December 2020 – NWHCM – THE CASTILLO CLAN

Christmas Eve Service…

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Castillo

We held our Christmas Eve service last night!

All of my children performed special dances – as well as several of the girls from our Children’s Home. After the performances, we sang Christmas songs together and my dad gave the message.

After we ended the church service, we passed out hot chocolate & peanut butter sandwiches while showing The Star Movie.

I can’t even begin to explain how thankful I am to spend this Christmas with my parents. Every visit we have together is a time I cherish – especially as I watch my kids continue to make sweet & long lasting memories.

Mission Stories

Candyland – Taste & See That The Lord is Good!

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Castillo

Our Theme This Year for Children’s Church is CANDYLAND!

This has definitely been one of my favorite series! Each week I introduce a different type of candy – usually a tasty treat that the kids have never heard of! They get to taste something totally unique to them – and I get the pleasure of tying it into the lesson!

This year we decided to hold our Children’s Church Services at night. Several of the schools in town require the kids to attend their church, even though they don’t offer anything for their age.

By doing it in the evenings, we are able to reach even more kids than usual and it doesn’t matter how loud we are! We love playing games out in the soccer field AND – they get the pleasure of being surrounded by our Christmas light displays!

Here are just a few examples of the candies/lessons we are speaking about each week:

Week One: Gum – Solomon was the wisest man on earth, and after trying to find pleasure in earthly things – he found everything to be meaningless. (Just like gum loses it’s flavor) Only Jesus can give us something that lasts.

Week 2: Sour Candy – When we follow our own plans – something that we thought would turn out sweet usually turns out sour. Following God often means letting go of our own plans and desires to follow His will.

Week 3: Mints – Sometimes when we sin, we try to cover it up. We can never hide our sins from God.

Week 7 Taffy: Sometimes life stretches us through hardship and pain. When that happens, God uses those things to shape us into the person He wants us to be.

Week 10 Red Hot Candy: All of us will face trials in our life. When we do, we can trust God to help us endure them. He will give us strength when things seem too hot for us to handle on our own!

** Needless to say…it’s been an absolutely blast meeting with the kids every week! It’s a 12-week series and we plan to end it with a HUGE SWEET PARTY!!

Here are some pictures from the past several weeks!

Mission Stories

Lights Done Bright 2020

Posted on December 5, 2020December 6, 2020 by Castillo

The President of Haiti flew into the Mole on a small plane that happened to be bringing supplies for our campus yesterday! Bena & Asher met him at the strip as they picked up our boxes of groceries and books. He is staying at the hotel across from the mission. He was here last December on a visit as well.

In fact, when the President & his wife came last year – they thought our campus was the hotel – and that all of our lights were hung specifically for their arrival. Their motorcade tried to pull into our gates and we had to kindly let them know that the hotel was across the street. They have always been super friendly with us during their frequent visits here. Last year, his wife dropped off a HUGE pile of gifts for all of the kids on our campus too.

Yesterday, he thanked our campus for continuing to decorate this dark corner of town & for spreading joy – especially during such a difficult year. He told us that the community has shared with him that they feel encouraged every year by all of the holiday activities we provide. He explained that the last time he was here – he spent several hours admiring our lights.

In Haiti – sometimes it’s the little things… (the things that seem so insignificant) – that make a difference. Across the street from our property is the hotel AND the cemetery. It’s a very dark part of town. MANY people are afraid to walk through our area at night because of that cemetery. In fact, for many years we had to make sure our employees did their “change of shift” before nightfall – because everyone was afraid to walk past that cemetery. But every Christmas, we literally get to be that “light in darkness” for all who pass by.

Take a look at this year’s Christmas Spectacular! It’s always hard to get good pictures with so many moving lights…but we did our best!

Mission Stories

Well Surprise! Surprise!

Posted on December 1, 2020December 1, 2020 by Castillo

On November 17th, we received a very special and unexpected Holiday package! 🎁 🎄No, it wasn’t from Amazon!

It was on that Tuesday that a very sweet grandfather introduced us to his 2-month old, twin granddaughters. Sadly, his daughter died unexpectedly just 31 days after giving birth.

She was his only child… and these precious angels are his only grandchildren. His daughter never knew who their father was and he alone has been responsible for their care.

He wants to be involved in their lives – as all grandfathers should be. However, he’s not equipped to be their main caregiver.

He promised his daughter the night before she died, that he would dedicate his life to making sure her babies (his granddaughters) were fully loved and cared for.

After several conversations, we brought the babies into our home. Now this weary grandfather can find a little peace/rest – AND the twins can have their immediate needs met.

When he came to visit the babies that following Sunday, we made the commitment to care for them for the next 3 months.

Please pray along with us while we seek God’s guidance about their future and what role our family will play.

In the meantime… meet Amia & Aria.

After posting this update on Facebook, several people suggested I post a link for those who may feel led to help with any needs we may have for Aria and Amia.

Please note: WHETHER the babies remain with us or we find extended family – everything we buy for them will stay with them.

🟢🔴🟢

Living in Haiti with newborns can be a bit tricky because there’s not a Walmart nearby. Here’s how we are making things happen right now:

-Our Port-Au-Prince staff (who live 11 hours away from us) have been shopping for wipes, diapers, and other daily needs. There’s a bus that comes twice a week that brings us those supplies.

-We saved a few things back from when Fabi was a baby which we dug out of our depot the day they arrived. (Most of our baby things we gave away to staff who had their own babies).

-Jose happened to be in the states a week ago at the mission’s annual board meeting. He was able to bring in several things to make their First Christmas extra special.

