Cumberland GlobalX: Saying Our Goodbyes

Today capped off an absolutely amazing week with kids at La Casa de mi padre. We started off the day at La Finca, "the farm.". La Finca is a 20+ acre tropical paradise that is bought and paid for and will be the future home of La Casa de mi Padre. It is amazing piece of land that has just about every tropical fruit growing naturally throughout. There are coffee beans growing vastly and at the highest point on the land sits a beautiful chapel with a bell tower donated by Samaritans purse. In the chapel, Gary Powell with his wife Sharon, shared the vision for La Casa along with the future building plans with our group. It is a build as they raise money situation and already have enough money to start the first two homes. We walked the property as a group and witnessed the most breathtaking views, horse riding lessons taking place, and had the opportunity to view a perfectly manicured soccer field for the kids.
After the farm we drove back to La Casa to finish our last day of work at the boys home. Brian assembled a team including many of the kids and our bus driver Manuel to move and assemble the new wooden bunk beds that our group donated to the boys. Zan and Jeff worked on reassembling all of the curtains and rods in each room. Kristen worked with the boys on making bracelets and finishing their cork boards. Nina and Katherine printed pictures for the boys to keep on their individual boards. Nina, Jennifer, and the girls showed the kids how to make their beds with newly donated sheets and installed new shower curtains in all the bedrooms. Amy and Chris installed towel holders and a new bathroom mirror as well as disassembled and installed toilet seats; and man, the treasures you find and smell for that matter are well...memorable. Craig, Amy, Katherine, Jeff, Stephanie, and Juan (one of the boys) scrubbed showers and caulked. Chris and Chris installed the cork boards beside each boys beds, and our fearless electrician Russ finished up the electrical work. Everyone was amazing in lending helping hands throughout the day.
By the end of the day we had new couches in the open area, new ceiling fans throughout to create a wonderful and needed breeze. New beds, sheets, lights, etc. We were able to provide physical cleanliness and light in a once dirty and dark environment. Much like Jesus is the light of the world we were able to brighten the lives of the boys at La Casa. Not just through physical light but from the love that was shared from each group member to every boy in that house. We left a physical imprint on the house, but more importantly we left an emotional and spiritual imprint on the boys living in the house. The boys also left an unimaginable imprint on our hearts as well. It was a very emotional goodbye for both our group and the boys. As for me, my life will be ever changed from this experience and I am forever grateful to have met the children at La Casa de mi Padre.

~ Chris Roberts