Casa de Sion

We have had a national teachers strike and all the kids but the ones in private school have not had school for a month. The strike was finally over and then the week of Semana Santa started and they got another week. My kids, who also had Easter vacation, helped me all week handing out dresses, pants, shirts and shoes as well as Easter bags to all the kids. Thank you so much all of you great people who donated these items. The kids looked fabulous on Sunday with all their Easter finery. I also gave out tennis shoes and regualr clothes as well as sheets and towels to kids who did not have them. An eagle scout and his mom visited and had a treat for all the kids, plus donations that were badly needed.
I still need more shoes for older kids, but will give my staff money this week to buy them as well as socks for older kids. We gave out a donated CD and DVD player which was much appreciated.
Anyone wanting to donate can send items to my US address. Thank you to those of you who sent cash also. It will be used to buy the shoes and socks. We have people traveling to Guate all the time who can bring down donations so if you wish to send good quality items, send them to
Safe Homes For Children
3303 Pond Mountain Lane
Whitetop, VA 24292

For all who have not experienced Semana Santa or Holy Week.....This is probably the biggest vacation time of the year. It occurs during the summer and everyone takes off the week for a vacation--very much like july 4th in the states. There are religious processions all during Lent and it reaches a crescendo during Holy Week. Antigua, Guatemala is the capital of Semana Santa in the Western Hemisphere. People make carpets of colored sawdust--very elaborate carpets--and flowers that cover the streets. The carpets are 6´to 8´ wide and 50´ or more long. They are intricate and beautiful and done as a sacrifice because soon after their creation the procession will walk over them and destroy them. We don´t have anything equivalent to this in the states. People come from all over the world to see the processions and the carpets in the streets and to party.