Angels' Angles

Most of our children have little or no biological family with which to connect and their time at Ciudad de Ángeles is finite.  Our goal is for Child Sponsors to stay connected to their sponsor child even after that child has left our care, providing ongoing emotional support and celebrating milestones as that child’s extended family.  One example of that model came to fruition this weekend as a number of sponsors and supporters celebrated the marriage of Briseida and Adrian.

Briseida and her siblings, Gustavo and Anahi, arrived at Ciudad in July 2005, at the ages of 6, 5, and 4 respectively.  Briseida’s original sponsors were Bennie & Michelle Peek and later, James & Gay Maclaskey and Scott & Andrea Eller were also added as sponsor families.  Briseida exited Ciudad in 2018 and began working in town.  She met Adrian and a courtship began.

As is common in Mexico, a small, private civil ceremony was held on Friday, March 15 to fulfill the legal requirements.  In addition to Adrian’s immediate family, Briseida was represented by her siblings, the Ellers, the Maclaskeys, Jenny Tidwell (sponsor of Anahi), Daniel White, and Doug & Lori Stutler.

At 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 16, a ceremonial service was held at El Encanto Salon with James Maclaskey officiating and Scott & Andrea Eller giving the bride away.  The ceremony was followed by a formal reception that included refreshments, sit down dinner, cake, and all the customary celebration activities.  The “Father of the Bride dance” was shared by Scott, James, and Jorge Moreno.

A great number of family and friends from Cozumel were in attendance and the “Ciudad family”  guest list included former house parents Alejandra & Jorge and their children, Estaban & Daniela, former house parent Ofelia and her son, Omar, former & current residents Gustavo, Anahi, Dulce and her daughter, Nicole, Floridalma, Suleima, Luis, Chanti, current Director Les & Jeannell Johnson, the Ellers, the Maclaskeys, Jenny Tidwell, Daniel White, and Steve Holladay.  The party wrapped up about 11:00 pm.

Sponsor families play an important role in the lives of these children.  We celebrate and give thanks for all of our sponsors, supporters, and friends that make connections and have such an impact on them.