Again this year,
our family thanks WTAP for the opportunity to be involved with a refugee family. It is a Christmas tradition that we
hope to be involved with annually. To see the joy in a little boy's face while assembling a Lego firetruck was priceless.
Thank you for allowing us to have a memorable Christmas,
The Ardell Family ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone.We had a great day today delivering to our adopted family. They asked us to stay
while they opened presents. They shared their experience with their new country thus far. The kids were so excited to receive
the presents and were already riding bikes, wearing watches, & purses. The bus tickets & gift card for Food city
brought tears to the parents eyes. As the father said "we are overwhelmed, by not only the gifts
, but by the show of friendship". We will pray for their one remaining son who has stayed behind to take care of
their grandparents. Thank-you
all for all the support, & for being part of this experience in the true spirit of Christmas. Thank-you mom for translating for us. Please share photos. Lorna ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Everyone,I want to thank you for letting me speak today. I had so much
fun. We gave out a lot of toys today and many families were adopted. My friend Gitah helped pass the toys out also. Thank
you very much for letting me speak I had e great time.Thanks for all you do,Emmy Rose Bachini
----------------------------------------------------------------
The adopt-a-family program
was a wonderful experience for my family.
It has made Christmas much more meaningful this year, and it will be a memory that we will always
cherish.
--Brent
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi JJ, Our family thanks you and all those involved
in the Adopt a Family program. We had a wonderful experience meeting our family from Burma. They graciously welcomed us into
their home and were eager, with the help of an interpreter, to tell us about their family and their joy in arriving
in America. One gift they had requested was an American Flag. In presenting it to them, my husband instructed them in the
proper handling of the flag and how to fold it for storage. They were joy filled to receive the flag. They are feeling success
in being in their new country and proudly showed us the excellent grades of their son who is in the 8th. grade. Both sons
are big soccer fans and were thrilled with the gifts of soccer balls. The mother prepared refreshments for us and together
we all shared an interesting and tasteful treat. We were told that the dish is served only to special guests on great occasions.
We felt privileged to be so served.
In leaving they agreed to meet
with us again as we would like for them to meet more of our family. The visit ended with smiles all around. My family considers
this visit to be a true holiday blessing for us.
Merry
Christmas !
Sue and Bill Koesser and Family ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi JJ,
Thanks
for letting us be a part of the Welcome to America Project. We gave, but got a lot more from this day.
Taylor and I spent many
days trying to decide the best items to get for everyone in the family. We were excited about meeting them
and spending time with them. The most important thing is that they get the things that we got for them
and that they are made to feel welcome. I would like to try to be able to give them their gifts so, if
possible, could you let me know when a good time might be. We always have very tight schedules, during
the holidays more-so than ever, but would like to try our best to make it over there. If it doesn't work
out then by all means please give them the gifts and wish them a Merry Christmas from us.
Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you,
Cheryl
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you Lorna for organizing this amazing
experience. You did so much to make this happen! What wonderful helpers you had, all the generous gifts and contributions
from so many! And your Mom provided necessary translation... and most of all, tender loving care (:Memories were made today that will last a lifetime. I'm not sure who received more, they or
we???Love you! Anne Smith ps...when can we go again?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi JJ &
Orphelia,
Jordan, Patrick and I had a very nice visit this afternoon with the Reh family. We got
off to an uncertain beginning since Mr. Reh spoke a different dialect than the translator. Fortunately he found
someone who spoke Mr. Reh's language. In the end, we spoke to the first translator in English, he then spoke to a girl
in his language and she translated in Mr. Reh's dialect. A little complicated but it worked out. When we
first arrived only Mr. Reh and his four yr. old grandson were there. Shaw was very shy and would not talk or smile when
he opened his gifts. That all changed when his big brother, Nga, came home. He ran to him, pulling him into the
room to show him his new treasures and pointed to the gifts waiting for him. It was heartwarming to watch the two boys
together...Shaw sat with his arm around his brother's neck while he opened his packages, happy that Nga was also receiving
gifts. It was obvious that the two boys and grandfather love each other very much.
We stayed almost
three hours and enjoyed every minute of our time with the Reh family. Before we left, Patrick made sure they knew how
to operate the portable DVD player and the vacuum cleaner. Both items were greatly appreciated, especially the DVD player
since they do not have a television. We are going to see about getting one for them.
I think
the boys will be speaking English very soon and hopefully they can help their grandfather learn the language too. Jordan,
Patrick and I look forward to seeing their progress as they settle into their new lives here. They are a very nice family!
