Vidas Cambiadas 2017
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Our goal is to change lives, by teaching families how to build strong, long-lasting relationships with one another through giving and receiving in love and gratitude. While handing out a grocery bag provides for a momentary need, Vidas Cambiadas, teaches important lessons in giving that will always remain. When we give, we teach that the grocery bag is a tool to show love for one another. If another hurricane comes, the people will always need groceries. What becomes important is that if another hurricane comes, the people will not feel afraid, not be alone, and they will have a purpose. They will know how to give and support one another.
Before our program began we shopped at Costco together with tourists participating. We purchased groceries to pack inside donated Trader Joes grocery bags that we prepared to give out to each family participating with us. Inside each bag includes staple food items such as rice, oil, beans, milk, tuna, jalepenos, toilet paper and more! These groceries are not just for us to give, but a tool in which each family learns to give to one another throughout the 5 to 7 weeks they participate. Together with a humanitarian group from Minnesota, we packed 100 grocery bags to give to the families of Cabo.
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Forming an assembly line we finished in less than half an hour. We are thankful to HOP and other tourists for joining us in Cabo to help serve the people. Both adults and youth gave grocery bags and toys to the children and received more hugs than they ever expected. We give special thanks to Carol and Paul and the many tourists who have donated these wonderful Trader Joes bags. We also thank Trader Joes and Dallas Baptist University for donating bags for us to use! They have gone to great use!
Before giving a grocery bag, we introduce ourselves to one another, building new relationships and learning each other's names. Over the course of 7 weeks, we built numerous relationships that will last a lifetime.
Sara, pictured on the right, attended Vidas Cambidas last year for her first time. The first night she received a grocery bag, she went home and unpacked each item on her kitchen counter. She could not help but cry and recognize that it was truly a miraculous blessing. This year, she now brings with her a guest named Luz, who just like her is amazed by how much one grocery bag given in love is changing her own life.
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The children are also learning to give to one another with joy! Mirari introduces herself to Carolina and gives her a notebook and pencils for school. Carolina thanks Mirari for the gift and gives her a big hug in return. The children, especially, love all the hugs and attention they receive. For them, it is not about the gifts, but the special love and attention they receive from the other adults and children.
Below, Karen is pictured giving with so much joy to her guest Sara. Karen has known Sara for many years from seeing her on the marina selling burritos each morning. Karen invited Sara to the program for the first time and she came diligently every week finding more love and joy than she had experienced in many years. The love shown by Karen changed Sara. She now goes to work each day with a brighter smile and countenance knowing she has a family and people who truly care for her.
We hope you will join us for our next Vidas Cambiadas program! |
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