Christmas Comes Early
Written By
FOEF Board Member, Nicole Balsamo

Christmas at Casa Hogar Sion is one of the busiest and most exciting times of year. Imagine...100 children with sticky, peppermint-flavored fingers bundled from head to toe and smiling from ear to ear. That’s an average weekend in December for us. Visitors are in abundance and scraps of wrapping paper litter the grounds. It’s wonderful and perfect and everything the holidays should be. 

But for me, Christmas came early this year and it didn’t include poinsettias or piñatas. Instead, my holiday treat consisted of a baby tooth and El Raton. During a recent visit I had my usual sleepover with the little girls of the house. I compare their room to that of the Seven Dwarfs, think 10 miniature bunk beds all in a row. It’s possibly the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen and definitely the most eventful place to sleep. 

This trip’s slumber party was different though because Vianney, one of the youngest members of the clan, lost a tooth and was expecting a visit from El Raton that night (as legend has it in Mexico, the tooth fairy is actually a small rat who exchanges the lost tooth from under the child’s pillow with pesos.) As usual, by bedtime I was exhausted but I had been tasked with playing the role of El Raton and I was taking my job very seriously. I waited until all of the little ones were sound asleep and I snuck over and very gently removed her tooth from under her pillow and replaced it with all of the spare change from my wallet and contributions from other volunteers. I immediately fell asleep only to be woken a few hours later by the sound of coins jingling. Vianney, anticipating the arrival of El Raton, woke to find her surprise. She was off in a corner hiding the money in a dollhouse when I stirred and she immediately rushed over to me whispering as loud as she could that El Raton had come to visit her. Seeing the joy on her face through my sleepy eyes gave me that overwhelmingly satisfied feeling that only a parent experiences. 

The next day the ninos were chattering away about El Raton’s visit. Figuring in a house of 100 kids, this was a normal occurrence I was surprised to see so much excitement. After speaking with some of the staff I learned that El Raton traditionally leaves about five pesos per tooth. I left 20. Rookie mistake but I would do it again in a second!

Playing the part of El Raton reminded me of one of the best aspects of the holiday season…giving to the ones you love whether it’s by playing a fictional character like Santa Claus, buying the latest IPOD or simply making homemade gifts. Bringing joy to someone is the best gift ever and one that this El Raton could stand to remember to carry into the other 11 months of the year! 

Year-End Gifts Are a Great Way to Usher-In 2008

You can make a difference in the lives of the over 100 children who call Casa Hogar Sion home this holiday season. Between now and December 31, 2007, you have an unprecedented opportunity to give the gift of support to children who desperately need it.  

The contribution you make today will be put to good use immediately helping us insure all needs are met in the approaching winter months. Help us fulfill our mission “to show up and help improve the lives of the children of Casa Hogar Sion in anyway we can.” All gifts are tax-free and any amount – large or small – helps tremendously.  

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

	Make a donation You can sponsor a child or direct your donation to a specific needs: education, medical, food budget, over head expenses, special projects.
	Become a Child Sponsor Enroll today and sponsor an individual child for only $50 a month and recieve updates and info about the hopes and dreams your dollars help inspire.

www.friendsofelfaro.com