How does a 4th grade student go from falling behind with schoolwork and exhibiting behavioral concerns to setting goals, receiving glowing reports from his teacher, and advancing two reading levels all in just one year? The answer: family.
At Casa Chirilagua, were family. When a member of our family needs additional support, everyone contributes. When Matteo first started attending Kids Club, he quickly tired of academic work; however, we noted his memorization capability was phenomenal. When we found out he was two years behind in reading, we knew he was capable of much more, so we lovingly gathered around him and his family and said, “You are amazing! You are smart! You can do this!”
The whole Casa family got involved in helping Matteo succeed. The school provided reading interventions and support. He practiced reading every day at Kids Club and every week at Bible study. His parents encouraged him at home. His mentor worked with him week after week, building a mutually supportive relationship with Matteo’s family. By the end of 4th grade, Matteo advanced two reading levels in just one year. What did we do next – we celebrated! God brings our community together in Chirilagua every day to help more than 70 students like Matteo. Seeing God’s love expressed through people in tangible ways in the neighborhood is exactly what Casa Chirilagua is all about.
Our family is composed of our students, parents, volunteers, supporters, staff and more. All of us have one thing in common – we are part of the Casa family and we use everything God has given us to care for each other. This is how we live our motto of “Learning Together to Love our Neighbors as Ourselves.” In the Casa family we bridge relationships across nationalities, cultures, languages, and neighborhoods with the same mission: To develop relationships with families to see the Chirilagua neighborhood transformed by Christ.
God continues to do amazing things in Chirilagua as our family grows. Can you believe we’ll have high school students next year? We need all the help we can get! As we enter into this season of Thanksgiving, we praise God for His provision. It is He who binds our family together, inviting each of us into community bringing whatever gifts we have to contribute whether it be time, talent or treasure.
Please consider supporting our family financially, by prayer, or volunteering. You can donate online right now at: casachirilagua.org/Donate Let us know of your commitment to pray or volunteer by emailing development@casachirilagua.org. Everything we do is a family effort, and we need all hands on deck to make it another spectacular year in 2014.
With gratitude and thanksgiving from the entire Casa family,
Dawnielle Miller, Executive Director
Phillip Connor, Board Chair
PS – Want to print this letter in it’s original form? Download the PDF here.
