Ricardo is here to visit

Ricardo arrived yesterday for a short visit until Sunday. Ricardo was the oldest boy living at the casa for many years and the first to move out on his own. He currently lives with family in Michigan where he is working and going to college. He is the biggest success story from the casa to date and Sister Eva always says they wish they could clone him because he was such a great kid growing up and terrific role model for the other kids. I don't think I even met him the first two years I visited here because he was always in school or working until late in the night. He lived at the casa for about 9 years from age 13 to 22 when he finished his high school education and trade school in auto mechanics. Since he is a U.S. citizen, he was able to go to the U.S. to live with relatives there while attending college. Everyone really misses him and they were so excited when he got here. Now he is a regular supporter of the casa and his younger sister who lives here, sending money and bringing things. He arrived yesterday with suitcases loaded with things for the casa and kids. There is a conference on HIV today through Saturday in town and he was invited by the sponsors to come and speak. It was difficult for him to get time off work and school, but he did it to come back for the short time. Ricardo is in the photo with Sandra, the nurse here, Maynor and Carlos, both who live in the older boys home with me.