Forgotten No More

Can you even imagine being in this situation…your father has died. Then your mother dies, leaving you orphaned. You have no extended family to take you in. You have nowhere to go. You have no one to look after you. You are only 11 years old. And you have the responsibility of your 9-year-old sister. You have no identity because you have no documents, not even a birth certificate. You and your sister are taken by the police to a transitional children’s center. Here children are placed for a short time while representatives from Social Action search for your family. But they find no one for you. They search for an orphanage to place you in. But all of the orphanages are either full or they don’t take in older children. So, you remain at this center… watching other children come and go after being reunited with family or taken in by an orphanage. You wait and you wait for someone to come for you. But no one comes. Each day, you wake up, make your bed, shower and complete your chores. The rest of your day is spent waiting. You cannot go to school and study. You don’t go to church. The only time you leave the walls surrounding the center are when you are sick and must go for a consult at the hospital. No one thinks of you. No one cares about you. No one loves you best of all. 

 This was what Faustino and Beatriz lived for two years. They were forgotten. No one even really knew they existed. They did develop a friendship with another boy with a similar story. France arrived at this transitional center around the same time when he was 10 years old. He was born in South Africa and his Mozambican mother brought him back to Mozambique. She died leaving him orphaned with no family. So, France waited for a placement somewhere along with Faustino and Beatriz day after day. 

I cannot even comprehend the helplessness and hopelessness of being abandoned and left like these children. We don’t think about such things because we do not ever come into direct face-to-face contact with such children. In fact, those of us living in the first-world nations will probably never in our lifetime even meet an orphaned child. We go about our lives never giving much, if any thought, to orphaned and abandoned children. Let me tell you from personal experience, it is life altering to meet such children. It changes your whole outlook on life and what is important. Even after 10 years of working with orphaned and abandoned children, I still am emotionally devastated each time a new child is brought to my attention.  

It was heart wrenching to sit across from Faustino, Beatriz and France at a cement table and listen to their stories. Their greatest desire was to attend school. Faustino's dream is to work and have a job. Beatriz wants to be a teacher. France dreams of being a pastor. Their soft brown eyes took me in. The downcast expression on their faces conveyed their thoughts. They thought we also would not want them. They thought we also would leave them at this center and forget about them as we went on with our lives. But they thought wrong. They were about to have their whole world transformed. 

 Having heard their stories, we shared our story with the children. We explained who we were and why we were there. We invited them to come with us to be raised in one of our Sunshine Houses as a part of our family. Each one gave us a blank stare. We repeated to them that they were welcome if they chose to come. They stared back in disbelief. They looked at each other. They looked again at us. Again we told them they were welcome to come with us. This time, they responded and they eagerly accepted. Yet they still sat on the cement bench and didn’t move. So, we told them to go pack their belongings and say their goodbyes to the people who had cared for them at the center. They looked at us, looked at each other, and looked back at us again…and like the shot of a gun, they were off! Up they went to hug their primary caretaker and shake hands with the men who were the groundskeepers of the center, all of whom were seated within hearing distance following our entire conversation. The children headed off to pack, their primary caregiver right on their heels trying to keep up…brushing tears from her eyes.

 Each child showered and dressed in their best outfit and emerged from the dormitory with fully stuffed book bags. The children were offered lunch but not one of them was able to eat. They were too excited to go. After they returned their still full plates to the kitchen, we took a group photo before heading to the car. 

 Their primary caretaker walked with them all the way and helped to load them in the van, tears in her eyes. 

We reassured her, sharing that she had cared for them well and it was evident that she loved them. We promised her we would continue her good care for them. Satisfied, she moved away from the van and joined the group of men seeing them off. We waved goodbye to the group and began the hour trip back to Matola. 

 The children chattered together in the back of the van during the trip. I couldn’t understand what they were saying as they were speaking in Shongan. Again, I tried to imagine what they must be thinking and feeling. For sure, they were excited. The tone of their voices and the broad smiles on their faces every time I turned around to take a peek at them revealed this. As we arrived in Matola and began the drive through the community to their new home, it got very quiet in the back of the van. No one was speaking anymore. Reality was setting in. 

