Las Cruces SOS Trip Report Day 1

By Jorge Zapata, colonia program director

We had a great day in El Cerro, New Mexico even though nothing worked out the way we had originally planned. The community center that we had planned to work with canceled our activities late Tuesday afternoon without explanation.

Sofia Hernandez the school ambassador, called Francisco Lopez almost in tears because she did not know why the plans were canceled and she didn’t know what to do.

Francisco asked if there was any other community center and the only other option was the Baptist church in Berino, New Mexico—a small church with which we have a collaboration agreement. A few hours later, Sofia Hernandez called Francisco to announce that El Cerro community center had opened its doors for their service.

We had a great day. We distributed about 350 pairs of shoes, 300 books, and more than 600 hot dogs. Also, an agency called Community Action, donated about 1,000 new clothing items that we were able to give the children. More than 500 attended the event that day.

The children were all smiles with their new shoes. Parents were very thankful for our service to their community and said: “no one has ever done this for us before.” The community center director was very excited about the activities we did with the children.

“We have no equipment to play outside with the children and everything we have is so old that it doesn't work,” she said.

We told her we would leave behind all the sports equipment and she was very grateful.

Our volunteers for the Shoes for Orphan Souls trip had a great day! At the end of the day, they all were sharing the experiences they had with the children, teaching the Bible stories, playing games, giving books for them to take home and putting shoes on their feet.

One little girl asked: “Is this for me, can I keep the shoes? You mean that I can take home with me?”

One of the volunteers cried and said that she was amazed at how thankful the children were for something so small.

Today we go back again to the El Cerro community Center. We are praying for another great day. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!