Let the little children come to me

This is my first trip to the Community that Miguel has created. Observing him walk on the campus is to see Christ saying, "Let the little children come to me". He will not turn anyone away from the gate. He is their father - tenderly touching their cheek, encouraging them, addressing each one by name. My team has been in the 3-6 year old girls Casa - Tia Susana - for 3 days now. Susana is firm and loving with the 41 girls; living in very tight quarters. Her graduates come back to visit her since she is like their mother.

Yesterday, two new little girls were left with Susana by their mother. I was not prepared to witness this. I turned around to see our translators, Diana & Maja, in tears. They understood the heartache on both sides and knew it must be the only option for this mother. The mother also had a son to leave at a boy's Casa. She went to buy him a snack at the canteen and at this point he was sobbing. It was a heart-wrenching scene.

This morning, the 2 girls were crying, wanting to be with their brother, which Susana arranged. Over time, they will come to know their Casa as their second family. They truly see each other as brothers & sisters. In this light, I am deeply grateful to Miguel for following his passion to open his heart and home to anyone who needed a safe place to be loved.

Holly Fullerton