 We arrived at their home and were greeted first by Antonio, the little boy who lives at our first Sunshine House. He heard we were bringing children and wanted to be the first to meet them. I am sure he was happy to see two boys emerge from the van. Antonio, Vicente and Helio are for sure outnumbered by the 9 other girls in our houses. No sooner had Antonio greeted them than their new mother, Catarina, appeared around the corner of the wall. She was beaming! She had been waiting for two months for children to fill her home. She greeted each child with a kiss on each cheek as praised God for bringing these children to her. 

We proceeded to show the children the house and to make up their beds with fresh, new linens. Antonio was right there helping us with the work, but the three new children were drawn to the television in the living room…a very new and alluring attraction for them. The time arrived for us to leave Catarina and the children so they could get to know each other and spend their first night together as a family. Smiles were still plastered on every face but one…Faustino. His face was blank. He was doing his best to stay strong, but soon the tears began to stream down his sweet cheeks. I sat next to him with my arm around him consoling him, encouraging him, and loving him. I am so thankful he had his sister and his friend with him. They are a huge support to each other, so I asked them both do their best to help him adjust. We took a family photo and left the family to their evening. 

 These children and their new mother were in my continual thoughts for the remainder of the evening. I woke up at 3 am thinking of them again. So, I got up and prayed for them and all that is ahead of us. First thing this morning, I headed to their house excited to see how they were. As I parked my car, they all came running out to greet me. In fact, I couldn’t even get out of the car. They all tumbled in with smiles and greetings. They were joined by Madalena, Antonio’s sister at the first house. Like Antonio, she wanted to get to know the new children. Our Sunshine children are one big extended family. They may live in different houses, but they are brothers and sisters and support one another in the most beautiful ways.  

Catarina caught me up with how the night went. The two younger children went to bed early, exhausted from the full day they had. She then had the opportunity to sit on the sofa with Faustino and watch a film on television. It was quality time that left him feeling full and ready to sleep. All three children slept soundly and woke up to a new day and a new life ahead of them. 

 Faustino, Beatriz and France are no longer alone. They now are part of a family. They will grow up knowing they are a part of not only our Sunshine family, but they are part of God’s family. They will know that they have a heavenly Father who will never leave them or forsake them. They have a heavenly Father who saw them and their needs. He kept them just for us. They are now our treasures. We are three children richer today. These precious children are forgotten no more.

Our Newest Treasure

This sweet girl is the newest member of our Sunshine Family. Her name is Virginia, but she goes by the nickname Ginoca. Ginoca joined our family in December 2020. In the short time we have known her, we are truly astounded by the strong character of this little girl. She is going to go far in life. 

 Ginoca did not have an easy start to life. Her mother abandoned her and her father when she was just a baby. There is no record of her birth, so we don’t know her birthday or her age. Social Action assigned her a birth date of January 1, 2013, making her now 8 years old. She has never attended school. Her father abused her and then intimidated her into keeping quiet by saying that he would kill her if she told anyone. But our Ginoca was brave, and she did speak up… she told the local chefe. The chefe contacted the police, and they moved right into action removing Ginoca from the home and putting the father in jail where he is awaiting a trial. Social Action felt she would do better in a family-care setting, so they contacted our Sunshine Approach Foundation to place her in one of our homes. 

 I was in the United States visiting family at the time, so my husband, Don, and our son, William, joined my colleague, Delcio, in going to the orphanage in Machava. When our crew arrived, they were invited to sit outside in the shade of a tree while they talked with the orphanage’s nurse. As they were talking, a little girl came up, looked them over, and exclaimed, “Eles sao bonitos!” (They are beautiful!) 

My husband asked who this girl was, and the nurse informed him that this was the little girl they came to see. They thought they were just going to meet her… yet when she came out to meet them carrying her book bag packed up with all of her belongings and the nurse handed them a file with her documentation, they realized she was coming home with them…that very day! After the papers were signed, they climbed into the car and began the trip to Matola. 

