"The Shoe Project"

Papa and Edward Salo
Christmas joy...
with beautiful twin girls Brisa and Cielo

happy little girl...

Mom, Rosa Salo and myself...

Mom and Rosa...

Chelsey and Adam passing out gifts...

our traveling group...

Alejandra received many gifts...

happy camper...

goodies for the children...

This past Friday the 19th we participated in another miraculous year of what we've name "the shoe project." My family has been involved with the orphanage for ten years now...and for the past six years Permian students have sponsored orphans from Valle De Los Lirios Casa Hogar in Aldama, Chihuahua Mexico. This year was as awesome as ever! Mine along with Mr. Rivera's, Mrs. Walkers', Mr. Hermosillo and Coach Carmona's students collected well over 500 gifts to give to the 108 orphans...

But unlike in years past the Mexican Government refused to allow the gifts to cross...Papa has always been in charge of the paper work required at the border and with the arrangement of crossing the gifts. However, this year they refused...they couldn't believe all of the gifts were for the orphanage and chose to believe that the real intent of the gifts was to sell them...Papa did an interview with Telemundo, and a student of mine and myself did an interview with CBS 7 to bring light to the situation. It should not be so hard to help the needy of Mexico.

The American side of the border is run by a wonderful gentlemen name Mr. Pruit, he's a great friend of Papa's. He offered to let the orphans receive their gifts on the border, in what is technically Presidio, Texas...and so we had a major change of plans that was orchestrated by God...this year Valle De Los Lirios would have to come to us...in a way it was a blessing in disguise. Seven students from Permian along with one parent were able to make the drive to Presidio to hand out the gifts...they were sooo blessed by the experience. This is the first year that students have been able to meet the orphans face to face...

The officials from the American side were very hospitable and happy to be a part of their Christmas...they set out goodies for the kids to eat...and helped us set up the presents. Everything was awesome!! The kids received tons of wonderful gifts and since they were theirs, were able to cross them into Chihuahua with out any problems. Ed and Rosa Salo (the ones that run the orphanage) were calling it a miracle...and indeed that's exactly what it was. I'm so grateful to God for all He's done...for we've put the situation in His hands and He's worked it out beautifully year after year...