Who could have dreamed?

Hello all,

The other day I sat back and watched Celeste and Reina in the kitchen working together making a key-lime pie (One of Celeste’s dad’s favorites!). A couple of weeks ago they were in similar positions whipping up a batch of Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter cookies.

I was struck by the emotional response I experienced as I wondered, having been rescued from an abusive situation and grown up in an orphanage, could Reina, in her wildest dreams and aspirations, have ever imagined herself in the kitchen alongside her “mami” making pies and cookies? Yet today, it is a common occurrence for her.

It has not been through any profound or extraordinary efforts on our part to help transform the dreams and aspirations for this one young lady. Instead, it has been merely a natural impartation of love, instruction, encouragement and hope, and the opportunity to explore and test her own capacities and dreams. Today, Reina has finished her law school education, has her sights set on a productive and meaningful future, and is secure in the love and care she receives from her “mami and papi."

Reina’s Hope was born out of this realization: that by merely providing the opportunities, love, and encouragement, hopes and dreams could be realized, and lives could be transformed.

We are now just a few months away from welcoming our next young ladies into their new home at Reina’s Hope. Soon they too can experience many more opportunities that likely exceed their wildest dreams and aspirations, the realization of a promising future… and making cookies and pies and so much more.

Thank you to so many of you who are making all of this possible so that those dreams might be realized and lives might be transformed. We welcome you down to meet our girls and enjoy some cookies and pie with them.

Until they all come home,

Michael & Celeste