 Throughout the whole experience, my husband was impressed by Ginoca. He expected to meet a shy, withdrawn, scared little girl. Ginoca instead was positive, outgoing, friendly and confident. On their way to Matola, they stopped at a local store and took Ginoca to the toy aisle. Don showed her all the rows and rows of dolls and told her she could pick any one she wanted… except for the one that was as tall as she was!!! Ginoca took about 10 minutes to carefully survey each doll in each row, and in the end chose the one to her liking. The doll was paid for and they continued on to her new home where she was welcomed into her new family. 

 That evening, Don and William called me to inform me that they had come to the decision that they were switching jobs with me. They would now run the foundation and I would run the factory. The day impacted them greatly, and they felt it was the most rewarding day of their life. My response, “No way!” But I did tell them they are welcome to join me in my work any day they would like. 

 Ginoca now lives with her new mother, Ilda, and her new 4 siblings, Virginia, Nina, Vicente and Helio. She became an immediate member of the family with the girls putting new braids in her hair, her brothers showing her how to get around the neighborhood, and Ilda teaching her the chores she would be expected to complete as a part of the family. She loves to play with dolls and can usually be found laughing and giggling with her sisters in their bedroom. She is inquisitive and curious. When we gather together every Sunday for our “Igrejinha”, our name for our children’s church attended by our Sunshine children, she sits in her chair with her face set like stone on whoever is sharing the message that day. She carries herself well and displays the best of manners. She is an all-around amazing young lady. 

 Today was the first day of school in Mozambique. Our schools have been closed since the start of the Covid restrictions in March 2020. For Ginoca, it was her first first-day of school ever! She never had the opportunity to attend school. So she will start at the beginning in grade 1. As we expected, she is not put off by this. She was ready to go and excited for what lies ahead of her. It was such a privilege and honor to take her to school today. I warned her ahead of time that Mama Terri would be taking many photos and there may even be some tears involved. She just smiled and gave me a warm hug. 

 As we drove to the school, I came to the realization of how popular she is in the community. Many other girls shouted out her name and called to her as we drove past. Ginoca responded to each girl with warm greetings and waves. I felt like I was chauffeuring a celebrity in my car! 

 At the school, I was more nervous than she was! She entered with confidence and security. 

We found her classroom and introduced her to her new teacher. After yet another photo, this time with her teacher, Delcio told me that it was time to go. 

 We mothers know that feeling of leaving our children behind on their first day of school. We look back again and again as we exit the classroom making sure that our child is okay. Our hearts feel like they are being torn in two and our eyes are welled up with tears. We think of a million things we have forgotten to tell them and remind them of. I felt all of these things as I left her room. She, however, was just fine. She sat in her little desk with a look of complete calm on her face. 

 So now I sit at home, waiting for a call from her mother, Ilda, to let me know she is back home. I’m waiting to hear her tell me how her day was. I’m anxious to know every detail. But we mothers know what I will hear. I will ask her how her day was, and she will respond like every other child. She will simply answer, “Good.”

Boxes of Support and Sunshine

2020 has been a year with more than its fair share of challenges. Every one of us has been affected in one way or another. Every one of us has had our limits tested physically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. Every one of us has dealt with some kind of loss. 2020 has stretched us, grown us, and taught us a lot. While I think we all would agree that we would not want to repeat this past year, I also believe that we would also say that we would not want to trade away what we have learned. As 2020 draws to a close, and I reflect back on the events of this year, what stands out for me the most is how people have rallied together to support each other. I love hearing the stories of people caring for their neighbors and family members in need. What I love even more is how people are even moved to support those they do not know. I had a first-hand experience with this. 

Our company and foundation occasionally will put out a call for assistance. We don’t do this too often; only when there is a pressing need and people are suffering, like when Mozambique was devastated by a cyclone. When we put out requests for donations for such causes, we truly are overwhelmed by the goodness that pours out of people. 

When the COVID restrictions were imposed in Mozambique, our thoughts and attentions immediately turned to the many families in our impoverished communities where our Sunshine Houses are located. We serve many of these families through our Beacons of Light community projects for at-risk, vulnerable children. How would these families, who were already living below the extreme poverty line, be able to survive with the little opportunity they had? We watched to see how they would fare. After only a month of seeing them endure the restrictions that made it difficult for them to make a living and provide for their families, we decided it was time to intervene. 