-We also shipped a few things to MFI. ***They have a flight from Florida into Haiti once a week. It usually takes 10 days (after it arrives) before we get it. They charge $1.90/pound but it’s our most viable option

🟢🔴🟢

Bigger items we purchased already & shipped to MFI:
-pack n play crib with 2 bassinets
-1 swing (we had one swing already)
-2 little chairs
-diaper changing station
-2 slings
-play mat

Smaller items we purchased locally or Jose brought in:
-Clothes
-diapers
-wipes
-bottles
-blankets
-toiletries
-pacifiers
-bibs

** I’ve included a pic of the things we’ve purchased for them so far. If you’d like to contribute towards ANY of these unexpected & unplanned purchases – we would sincerely appreciate it. Even a $10.00 donation helps us buy diapers, wipes, toiletries, and on-going daily needs.

An online donation can be made by clicking this link: https://www.nwhcm.org/donate_mole ***Simply write “TWINS” in the notes section!

Or Checks can be sent to:
NWHCM
7301 N Georgetown Rd
Suite 190
Indianapolis, IN 46268

***Please include a note that it’s for the Castillo TWINS!

Personal Stories

Fall Facebook Updates

Posted on December 1, 2020December 1, 2020 by Castillo

Here are some updates we’ve posted on Facebook since my last blog post…

October 12th: Lessons learned while strolling along…

For the past month, I’ve been carving out a few hours every evening to spend at the park. This is where I walk, journal, read, take online courses, and catch up on work.

When it’s nice outside, I like to bring Sophie and Chloe. Sophie is the white dog & is 9 years old. This summer she got really sick and we were afraid she might die. So we brought her out to see the vet where they did a few minor procedures to rid her of a massive infection.

Chloe is brown and 9-months old. When I take the dogs to the park – Chloe runs wild. AND yet if you put her on a leash – she will refuse to walk at all. Sophie will walk right beside me – but she tires easily and moves slowly. So in order for me to get my steps in each day – the simplest thing to do is put them in a stroller.

Chloe has to look at everything. If we are out for 3 hours – she won’t sit down for even a second. There’s too much going on around her. I think she’s nervous she’ll miss out on barking at a squirrel.

As soon as we get back to the car – she’s exhausted! If you try to stand her up – she tips right over – keeping her eyes closed!

🟢🔴🟢

My shoulder surgery is scheduled for tomorrow at 6:45am. The surgery is about 2 hours long.

I’m really not nervous about the surgery itself. I’m more concerned about being in a sling for a month and it taking several more months before I gain full mobility back.

We are entering into our biggest season of ministry! As soon as we arrive, we will be decorating the campus for Christmas and lining up our holiday events! It’s a non-stop pace for us.

So the timing of this surgery really stinks. The thought of not being able to use my right arm during these specific months is overwhelming!

🔴🟢🔴

I looked at my dogs today and laughed. When it comes to the Christmas Season- I’m just like Chloe! I’m consumed with everything going on and constantly worried that I might miss something/someone.

And just like Chloe – I’m finding myself completely exhausted as I over-think and over-engage with all the things surrounding me.

Here’s what I know….
Sophie and Chloe will arrive at the same destination – at the same time. However, Sophie actually enjoys the journey and still has love/energy left to give at the end of a very long day.

🔸Sometimes the best thing we can do is…🔸

Allow God to pick the park & decide which path we will stroll down today.
Be still long enough to enjoy the breeze & catch our breath.
Stop & stare at the art piece He painted just for us… the one we almost rushed right by.
Come to that peaceful conclusion that as long as God is pushing the stroller… we ARE going to arrive where we are needed – one way or another!

🔴🟢🟡

October 21st –

It’s been 10 days since my shoulder surgery. I still can’t use my right arm but I’m determined to find joy & peace regardless!

I can’t text/write/dress/shower/stand-up/buckle-up/pick something up… etc. on my own! (Thanks Jose for typing this). 🙄😘

BUT…
-if you dress me,
-put my shoes on,
-pull my hair back,
-drive me to the park,
-open the stroller,
-put the dogs in the stroller,
-put my ear phones in my ear,
-open up my Coke Zero,
And point the stroller in the right direction…

WELL – I can still walk 7 miles a day all by myself!!! (4 days straight so far) 🎊🎈🎉

#puppypeerpressure #GirlsJustWanttoHaveFun

🔴🟢🟡

November 1st – HAITI BOUND

3 adults
6 kids
2 dogs
18 suitcases
9 carry-ons
9 backpacks
2 pet slings

**And Rosie/me can’t lift anything more than 3lbs 💪

**And I only have 1 good arm 🩹

**And we are sleeping at the airport gate tonight ✈️😴

**And we only have an hour layover in Chicago and we are already delayed 20 minutes!! 😧 😱

**And Sophie looks how I feel! 🐶 😂

LET THE ADVENTURES BEGIN!

#neveradullmoment

READY OR NOT… here we come!! 🎈🎉🎊

🔴🟢🟡

November 12th- Overworked

The boat with all of our crates arrived last week! WAHOO!!!

Don’t worry… I made sure to protect my right shoulder while sorting and organizing all of our supplies!

In fact, I was SO careful with my right side… that I totally forgot how much work my left shoulder had to do in order to compensate.

So…
I may or may not have lifted too much with my left arm.

I may or may not have called my surgeon who believes I just tore a ligament in my LEFT rotator cuff!

My surgeon may or may not have told me that I have to start icing the left shoulder every 4-6 hours AND put it in a sling for the next 10 days!

I may or may not look like I’m wearing a janky straight jacket!! 😂

All that to be said… the depot looks amazing, the supplies are being distributed where needed, most of our outdoor decorations are up, and the campus is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! 🎄🎁

It only cost me an arm and a leg… I mean an arm and another arm! 😉

#neveradullmoment #adayinthelife