We have been having lots of internet issues at our house this week, so I am finally getting a chance to wish everyone Happy New Year! We have a team from Canada volunteering this week, so we joined with them to throw a New Year’s Eve party for the boys in the CISNA boys’ center who don’t have any family to spend the holidays with. We had a big cookout with hotdogs and hamburgers, followed by a huge fireworks display. The boys absolutely loved it! Later that night, we said good-bye to 2012 with some fireworks in front of our house, and we managed to set a banana tree on fire! Thankfully the hose was in reach, and no other trees caught on fire. I guess we better be more careful setting off fireworks during the dry season!

I also wanted to share the news that the 5th Annual James V. Snyder Memorial Resolution Run (5K Run/ 1 Mile Run or Walk) will be held this Saturday, January 5th at 9:30 am. The run will be in North Park just north of Pittsburgh in the North Park Boat House and Rose Barn. This race is run every year in memory of Jon’s father, who lost his battle with leukemia in 2007. The race funds go to support three charities: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Westmoreland County Food Bank, and Mission to El Salvador. We are honored to be one of the charities sponsored by this race. It’s not too late if you want to run, and you can get more information by clicking here.

Happy New Year from El Salvador and we hope that your 2013 is off to a great start!