Our company and foundation are very much against hand-outs. Hand-outs create dependency and entitlement. We exist to give people a hand-up. But there are times when people do need support, times when they cannot lift themselves up. We knew that we had the capacity to come alongside the struggling families in our community where we live and work. Yet we were concerned about how it would affect our budget and ability to keep providing for our Sunshine families. This is why we put out personal requests on social media to our family, friends, and supporters to give donations for food boxes. We were hoping to receive enough funds to put together food boxes for the 40 families of the children who attend our community projects. To be honest, we were not expecting a big response. We knew how concerned people were about their own financial stability and security. Yet, we were literally stunned by the outpouring of support. We were able to provide food boxes 70 food boxes in May and 70 more in July! 

Our program administrator, Delcio, and I made multiple trips to the local stores and market to buy the supplies for the boxes. We got a lot of laughs from the expressions on people’s faces as we pushed our overloaded carts to the registers. We hauled carload after carload after carload of purchases to store in our garage. We then worked together to box everything up. The empty boxes from the raw cashews that Sunshine Nut Co purchases were the perfect size for our needs.

Each box contained the basic food essentials for a family, such as rice, beans, porridge, oil, pasta, sugar, tea…as well as soap (thanks to SoapBox Soaps), laundry detergent, toothpaste, toothbrushes (thanks to Humble Smile), and dish soap. AND of course, every food box contained Sunshine Nut Company cashews!!! 

We took the boxes to the ladies who are the mothers at our Sunshine Houses. They are the directors of our community projects. We felt they were the best people to pass out the boxes to ensure that those receiving the boxes would maintain their dignity. Our ladies called upon each family to come to collect a box and were able to also give out boxes to neighbors they knew were in need. They were able to take some photos for us so that we could see the smiles on the faces of the recipients. To say that the families who received boxes were appreciative is an understatement. These boxes literally were the difference in going hungry for these families. In America, it is hard for us to relate to living in a country where there are no support systems, food banks, or government assistance programs available. 

As things get back to normal again, we see that our families have been able to adjust and move forward. Mozambicans are very resilient people. The older generations have lived through a war for independence, civil war, and extreme flooding. They daily face deadly diseases that cause the deaths of their loved ones. They live in a country where they must fight every day just to survive. We were honored and privileged to partner with our caring donors to give them assistance during a time where many would have lost their footing.

Maria - All She Needed Was A Little Sunshine

When I met Maria, she was like a little flower that had been trampled. All she needed was a little "Sunshine" to enable her to flourish and blossom. I have written two blogs about Maria... "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" (January 26, 2016) and "Maria- Problem Solved" (July 12, 2016). You may want to go back and read them again, but for those of you with little time so spare, here is a quick summary...

Maria lives in the community where our Sunshine Houses are located. We purposely spread our houses out amongst the community so that we can have an impact on the people who live around them. We have helped families with medical needs, educational needs, food, clothing, blankets, shoes and so much more. Maria  has been in our lives for many years. There is something about her that tugs on your heartstrings. Maria has a speech impediment and walks with a limp. At the end of first grade in the public school, she was told she was deficient and could no longer attend school. For the next several years, she attended a preschool run by her neighbor. When Maria reached the age of 11, the director of the preschool said that she was getting a bit too old for preschool. I agreed. I found a local private school where the director was willing to admit her. She began again in grade 1 and has worked her way up to grade 4. We are very proud of her tenacity and positive attitude. She loves going to school to study and be with her friends. Our goal is to keep her in school until she is old enough to find gainful employment. She is now 16 years old.

As with most countries, our schools have been closed during the Covid restrictions. Here in Mozambique, our students only had 1 1/2 months in the classroom this year. They began their academic year in February and schools were closed in March. Except for the most elite of schools and students, online learning is not a possibility. Schools will not reopen this year for the vast majority of children, and students will receive a "free pass" to the next grade when they start their new academic year in February 2021. I am so glad that I had the foresight to hire a teacher to tutor our Sunshine Children, and of course we included our Maria. Thanks to Professor Daniel, they have been able to keep up with their studies. 

