Chickens Say "Bawk Bawk", We Say "Do you want to sponsor one?"

In all seriousness, chicken eggs can feed hungry bellies and provide much needed protein for families.  What makes it an even better gift is that it is completely replenishable for several years...the chickens just keep laying eggs. :) We hope to provide 40 families with 3 chickens each.  The families will also receive a first batch of feed for the chickens.  The cost of one chicken is $15 and the cost for a family to have all 3 chickens is $45. For everyone that donates $45 for a family to have 3 chickens, we will provide you with a picture of the family and a short write-up of their circumstances. Please thoughtfully consider donating for a family to have 3 chickens - or even just 1.  This can be the perfect Christmas or Hanukkah gift for the person that has everything - and will be just in time for the holidays! Here is a link to a blog I wrote in April 2011 regarding the benefits of the chickens: Chickens!

Packing Day!

21 adults helping, 16 kids playing, 15 hours, 2 meals, 1 birthday, and 22 boxes later - we finished packing all of the wonderful donations Nuestros Niños has received over the last year. 

I have to say that I had no idea that we had accumulated so many donations over the past year.  We started pulling the items out of the shed, had 2,000+ shirts delivered from AYSO, and had more donations come in over the past week.  We had thought we might fill 12 boxes, but realized quickly it was going to be more - so we had to order more boxes.  And in the end we had enough donations to fill 22 boxes! 

We not only fill the boxes, but we first of all sort all of the donations into categories: Education/School Supplies, Toys, Stuffed Animals, Activities we will do in Guatemala, Women's Clothes, Men's Clothes, Girl's Clothes, Boy's Clothes, Toiletries, Household, Shoes, and Bedding.  Then we sort the shoes and clothes by size.  It is a huge process, but it went so well this year because we had so many people helping!  There were "old friends" and "new friends" all working together for a mutual good.


After we sort all of the items we start putting the items into the boxes - documenting everything we put into the boxes for Customs and so we can tell you guys what we have been able to accomplish together.

We took some time for some pizza at lunch and then did a potluck dinner with lots of great food.  It was a great time to celebrate one of our board member's 40th birthday too.  When we finished compiling everything, it was about 8:30-9:00pm.  And it never felt so good to sit down! :)  

Thanks to the National AYSO Tournament, Duck Duck Goose, the Lady Vols Soccer Team, Kick N Back, and all of the individuals who have donated items so we could do this amazing work!

Here is a list of what was included in this shipment (doesn't include everything we are taking down in our suitcases):

1738 AYSO National Tournament Shirts

2,100 Pieces of Clothes

484 Pairs of Shoes

29 Homemade Fleece Blankets

333 Soccer Jerseys

58 Backpacks

6 Containers of Items for Sponsored Students

90 Blankets

64 Soccer Pennies

72 Soccer Balls

14 Soccer Shorts

16 Pairs of Shinguards

2 Baseball Glove

Soccer Ball Carrier

72 Soccer Medals

16 Soccer Jerseys

1 Cooler

1 Soccer Backpack

4 Ball Pumps

28 Pairs of Cleats

398 Stuffed Animals

17 Keyboards

42 Baby Toys

2 Yard Toys

19 Puzzles

7 Games

235 Hot Wheels

1 Costume Mask

1 Clock

55 Action Figures

2 Bags of Mega Blocks

120 Toothpastes

8 Party Favors

53 Toys

1 Lunch Box

18 Trucks

1 GeoTrack Set

29 Balls

25 Toy Animals

7 Purses

10 Playdough Toys

4 Playdoughs

1 Dora Playhouse

4 Xylophones

1 Drum

2 Toy Phones

2 Toy Pianos

1 Car Track

1 Mr. Potato Head

3 Tricycles

1 Sit and Spin

2 Wagons

1 Fireman Helmet

1 Globe

4 Dolls

10 Scarves

9 Hats

1 Sewing Machine

1 Child’s Pillow

2 Currains

1 Bath Towel Sets

3 Hammers

3 Shovels

1 Tool Kit

16 Pairs of Gloves

1 Marble Track Toy

1 Can Opener

5 Vegetable Peelers

2 Bags of Cloth Napkins for Elderly Program

1 Child’s Rug

1 Train Set

12 Pencil Boxes

4 Packs of Paper

9 Books

4 Flashcards

29 Composition Books

23 Packs of Crayons

75 Markers

13 File Folders

2 Abacus

11 Magnets

3 Staplers

9 Water Color Sets

3 Key Chains

7 Pencil Sharpeners

12 Scissors

2 Calculators

11 Packs of Pencils

1 Egg Crate

144 Dental Flosses

15 IV Syringes

100 Latex Gloves

14 Catheters

2 Ibuprofen

2 Bottles of Vitamins

80 Shampoos & Conditioners

40 Mouthwashes

40 Bars of Soap

8 Bowls

45 Cups

8 Belts

5 Pots

16 Kitchen Items

13 Empty Medicine Bottles

2 Shaving Kits

2 Dental Kits

1 Large Stock Pot

Agua Escondido Update

A quick update on the homes that are being built in Agua Escondido...

A friend that I met on a service trip in July 2011 had the chance to work on the homes in Agua Escondido two weeks ago.  Here is what he had to say about the homes:

Essentially, the homes are rectangular and measure about 12x20. The base in on cinder blocks 3 layers high, with 3x3 beams separate about 48 inches apart for support, with ¼ inch plywood as the walls. The cover the seams in the plywood, they use 1x3 inch finish boards with a lot of silicone. The roofs are screwed or nailed in and are tin. About 60 people will live amongst these 8 homes. The area is pretty….in the middle of a lot of coffee plants. The cleared area is nice, and the homes are on several elevations.

Their group also brought the families a meal which was I am sure well eaten - as many are still only eating every other day.

Another volunteer took pictures and they can be found at: Agua Escondido Homes.