Calvary Presbyterian Church

The reorganized Mission Committee includes a sub-committee that serves our Angel Families. This year two of our families have graduated; we have adopted a new family, and we have a prospective family that we are considering for adoption.

The Ortiz family ( the one with the triplets that we adopted seven years ago) secured Section 8 housing and no longer needs our financial help. We continue to communicate with them and rejoice in their wonderful progress. The triplets (Angela, Angelo, and Angel) are eight years old and doing very well in the third grade. (The boys proudly showed us their mastery of the times table.) Jenny, age 12, and in the 7th grade, is running on her track team at her Middle School. Daniela, now 18 years old is an honor student at Roosevelt High School and will begin East Los Angeles College this fall. With more free time, Rosalina is engaged in part-time employment - primarily child care work.

Many of us have become acquainted with Israel as he frequently attends our morning worship services. Occasionally Susanna, his wife, and their children, Mery, age 14, and Enrique, age 12, accompany him. Israels great joy is his van equipped so that he can drive with one hand since he is a paraplegic - still carrying a bullet lodged in his spine, shot by a nocturnal burglar who invaded their bedroom some eight years ago. It has been a long, painful eight years, may months of which he has spent in Rancho Los Amigos hospital. Israel is trying hard to catch up by going to school every day and by serving his church in Paramount. Recently he served Project Angel by delivering Thanksgiving turkeys.

Their oldest child, Karen, 21 years old, is now married and has two babies. Enrique is a soccer star and a 7th grade math whiz. Mery has just started 9th grade at the Oscar de la Hoya School. The family has acquired a new apartment in a public housing project near Little Tokyo. It is especially equipped and furnished for their needs. They no longer need our financial help, but we get to keep them as friends.

Rosaura and family came to us in March. They were evicted from their home and were living in a studio apartment near Western Ave. in Los Angeles. (Picture six people living in an apartment with no bedrooms.) Fortunately they now have an apartment with four bedrooms made possible by a Section 8 supplement and $350 monthly from Calvary Church. Myra, the oldest daughter and her year-old baby have serious medical problems so are still dependent in the home. Jesus (12) and Cindy (8) attend Arlington Heights Elementary School while Danny (12) was just advanced a grade to Mt. Vernon Middle School (Jesus and Danny are twins). They are good students and enjoy their classes.