The children have been little champs about attending tutoring, doing their homework, and having a great attitude these past months. I am proud of their efforts. I wanted to encourage them to not grow weary and wanted to find a way to incentivize them to keep on "keeping on". Last week, I shared with them that we are starting a "Student of the Week" program. Each week, Professor Daniel will choose a student who has been exemplary in being punctual to tutoring, respectful to him and others, and has shown effort in their work. I found gold medals to give each week's winner and made up bags with little prizes and candies. 

I was thrilled when Professor Daniel informed me that out of all the children, his choice for the first student of the week was Maria!!! She is everything I described above and more. She has shown great progress with her maths, her attitude is always positive, and she puts forth her best effort every day. 

Today we gathered together to present the first Student of the Week award. All of the children were excited and curious. They were antsy and fidgeting in their chairs. Each of their little faces showed how hopeful they were that they would be the one chosen. I announced to them that Maria was the winner!

All the children immediately burst into cheers and clapping. Every single child's face shone with genuine smiles. I am confident of this conclusion because I carefully and purposefully looked at each of their faces to check if this was for real. In fact, check it out for yourself in the photo below. All heads were turned and all eyes were on Maria. Take note of Cecilia's smile (in the back right corner) and little Maura peering up at her from behind me...

I couldn't believe it! They were so happy for Maria. Not one child showed disappointment that they were not chosen. It was clear that their joy for Maria was real and authentic. This made me so very proud of them! It was an outcome that I did not even expect to occur. It made this program a double blessing for me. 

I presented Maria with her prize bag and hung the gold medal around her neck as the children continued to celebrate her achievement. As we left at the end of our gathering, they were chatting among themselves about how they were going to work to be the next winner. None of them know who the winner will be. But one thing we are sure of...the winner will be well celebrated!

Making the World's Best to Make the World Better

The Covid restrictions of this past year have been limiting for all of us, but I believe they are even more difficult for our children. For many children in Mozambique, school is the only highlight of their day. Children from every economic background put on their uniform and escape to a place where everyone is on a level playing ground. A place where they can leave their life of poverty and struggle behind. A place where they are valued as a student. A place where they are given the hope of a better life through education. Very few things have grieved my heart these past months than to see children sitting around with sad faces and no purpose to their lives. There is no opportunity for remote, online learning in a poor, developing nation like Mozambique. There is little to no chance that our public schools will even open this year- they lack bathrooms, running water, and space to provide the required social distancing. It appears that our already disadvantaged children will simply get a “free pass” to the next grade after having completed only 1 ½ months of study in their current grade. Thankfully the children in our Sunshine Houses have had more opportunity than their public school colleagues. 

Our Sunshine children have done a stellar job in coping with the isolation these past 6 months. In the beginning, we didn’t let them out of the gate. They had to stay home and play. I recall arriving at our first house to find our Antonio sitting on one side of their 6 foot high protective cement wall talking and laughing with his friend, Ziadi, who was sitting on the other side of the wall. This was their only way to connect. As time passed, we gave our children permission to go play with the children in our other Sunshine Houses. This has melded them together into one big extended family. It is very common to arrive at one house and find children from another house there playing. They are flourishing and happy to have this interaction. Also, we had the foresight to hire a teacher who comes three times a week to tutor them. We are thankful to be able to provide for their academic growth during these times of restriction that are setting so many lives back. So three times a week, they come together for lessons. When they meet up together, they joke, laugh, and tease each other just like a family, but then they always settle down quite nicely when Professor Daniel calls them to class. 

There are not many recreational places to take them to get away from it all, so I have had to be creative. I recently came up with an idea that proved to be a huge, unexpected winner. I brought them out to our Sunshine Nut Co factory for a day. My first objective was to simply get them out of the house and neighborhood for a bit of a respite. My second objective was that they should know how they are being supported. The mission of Sunshine Nut Co and Sunshine Approach Foundation are one mission. I wanted the children to meet the workers who go to work every day and process the cashews sold to support them. I wanted them to see their faces, interact with them, and know them. I also wanted our Sunshine Nut Co workers to meet our children. The children are their reason for working. These two groups of people are also intertwined and inseparable. Our visit to the factory only achieved these objectives and so much more! 