Paula --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi JJ,
It was more fun than receiving gifts. Also,
Diana and son live with her sister and son. She said that her sister has not received any gifts through the program. Thought
someone adopted her sister and son.
Thanks
Karen Garofalo
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi JJ,
I just wanted to thank you for allowing us to have such
an amazing experience. Seeing the joy in their eyes as they opened the gifts we brought, was as much of
a Christmas as anyone could ask for. It not only reminds of us how much we have, but how much we take for
granted when something as simple as a soccer ball brings so much happiness and excitement to a boy. I look
forward to volunteering more with WTAP in 2010.
We will keep all the families in our prayers over the holidays and throughout the year.
Merry Christmas!
Kim McQueen
Thanks
for coordinating everything. it indeed was a special day... the family was blessed and the dad shared w/ us that his kids
had never received gifts before as they had been in the refugee camps for 18 years- and their youngest is 16 so all of their
lives were in the camp. The mom pulled me aside in the kitchen, crying privately, to tell me how thankful she was that
her kids could enjoy their first Christmas in America. It was such a blessing! and our group really became engaged with them,
and a bunch of their Nepalese friends came over and we were able to meet many of them... so it was great. Thanks again for
giving us the opportunity to be involved!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JJ and Megan,
What a fabulous event this year! Congratulations on a job well done.
We had a great time with Michael Haile's family, especially his two young boys. I think Rick was able to get some great
pics. Thanks for a great day! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi JJ,
Could not agree more with your excitement about yesterday.
We had a wonderful afternoon with the Basnet family as well as their extended family who joined us. We
are going to try to coordinate a picnic event in January to bring the families together again and share our cultures with
one another. What an amazing journey they have had in surviving in a refugee camp for 18 years and persevering
in life to start anew in America while living life with an abundance of joy despite the hardships they have endured.
They demonstrated life lessons to our families that adopted them which was every bit (if not more) of a blessing to
us versus us blessing them.
I have requested you as a friend on Facebook so you can see the photos I posted from our day
yesterday.
Thank you so much for bringing this ministry to Highlands and providing us the opportunity to
be involved.
Merry Christmas
to you,
Deanna Miller
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello again,
Thank you very much for this opportunity, Myself and my Brother
both enjoyed it.
Also, we will
be unable to attend the Tuesday drop off, due to Holiday traveling, but we would like to participate in the near future after
the holidays.
Happy Holidays!
Jennica Brea Webb
Hi Cheryl,
Jordan and I were with the WTAP delivery crew today out at Willow Springs and
Serrano Village. JJ Taylor mentioned how bad he felt that one family wasn't able to deliver their gifts to their adopted
family on Sunday as planned. I asked him if he was talking about the Clarkins and he said yes. He'd
brought your gifts today and we went over to their apartment to see if they were home. Luckily they were ALL there!
Your gifts were a big hit and they were very appreciative of all of the wonderful surprises you and your family had picked
out for them. The dad really liked the great watch, and the rice pot and dishes you provided are perfect as
they did not have very much in their kitchen for their big family. You can also be assured that the bikes, wagon, barbies,
the cute pink ride-on toy and all of the household items you provided will be put to good use and your generosity wil be remembered
for a long time to come.
I know you must feel some disappointment that you and your family did not get to
meet your adopted family. Unfortunately when there is a language barrier, the information about dates and time
are sometimes translated in error, which is probably what happened in this situation. I know this
doesn't make up for what you missed, but I wanted to convey to you that their smiles and excitement were genuine.
JJ took a family photo for you that I'm sure you will want to see so hopefully he'll be able to get that to you soon.
Have a Blessed, Merry Christmas!
Paula
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Megan,
I don't know where to begin, I am so pleased with the
way things went today. we gave out over 350 toys and the children was so well behaved. They had a single line and all
waited very patiently. I was so proud of them. Anyway everything else went
pretty smooth only one family was not seen by their adopted family, but I ensured
them someone would be out to see them this week and I will make that happen. All in All it was a good day. Rich took pictures of three families at Rancho and spent time talking with them. Sue had
a wonderful time with her family and will be keeping in touch with them. Margaret and Taylor Had a wonderful visit for their
family. Paulo had a great visit with her family. I spoke to this gentleman several times this week he was so excited about
his visit with Margaret, always had a smile on his face. My body is tired, but I am still to excited about today to sleep.
Well I will stop here for now I have pack in the morning. JJ you did a excellent job putting this together. I really enjoy
working with you and Megan. HAPPY HOLIDAY EVERYONE We will talk soon.
Ophelia
