Fortunately, we had about 150 people show up (mostly ladies - a few men!) and we had a beautiful day of lunch, door prizes, an informative talk regarding SOLCA, and a message on hope and God's love.
We sold the tickets for $10, the lunch cost $5 per person, and with a printing cost of a little over $100, we were able to deliver about $1,400 in donation to Dr. Alvarado and some of his staff at SOLCA. So many people donated door prizes, time, talents, flowers, chocolates. Unsion Television provided continuous advertisement of the event. El Tiempo provided a wonderful cover story as well.
This year we are so privileged to hold the 2nd Annual Color Purple Event. We have already visited the Director of SOLCA, sharing with him our ideas, plans and hopes for this year's event. It will be held Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:00 p.m. and again, with our friends, Branden Lenz and Sandra Flores, who own and operate the beautiful Villa San Carlos. All people are invited - couples, singles!
Maria Elisa Munoz has volunteered to be the Co-Chairman of the event. Elisa is a university student, studying International Business. She has served as a volunteer at SOLCA. She speaks excellent English, is an artist, loves music and creativity, and is also a professor at ARCO Language Institute teaching English.
It truly is an honor to have Elisa as she brings so much to the planning of this event. She will also serve as our Emcee this year - so be looking for her beautiful smile and glowing personality and heart!
The rest of our committee is Gary Gaither, Lawrence Burdge (who is a retired OBGYN doctor), Gina Ugalde, Director of ARCO, and a few others we hope to announce before too long and all their pictures!
Unsion Television has offered their support again this year with advertisement and interviews as well as our friends from El Tiempo. Unsion is also providing a way for folks back home, in the USA, to donate to SOLCA. It is explained later in this blog. All of the donation indeed, will go to SOLCA, yet providing a tax deductible receipt from Unsion. Thank you, Unsion for being such a wonderful friend!
Last week four of us visited the children's department of SOLCA - there were some children in the isolation unit - so we did not get to visit them. But we were able to see a few other children who are being treated.
The story of Carlos, deeply touched our hearts.
Carlos, who is ten years old, lives in the jungles of the Oriente. There are no roads leading to where he lives. So when he fell ill, he had to be airlifted out of the jungles to a regional hospital, then eventually came to SOLCA. It was a difficult process for the family to find out what was wrong with their son. And when he did finally get to SOLCA, it took a week for communications to reach the family back in the jungles. There is no internet or mail service in their remore area. That alone would be a trial - to wait for news of your son.
The only one who could come with Carlos is his father. And what a challenge to hear the news that their son has leukemia.
Somehow, Carlos has touched the hearts at SOLCA. And it's all part of what they do from day to day. Dr. Alvarado told us the greatest need they have at SOLCA right now is to have the funds to provide for families to be able to come and be with their child during treatment. I can't imagine how difficult it would be for a child to be having treatment, without their family being present.
Yet imagine how much greater the healing process could be, if children can indeed have their family there during this traumatic and scary process. The nurses and doctors provide great love for these children - great care - but we all know it's not quite the same as mother and father.
Tickets will go on sale the 4th of September at $20.00 per ticket. Also, advertising will begin at this time. We are SO looking forward to many friends coming and sharing in this wonderful time together on October 11th. We honestly believe it will be a great celebration of God's wonderful love for everyone and His faithfulness to provide all that is needed.
So...why The Color Purple Event? Yes, there are other avenues of charity that people can and have (in Cuenca) shared their resources for SOLCA. We consider Color Purple Event one of those avenues and a great opportunity for all to share in helping SOLCA.
Thank you for being friends of the Color Purple. Purple is a beautiful color, isn't it? And to us, it says "HOPE," - in Spanish it's "ESPERANZA!"
With gratitude,