I divided our children into 2 groups so as to make them more manageable…and to fit them into my car! When I arrived to fetch each group, they were ready to go in their best clothes. We arrived at the factory and headed to Papa Don’s office for a Power Point presentation on the company and its purpose. Proud smiles appeared on their faces as they saw their photos interspersed in the slides that Papa Don uses in his talks all of the world.

We then headed into the factory. As with any visitors, we asked them to suit up with a hair net and their masks. The hair nets brought out lots of giggles. 

Our Safety and Health Manager gave them a tour of the factory…starting at the beginning where the cashews arrive, all the way through to the end where they are boxed and taken out to be stored in containers outside. The children were very curious and hung on his every word. 

We assigned them to work alongside our employees in various roles. Our employees went above and beyond my expectations of teaching them a job and coaching them through performing it. They were so kind and encouraging with the children. My heart was encouraged to see these two groups of people come together. We were led here to meet their needs to have opportunity, dignity and a better life. Seeing them come together was an experience for which no words can do justice. 

Our children took their roles very seriously. Whether it was checking the bar codes on the packaging…

Packing our new shippers…

Helping to haul the packed boxes to be wrapped...

Labeling the boxes for shipping…

Or filling the bags…

Each child rose to the occasion and outperformed my expectations…all under the watchful eye and encouragement of our employees.

In fact, when the bell rang for lunch, our children refused to stop their job until it was finished.

We then headed out to the outdoor lapa to enjoy a catered lunch of grilled chicken and fries. 

 

As the day ended, each child received two individual packages of cashews to take home, as well as two packages for their mothers. As you can see by their smiles, they were proud and happy to have had a part in this day. 

Not long after our field trip to the factory, Antonio, one of our children, accompanied me in the car as we took a plumber to get parts to make a repair on the pipes in his house. As we drove to the market, the plumber asked Antonio what he wants to be when he grows up. Without hesitation, Antonio responded, “A worker at Papa Don’s factory.” The plumber looked at him and said, “Oh no! Don’t you want to be a doctor? Or a lawyer? Or an accountant?” Antonio looked at him and calmly responded, “No. I want to be a Sunshine Nut Company worker for Papa Don.” Antonio, it will be our pleasure one day to see you working alongside Papa Don making the world's best cashews to make the world better. You make us proud. 

What a Little Change Can Do

Having been a teacher and a mother, I know first-hand the importance of reading, books, and storytelling in the development of children. Being read to and reading independently develop a multitude of skills in young children; skills they will carry with them into adulthood. Reading stimulates their imagination. It expands their understanding of the world. It improves their concentration and memory, boosts their critical thinking skills, develops their empathy, and develops and expands their language skills. In my classroom, I created an inviting, comfortable area for my students to sit and read. I filled the shelves with row upon row of books for all reading levels and varied interests. I made sure that my students had time to read every day, and I read to them every day. At home, our children's rooms were filled with books as well. Each day ended with a bedtime story. My world has been filled with reading and books all of my life. 

Until...I moved to Mozambique.

There is an alarming absence of children's literature in Mozambique. There are no reading books in the homes. There are no reading books in the classrooms. There are no children's libraries where children can go and borrow books. There are very few stores that even carry reading books for children, and when they do, the prices are exorbitant. How can our children be leaders if they do not have the opportunity to be readers? For years, I have wanted to create a library of books for our children who live in our Sunshine Houses. I want them to be surrounded by books that stimulate their imagination, take them to far away places, and inspire them to dream. I want them to develop the reading skills that will advance them academically. Yet as with most families anywhere in the world, one must decide where to allocate their funds. I was concerned about the cost of a library and the ability to grow it. 

Until...Mrs. Judith Adamec's second grade class from the Saint John the Evangelist School in Warrenton, Virginia. 

