worry, some needed a little help, but everyone figured it out.

Special activities and holidays have a way of reminding us how much fun we have together. We hope that wherever you are, you and yours felt a lot of love this Valentine’s Day. Here at Love & Hope Children’s Home, we discover everyday that love never fails. 

It sure doesn’t. 

Every afternoon the kids get home from school around 2:00pm. They eat lunch right away and by 2:30pm, everyone is expected to be seated with their books and materials, ready to work. Each group of children has a specified area to do homework. They spread out with books open, pencils and erasers in hand, and colored pencils, glue and scissors within reach. 

All of the adults in the house help out, sitting down with one or two children to get them started, help them focus and cheer them on. If the kids finish their homework quickly, they engage in academic reinforcement or other activities provided by our caregivers until 4:00pm.

Some of the older children have also worked out a “contract” with our social worker; when they finish their own homework, they go to work helping the younger children with homework. The results have been great so far. The little ones love the attention and have been working great with their older counterparts. The older kids are also thrilled that their work contract designates Friday as their payday!

Every home has a meal time tradition. Here at Love & Hope Children’s Home, our tradition for the last nine years has been to sing and pray before eating. Back before Rachel opened Love & Hope, she worked at another children’s home and with children on a garbage dump. Before eating, the children in both locations would lead each other in a song. That tradition carried over to Love & Hope Children’s Home, and even our older kids still join in the songs.

Usually there are so many willing leaders among the little kids that the adults have to specify who will pick the song and lead the others. Below our house is a valley, and you can be sure that when the kids want them to, all of our neighbors can hear their song!

After singing, everyone takes a moment to pray. Then we all dig in to another meal together. 

The older girls at Love & Hope Children’s Home have now been regular attendees of the youth group at the Union Church of San Salvador for over three months. It has been great to see our girls enjoy their time there, making new friends from all over the world and getting to practice their English (the Union Church is an English speaking congregation). 

The Union Church does outreach to the Mascota community which is within a stones’-throw of the church building. This past weekend, that outreach entailed a goal of gathering 100 people, painting the front of 25 houses and cleaning up garbage in the community. After the project was announced in church a week ago, the girls asked if they could participate. So on Saturday afternoon, they showed up to help and jumped right in to the work!

When we arrived, the community was littered with garbage and graffiti covered the outside walls of the houses. Some of the houses had never been painted before. Our oldest came in her paint clothes, picked up a brush right away and worked for two hours straight. One of the other girls painted windows the entire time, alongside one of our good friends from church. 

After painting, our oldest hopped from one job to the next, picking up garbage on the playground. Her initiative motivated some of the other girls to join her, and then some of the local kids started helping them too! 

At the end of the two hour work window, the community looked like a new place! So many people from the Union Church came to help that they exceeded their goal of painting 25 houses and actually finished 35! 

We are so, so proud of the beautiful young people that our children are growing into (we aren’t biased or anything!). More and more we see in them a willingness to serve God and others by giving of their time, energy and sometimes even material things. We can’t help but think that they are taking cues from the many sponsors, caregivers, teams, volunteers and donors that have given to us so generously over the years.

Mid-January is an exciting time in El Salvador as children get ready to go back to school. Our preparations at Love & Hope Children’s Home started way back in November as a team effort. We filled out registration forms. Our drivers picked up birth certificates to accompany the forms and then we printed school-size pictures that the schools required. Our administrator made sure all of the registration fees were paid. We all had to remind ourselves that getting 21 children ready to start school is a whole lot different and a lot more work than just one or two in a “normal” sized family. We also began collecting school supply lists and securing donations for school supplies and shoes. 

The end of December was when the big push really began. We took the kids to be fitted and measured for uniforms and purchase their books. One of the biggest jobs that had to be completed was covering books and notebooks. Volunteers helped the kids wrap the hundreds (literally, hundreds) of books and notebooks that they would cart to school everyday. This took a couple weeks to finish, but we were blessed to have motivated volunteers and children that were eager to help!  

A school in the United States provided each child with a new book bag for 2013. A Girl Scout troop assembled pencil cases for each child, and another school provided new Bibles for most of the children. These were all stored downstairs, then put together according to each child’s school supply list. It was like we had our own papeleria (paper store) of supplies in the tutoring room! We made several trips to the store for odds and ends that weren’t donated or are a little hard to find.

When mid-January rolled around, even the few that weren’t so excited about going back to school wouldn’t leave us alone about receiving their book bags, pencil cases and new supplies. Finally the big night arrived. We talked to all of the children about homework hour and school expectations. Then everyone received their book bags, overflowing with supplies! Their new uniforms were still fresh and clean inside the bags they were bought in.  

The children that attend Colegio CEFAS started gradually during the week of January 16th, including our littlest child who went to school for the first time ever. On January 21st, 11 children started at a new (to us) school called Colegio Luz de Israel. Two of our other little guys started their last year of kindergarten at Kinder Carrusel, so excited to get back to their beloved teachers.

The Plaza Sesamo has been used every morning and afternoon for school runs. Homework time is in full swing everyday as the children are already bringing home plenty of tarea (homework) to fill their afternoons. Communicating with teachers is a top priority for us this year, and we’ve already gone to a couple school meetings and met most of the teachers.   

The children have come home from school in good moods with stories about old friends, new friends and teachers. Everyone seems to be adjusting well to their new schools or classrooms and are generally motivated to complete their homework. Please pray for our children, caregivers, staff and volunteers as we all work together this school year. We are excited to share stories of academic success with you during 2013!