I think many people will remember 2020 as one wild year and in Guadalupe, it was no different. COVID has hit Guadalupe hard - killing and sickening many in our little community. And it has completely re-arranged the work in 2020.
It is easy to focus on the hardships. We have lost ten people in our little community of people around the kids in our program. Many more are struggling with illness. As Guadalupe locked down, we could not meet in groups. This meant no MiCasita Preschool or after school tutoring at the space in the Guadalupe Mercado.
However, God does not leave us hopeless to deal with the challenges of this year. Our staff (Marina, Crystal, and Patricia) developed a way to prepare preschool lessons and deliver them to the parents. They would teach and coach the parents and the parents delivered the classes. Our pre-school continued! Eight kids graduated in May 2020 (in COVID safe family only graduation parties) and we currently have eight more enrolled. While we did not do after-school tutoring, as kids started going to online school, we turned our space into a school for children/family with no internet access or good study space.
So, we were able to involve more parents in teaching their children and our space was used more often than was pre-COVID. God can help turn our mourning into dancing.
Our donation continued strong. We continued to pay our Guadalupe-based teachers. People continued to provide material donations. We end 2020 stronger than we went into it. I thanks our Guadalupe staff (Marina, Crystal, Patricia) for coming up with creative ways to keep teaching children. I thank our donors and supports. And I thank God for all the blessings he is giving us.
If you still have not taken advantage of the AZ Tax Credit (400$ for an individual and $800 for a family) there is still time. Please see the below link to donate. Or send a donation to 4702 E Monte Way Phoenix AZ 85044.
Therefore, I want to leave you all with a very heartfelt and warn Merry Christmas to you all from Guadalupe. As we get ready for the birth of our Savior, it is a great comfort to see Him already here at work in Guadalupe. And I pray He is with you and yours this Advent and Christmas season.
And check out the picture below from a pre-COVID Guadalupe Christmas party. Of all the things I miss with COVID, it is not being able to get together in a big gathering with our friends in Guadalupe. Praying for a better 2021 post-vaccine.
