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C A S A V I VA 2 0 1 1 C H R I S T M A S L E T T E R
December 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

This is an exciting time of year. We may not have the traditional cold and snow in Costa Rica, but we have fireworks and tamales accompanied by streams of cars driving up into the mountains to look for cypress trees. Roadside stands sell lights and Nativity stables, and everyone looks forward to spending their aguinaldos a required extra months salary that floods the Christmas economy. As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate with you both the highlights of 2011, and outline some of the challenges ahead for 2012.

Let the Doors Swing Wide

Christmas is a time when we open our doors, when we look for the light in the window, when we turn toward home and seek our closest family and friends. We exchange gifts within our circles of community and open our doors to parties and gatherings. We celebrate with food and drink and special treats. In many ways, the Christmas season defines the work of Casa Viva our desire is to connect children in need with the life of real families. Children need the intimacy of family and community. They need traditions and rituals and celebrations. Children need to know that unique sense of home. They need to see the light in the window and know that if they knock, the door will swing wide and they will be welcomed inside. This is the invitation of Advent opening doors, making room, sliding over, adding a plate to the table, extending a kind welcome. Two thousand years ago, a young couple entered a bustling and noisy city with nowhere to go and they only found closed doors at every turn. Finally, an innkeeper led them to an open stable door. A baby boy was welcomed into the world that night, and Hes been knocking on doors ever since.

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Casa Viva 2011 Christmas Letter Stories Worthy of Celebration

A door opened for a girl named Mariana last week. Her story is particularly significant because she was the first child placed through our third center in Alajuela. While we dont yet know whether Marianas story will end with a reunification to her own family, or a declaration in abandonment for a possible adoption, we do know this tonight Mariana will sleep safe and be cared for by a family who has been preparing to love her for months. While Mariana is a recent placement, Ricardo had been living with his Casa Viva family for two years when finally a permanent decision was made in his favor. Were grateful to God for the kind judge who allowed him to be adopted by his Casa Viva family. His case represents one of our greatest struggles this year navigating the delicate nature pursuing permanent decisions in the best interests of children.

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In Ricardos case, he was declared in abandonment and an adoption decision was made. Juliana was different. She had lived in her Casa Viva home for fourteen months when the day came to return her to her biological mother, who was still working to organize her life. Our staff and the family gathered around the table and prayed as we always do. We thanked God for being faithful so far to intervene on Julianas behalf. We committed her to His care. We trusted that God would continue to act in Julianas best interest. And all of us cried, but none more than the Casa Viva mom and dad who had loved on Juliana day and night, all those months. Every child has a story, every story is unique. Mariana. Ricardo. Juliana. Doors opened on their behalf, and we are so grateful.

Favorable Winds of Change in 2011

Ten men and women have been gathering around a common table this year. Joined by three Casa Viva staff, they are taking the next step in national leadership for Casa Viva Costa Rica. In 2011, we crossed the halfway point. More than 50% of the funds that finance CVCR are coming from Costa Rican sources remarkable! The national board has been charged with making the program more and more Costa Rican every day, with pursuing national self-sustainability, and with engaging churches, families, plus the state and civil society to seek family solutions for children. Weve seen the winds of change in our relationship with the government as well. As local officials come in contact with international research and mandates, they are turning their hearts toward care based in families. The child welfare department of Costa Rica has doubled the number of children they are willing to send to Casa Viva next year. Thats significant, and requires growth in staff and recruitment and support, but more than anything else, it signals a change in attitude in our favor.

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And finally, our most important breeze is coming from our local churches. More and more our church coordinators are taking the lead in supporting our local families. Theyre planning events and Christmas parties, finding beds and car seats, linking specific needs to local solutions. We recently celebrated our 6th anniversary with an event hosted by a corporate team from Tyndale House Publishers. We were all reminded by Ricardo Salazar, senior pastor of Vida Abundante, that compassion feels, acts, costs and gives. Our churches are cultivating this art of compassion and it shows.

What Weve Learned While Connecting Children to Families

1. This is Gods work, He is acting on behalf of children. We all may know this to be true theoretically, but were seeing it up close and personal in the tiniest of details. God is orchestrating matches and surprises that have taught us to celebrate again His majesty and wonder. Children are so very close to Gods heart. 2. Children need people more than anything else. Yes, children need warm beds. Yes, children need square meals. Yes, they need a roof over their heads and a school and books and a place to play. But what children need most is a connection to at least one adult. What children need most is to experience the love of a family and through that connection, be introduced to their heavenly Father. Connection to adults allows children to face the challenges of life. 3. The problem is bigger than any solution that is currently available. The crisis with children at risk is only increasing as the world internalizes the prevailing messages of self over sacrifice, of sexual promiscuity, of drugs and alcohol as an acceptable escape, and on and on. Casa Viva is working to expand the supply of solutions we offer to the problem. Plus we're working to reunify separated children back into their own families, if they can become a safe and loving place. Together with children's homes, we're increasing the alternatives of care for children separated from their families. But unfortunately, the demand for solutions is only growing. 4. Real life solutions are authentic, but also complicated. Sometimes a judge returns a child to a biological mother who we believe is not over her addiction. Or a great family who would love to adopt their Casa Viva child is preempted by a government that awards the adoption to another family. And when those things happen, people get hurt, and we all grieve. It happens. Life gets messy, and situations deteriorate. To take the risk of connecting children to families, we have to know that sometimes we will fail. But not all the time. When it works, it's beautiful. And more often than not, children win and their lives change course for the better.

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Casa Viva 2011 Christmas Letter

5. We won't succeed long term unless we can engage local leaders, local churches, and local money. Children need connections here and now. They need people who will tuck them into bed tonight, and still be around when it comes time for their weddings. Local engagement is the key to helping children break out of cycles of dysfunction. Local financial responsibility leads to local commitment. When local churches and families accept the challenge to care for those around them, the world will never be the same.

Opening the Door to a Brand New Year

Weve shared with many of you that we truly believe were standing on the edge of a whole new world of care for children. Were watching local churches and local families open doors to meet the needs of the children in their neighborhoods. Were watching children walk through those doors and be transformed. Were seeing what happens when Gods truth meets a broken world. Working toward that end, were facing four key challenges in 2012 growing our work in Costa Rica, strengthening the quality of our care model, challenging the region of Latin America to implement local solutions through local churches and families, and also influencing the international conversation concerning children who do not have a safe place to sleep. We invite you to follow our progress through our new Casa Viva Monthly E-Newsletter and our two blogs Casa Viva Costa Rica and the Casa Viva Greenhouse all can be found at our website, www.casaviva.org. We are deeply grateful for the partnership of our family and friends. Without your faithful commitment, Casa Viva would not exist. As we say goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012, we invite you to join with us in this grand adventure of caring for children in the name of Christ. Sincerely,

Philip and Jill Aspegren Directors, Casa Viva

P.S. Would you be willing to help us open more doors for children? As we close out 2012, we ask you to consider a special gift for the ministry and the children of Casa Viva.

Casa Viva USA P.O. Box 120, Wheaton, IL 60187, (630) 427-4040 Casa Viva Latin America Viva, Apdo: 544-2050, San Pedro, Costa Rica +(506) 2524-1380 Greenhouse Blog: www.casavivagreenhouse.org CVCR Blog: www.casaviva.org/cvcostarica

paspegren@casaviva.org www.casaviva.org Follow us on Twitter and Facebook