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Little Steps Toward Brighter Future By  Lourdes Valladares I did not know what I would accomplish on my 50- hour trip to the Dominican Republic last month. What I did know was that after eight months of not being able to go back, I was deeply missing our children’s faces and smiles.  I waited on God’s timing to put everything in place in my family’s life that would allow me to return.  On the way, I wondered if the children would still remember me.  But immediately inside Casa de Luz, I was greeted warmly with lots of hugs and smiles from the children and staff. It was as if I had never been away and I was back in my ‘home away from home.

Casa de Luz is a home. It’s more than just a structure with nurses and doctor, caregivers and cooks for the children.  It is a place where children hear about Jesus’ love for them around the clock and where they can see with their own eyes God’s daily provision for their needs through the many people who support the work with finances, volunteer time, or prayers—and sometimes all three both in the Dominican Republic and in the U.S. It is a place where a child can have dreams, like Tania, age 9, who talks about being Casa de Luz’s doctor herself someday.  It is a home where a child can hope to walk someday, like Maria Elisa whose 4^th birthday we will celebrate on April 10, 2009.

It seems just a short time ago when I shared in previous newsletters about Maria Elisa’s arrival to Casa de Luz and the surgeries performed on her legs (December 2006, August 2008, respectively.) However, as Maria Elisa’s fourth birthday approaches, I realize that time is running out for her to be able to walk someday.  I’m not a medical doctor by any means, but as a mother I have the intuition to realize that the time has come to take action if we are ever going to see this special little girl walk and have the gift of mobility using her own legs.  Yes, using our own legs to walk is a gift.

Seeing Maria Elisa on this trip, I have come to believe that the previous surgeries have done little to improve her chances of walking.  As I write this, I am carrying the burden of getting the help she needs here in the U.S.  We are contacting the Shriner’s Hospital in Tampa and we are open to any and all possibilities to bring Maria Elisa here for an evaluation and possible surgery on her legs.  Perhaps even her arms and hands might benefit from surgery as the physical therapy that she has been receiving appears to have done little for her bones and limbs.

I thank all of you who give regularly to the children and ask that you continue to do so even when our economy doesn’t look very promising.  God will multiply your gifts!  If you’re reading this and wonder how your monetary gift or frequent flyer miles can help children like Maria Elisa and our other children in Casa de Luz, I would love to speak with you.  Call us or write for more information. limbs. 

Thank You!   Lourdes Valladares, March, 2009

American Airlines miles needed!  Consider allowing Project Child to use 30,000 of your miles to purchase a needed airline ticket for children or administrative needs. 2009

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