Háblame Class Party

We finished our 7-week reciprocal language class, Hablame, this week with a Christmas brunch. If you're interested in helping with an ESL class in February, please contact Chrissy or Aura at 562-804-2189. Thank you to all the church partners and neighbors that worked together to make this a success!

Christmas Tree Lighting & Cookie Party

This Friday we had our third annual Christmas Tree Lighting & Cookie Party. We walked down to see the city tree lighting and frolic in the fake snow. After the ceremony we walked back to my house where we feasted on cookies, hot chocolate & apple cider. The boys started a fire in the backyard firepit and people hung out until almost midnight. I think there was over 50 people in and out of the house throughout the night. I love to see different groups of people mingling and having a fun together. Here are some pictures from the night...

the boys hanging out in the backyard

Full house!

Irene helping with the cookies

The girls having fun on the way back.

1 Year Sober!

Our friend is one year sober today! We are so proud of him. We are thankful to God for walking with him and giving him strength during this year. Please keep him in your prayers as he continues to work hard at it.

We ate at Philippe's in Los Angeles. This is all of us in the parking lot after lunch.

Háblame Class Update

Last week's Háblame (Reciprocal Language Class) was a blast! In each class we pair up people who want to learn English with people who want to learn Spanish and empower them to teach each other on the weekly teaching theme. Our instructor, Aura, does a great job preparing both language learners with words and phrases during the first part of class and then we practice in pairs for the second half.

There's something very humbling about learning language. You can hear sheepish laughs as each partner tries to pronounce words in the language their learning, but later they're the one teaching their partner. It's beautiful to see everyone at the same level teaching, learning & having fun with someone they don't usually cross paths with outside of the class.

Last week we had a great time learning words and phrases that would help us go grocery shopping for Thanksgiving. I never new that "relleno" meant stuffing. This week we will learn basic conversation skills, vocabulary and phrases that could be used in a parent/teacher meeting.

If you're interested in being a part of this program in the future, please contact Chrissy at 562-804-2189.