Diana Mendieta was our Missionary of the Month in February 2023, and Grandma Carolyn (Carolyn Thompson) remembered that she was a Sunday School teacher and a mother of a beautiful 1½ year old daughter. So, she decided to write to her:
“I am looking for someone who works with children. I think you are the one. I have a longtime friend in California whose name is Darlene. who likes to create dolls. Although her husband is very sick and she is very sad, with great faith in the Lord, she is crocheting beautiful dolls. Would you be interested in receiving some?"
“We’ll need some photos of the children with their dolls to show Darlene, the doll maker. We will also use them to show our LOGOI family. It is not a very big thing, but it is one of “the cups of cold water” given in the name of the Lord.”
A few days later, Diana replied, “What great news! It will be an honor for us to help bring joy to the hearts of the little children who receive the dolls. We thank the LOGOI family and Grandma Darlene and pray for her husband’s recovery.”
So the adventure began! We looked for an efficient shipping company that works with Latin America. Abuela Carolina prepared the boxes and sent them. She also sent some LOGOI books for Diana’s pastor/husband.
After a few weeks, Grandma Carolina received news from Diana: “Thank you for the dolls and books you sent us. They were a great joy for the little ones who received them. Here are some photos
Here are some children who received the stuffed toys. There are six children in the Cordoba family—living in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city. Their mother abandoned them and his father went hunting and the gun went off; he received a bullet in his face, so he can't work, and he's sick.
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Eliane Jaramillo, 9-year=old. She lives with her grandparents in a very poor house. Getting the stuffed toy was a huge, happy surprise, and very thankful. Her grandmother had recently died.
Keyler Navarrete, 9-year-old. Sadly, his father died of cancer. Keyler was so happy with his bear and was very surprised to learn it came from abroad.
Here are Joyse Motoche, 7 years old, and sister Arely, 8 years old. Their father was assassinated by delinquents assaulted at work. They live with their mother, who works all day and leaves them in the care of a girl. They loved their gifts.
This is Kristel Castro Teneda, 8 years old. Sadly, her father died in a traffic accident, and her mother works far from them. She lives with her maternal grandparents. She was surprised and joyful to get her gift and loved her doll’s purse.
Here is Saray Gualan, 10 years old, and her little 1-year-old brother, Yeider Gualan. They lost their father after he was kidnapped and killed for stealing the truck he was driving. Saray was so happy she cried! Life without her father has not been easy. Her mother, Erica, was so happy we came to her house.
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