Room for Rent

One afternoon while Rachel and Dawnielle were cleaning the kitchen, they heard a shuffling on the back deck. Dawnielle peeked out the back door and found 11 year old Fernando sitting on the patio chair. She asked him if he’d like to come in and get some help with his...

A Reflection from Our Summer Intern

The news came – I would be spending my 7-week InterVarsity urban program in Chirilagua, a Latino immigrant community between Alexandria and Arlington Virginia. I would be living in Casa Chirilagua, an intentional community (and newly forming not-for-profit) and would...

From Trouble Maker to Avid Reader

Pablo is one of those kids who can make even the most seasoned child care professional consider another career path. When his mom asked if he could be part of our after school tutoring efforts, we were excited to accept him. Within a few months I was telling Emily...

Ms. D, Why Are You Crying?

In July, we attended a children’s conference at a local church with 10 children from the neighborhood. During the program, the children were told about missionaries whose lives were in danger because they would tell people about Jesus in places where it is illegal....

Julia’s Girl Talk

The women of Casa Chirilagua were headed out for a game of basketball with a few women from the neighborhood. As our wonderful InterVarsity intern, Laura, headed out to play, young, almost 8 years old, Julia grabbed her hand. “I don’t want to play basketball. Let’s...

Trip of a Lifetime

In January of 2009 Cory, the leader of Mujeres de Virtud, decided to challenge us with a new opportunity for growth. She wanted to take the Mujeres de Virtud ladies from Chirilagua to Lake Champion, New York, for a spiritual retreat weekend with 100 women from Boston,...