Christmas Eve Gifts

This year, Steve and I decided that it was time that our children give to those in need instead of focusing on what they would receive.  With a timely trip to the States, empty suitcases and 3 children old enough to understand, we made a plan.

Just 10 km away (a 20 minute ride over the mountain), is an area that is part of our Stake called Manchay.  Manchay is an incredibly humble area where most people live without running water in their homes.  Many, like the photo below live in less than 100 sq feet with many children in homes constructed of leftover materials or partical board.  Recently, the Stake Young Mens President priced out the cost of these prefab homes to see what it would cost to house a member family if we need to and found out they they cost about $120 or an average 2 weeks salary.   

So on Christmas Eve, we tooks the kids out to Manchay with more than a hundred small toys to gift to children playing on the streets.  This made such a strong impression on our children.  They understood that they would not receive as many presents because we had decided as a family to spend part of our Christmas budget on these children.  

I wish that I could have videoed some of the exchanges, or even had taken a few pictures of some of the children, but it did not feel right.  For the sake of our family journal, I would like to record a few small incidents.

When we first arrived into the area, there were a few small children playing in front of their homes on the side of the main highway.  Seeing our American SUV, they ran to the car and the kids handed them each a gift.  As we began to drive off, a few other kids quickly started running after us.  We would stop and make sure that they were rewarded for their hard run. :)

About 10 minutes later as we four-wheeled through the neighborhood, we spotted a family of four sprinting for us. We watched them dodge through other homes in order to cut us off at an intersection.  I was so touched by the spirit when this family accepted our small gifts.  I had wished in that moment that we had so much more to give than what we had. These families struggle for survival each and every day.  Our small gift was appreciated, but I wanted to truly help them - and yet what could we do in that moment?

After driving around for another few minutes without seeing anyone, we spotted four children washing their dog outside of their home. There were 2 older sisters and 2 younger children.  The young girls (maybe 9 and 10) stepped back from us and allowed their younger siblings to accept a gift and when we offered one to them (we had some art supplies) they looked at us as though we didn't have to.  We insisted and they were grateful. As we drove away, all four ran into their house yelling for their mother with shrills of joy.  

As we moved further on to give away a few last toys, we saw people walking down the street with large bags full of traditional Christmas breads called panetones and other dinner supplies, then we stumbled upon this crowd waiting for  their own gifts from this truck. This was most likely the donation of a charitable organization in Lima.

In this area, we have a HUGE branch that is about to be split into two wards.  Incredible.  There are 85+ Young Women on the rolls and they have about 50 in regular attendance.  This is a huge organization for what is still just a branch.  

We are so very grateful for this experience and have been humbled by the Spirit.  As much as we would like to think that this experience was for our children and for those in Manchay, as it is in service, it was probably Steve and I who were the most touched.