For many years, Saint John's the Evangelist School has partnered with our foundation. This partnership began when my sister, Jill, taught there. She invited me to speak to the student body about our work in Mozambique. They then had a Vitamin Drive. Students who brought in a bottle of vitamins were given a Dress Down Day (when they did not have to wear their uniform to school). These children were beyond generous. They did not bring in one jar; many brought in two! They didn't bring in just the small jars; they brought the large ones! We ended up with boxes and boxes of vitamins to bring back and distribute to orphanages in our area. The following year, students in the sewing club made dresses for the little girls in the orphanages and donated bags of underwear for the children. We then began a partnership where the students hold fundraisers to raise money to pay the school tuition for 3 of our girls at our second Sunshine House. I try to get to the school to share with the students as often as I can, usually at the beginning and ending of each school year. When I was there two years ago, Mrs. Adamec invited me to her classroom after I spoke, saying her students had something for me. They presented me with a box of cards for the children and a monetary gift to bless them. They had raised the money by donating their pocket change. That year we used the money to provide a nice Children's Day celebration on June 1st. As I was leaving her classroom that day, a little boy asked me if he could speak to me privately. After the other children went outside for recess, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a few coins. He told me to use the money to help the children. Whoa! I was speechless and teary eyed. Clearly, the students at Saint John's have been taught to selflessly care for others. Their hearts are beautiful. Going there to share with the student body is always a highlight of my trips back to the US. 

This past year, Mrs. Adamec again challenged her class to bring in change to change children's lives in Mozambique. Even though they were not able to complete the school year due to the COVID restrictions. they still were able to make a beautiful donation to our foundation this past month. As soon as I received her email, I knew what to do with the money. What better way to use these student donated funds than to start a Sunshine House Library! I purchased a good number of books and a bookshelf to store them on. We made plans to house them in our third Sunshine House and arranged with Virginia, the oldest child in this house to be our librarian. Virginia is perfect for the job...mature, responsible, and organized. 

We arranged for all the children to meet with me to introduce them to the books and to the check-out system. As I arrived at the house this morning, they were all inside and waiting anxiously for me. My colleague, Delcio, helped me carry in the books. We set them on the veranda where we would meet. We then went into the house to put the special snack we brought for them in a shaded, cool area. When we came back outside, we saw that the children were already eagerly looking through the books and sharing them with each other.  They were so enthralled that they didn't even notice we had returned. 

We asked them to put the books back down in the pile so that we could talk with them. We shared with them the story of how we were able to provide these books for them. We talked about the importance of reading, as well as the importance of borrowing and returning the books. We reinforced to them that our trusted librarian, Virginia, would not give them a new book until they returned the one they borrowed. 

Finally, I wanted them to experience the joy of being read to. My favorite part of being a classroom teacher was to read to my class. So I chose a delightful book about a zebra who didn't want his stripes anymore.  I had a blast reading the story to them. They hung on every word and laughed along with the funny events. After listening to the story, they were motivated to choose one of their own to take home to read. 

While they chose their books and signed them out with Virginia, they enjoyed a special snack of cup cakes and juice. This is a rare treat for them. And to be honest, I love spoiling them like this on occasion. As you can see, these treats were a hit!

As I was passing out the snacks, I spied our Helio. He had chosen a book to read and was already curled up on the sofa reading with his mother, who was helping him with the harder words. Yes!!! Our library is already a success and is already fulfilling my expectations. 

While they were eating, three of the girls near me asked me why I do such nice things for them. Taken aback, I responded that everything I do is because I love them and I'm just doing what God has called me to do. Giggling, they responded that I am an angel. I'm not so sure about that. But I am sure that Mrs. Adamec and her class of second graders are indeed angels, as are all of the kind people who generously give to our foundation. I have said it before and I'll now say it again (and I am sure this won't be the last time I say it), I only wish that our donors could be here to receive the thanks and appreciation I get to receive. If it was not for that second grade class, there would be no library. If it was not for the student body of St. John the Evangelist School, there would be no tuition payments made for Chelsea, Cristina, and Maura. If it was not for all of you, we could not give the needed support to uplift our Sunshine families and the other people we assist here. Thank you for giving me the privilege to bless, serve, and uplift these beautiful children.