Christmas at MamaTara '09

Christmas is always a blessed time of year. It was my joy to spend my third Christmas at the Mama Tara Miskito Orphanage! I was especially excited since I had not seen Mama or the children in a whole year. I have been involved with the Mama Tara Orphanage since 2006. The Christmas trips are one of my favorites. Though they are short and busy, they allow me the opportunity to 'be Miskito' for a week and enjoy being a part of life and culture of the orphanage.

Celebrating the birth of our savior with Mama and the children is exciting. I was honored to deliver gifts from the children's faithful sponsors and friends. The students of Calvary Chapel Christian School (Merritt Island, Florida) also prepared gifts for the orphans. There is nothing so sweet as to see the eyes of Mama's children light up as they grasp, with a pure faith, that they belong as a part of the family of God.

This year, sponsors sent additional funds to purchase uniform shirts and shoes for the sponsored children. I am happy to report that the Lord multiplied that money. All twenty seven children got a complete new uniform and shoes! Praise God!

The children and Mama Tara are all very healthy. The kids are growing by leaps and bounds. All students recieved a dose of parasite medication and a lice treatment. The very generous parents at C.C.C.S. also donated enough children's chewable vitamins for the children to recieve daily through February.

The new classroom looks great! (The whole place looks great! Thank you to Gustavo and his team, R.O.O.M. ministry, and all the teams and people that put in their prayers, money, and sweat this year.) Each child passed thier grade this year! Congratulations to Jonly and Biborly who graduated from sixth grade! (Please pray as we try to make arrangements for them to complete thier studies.)

The children recieved cards from Gale Hoey's spanish students as well. They were excited and made a card to send to them. They were eager to make cards for thier sponsors and friends as well.

We had fun celebrating Christmas! We hung Christmas garland, went carolling at House of Hope (a sister orphanage), read the Christmas story, made popcorn, and much more.

Thank you so much for all support and prayers. Please continue to lift us up in 2010!

Single Eyed, (Luke 11:34 KJV)

Linda Rose Collins
Board Member/Missionary