A tangible way to give Light & Life to the kids at the Hogar

our diligent & happy photography students

I have been humbled by the generous reactions of empathy, love and support from those who have read about my experience serving at the Hogar.  Many of you have asked how you can help and get involved.  Let me be the first to state the obvious that the Hogar and the partnering school are always in need of volunteers with big hearts and willing spirits to come serve, so please reach out if you have interest in traveling to Bogotá to come to the source!  Also, be sure to check out this video that perfectly documents the pure love from which all of Sister Valeriana’s actions stem from.   Secondly, the visionary thinking of my dear friend Susan, who traveled with the team from Los Angeles to serve at the Hogar, has provided us all with a tangible way to support the mission of the Hogar.  I’d like to share her vision with you.

First, the details:

From Susan’s Facebook post:

We went to help at an orphanage for kids with disabilities this summer in Bogotá Colombia, and fell in love! We wish we could invite all the kids to visit Los Angeles and experience Disneyland, but that is not possible.

What is possible, with your help, is to provide this opportunity for 4 kids & a chaperone. We asked the orphanage and have been given the enthusiastic green light. We just don't have the money to pay for the passports and visas and plane fares. Any amount would help!! If you live in Los Angeles, we'd love to invite you to join us and meet the kids when they come!

Would you help us raise the money? Please. We are posting the address of The Light and Life Foundation where you can send your donation, and receive a tax deduction. In the memo line please note "TRIP TO LOS ANGELES".

Light and Life Foundation
PO Box 356
Fairfield, CT
06824

NOTE: Susan is in the process of setting up a paypal account to expedite donations, but in the meantime, don’t be shy – dust off those stamps you know you have somewhere and go snail mail! 

The back-story:

Susan & Nixa creating art together

All of our lives were deeply touched by our week at the Hogar in July.  One lovely girl in particular, Nixa had an especially profound impact on Susan’s heart.  Susan undertook the gargantuan task of painting 3 murals on the walls of the Hogar (which she pulled off with admirable enthusiasm and grace).  During her painting project, she recruited the help of the Hogar kids, one of whom was Nixa – a girl with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare tissue disease that makes the skin extremely fragile and results in blisters and mucous membranes on the body.  Nixa as a result does not have fingers, but that sure didn’t stop her from painting the mural! 

As Susan was preparing to return to LA and saying her goodbyes, Nixa asked her, "Can you take me home with you?" This frank and sincere question planted the idea in Susan’s head.  When Susan got home she began to meditate on the idea of an “orphans holiday” at her place in Los Angeles.  She figured, she doesn’t live far from Disneyland and she's already got an “in” with Disney (thanks to our Imagineer, Dolce!).  Plus, the kids clearly have a fascination with Disney, as evidenced by their constant request that we sing Disney songs in English! Susan got in touch with Sister Valeriana who responded with an enthusiastic green light as well as the names of four kids from the Hogar who she has selected to participate.  The actualization of this trip will be a mutual dream come true for both the kids who get to travel to California and for the LA folks whose lives have been forever impressed by these kids. 

I personally was tickled pink to learn that my little amiga, Heidy is one of the four to be going on the trip!  It makes me smile every time I think about her tearing it up at Disneyland and splashing around in the Pacific ocean. :)  Sadly, Nixa (the inspiration behind this idea) will not be able to come.  Along with severe health issues being too much of an obstacle, she can’t apply for a passport because fingerprints are a required part of the application.

Susan and friends are still fleshing out the details, and we'll keep you updated as things progress.  In the meantime, please consider supporting the mission of Luz y Vida (light and life) in this meaningful way.  Thank you! 

Susan gets by with a little help from her friends!

Nixa, la artista