Casa Sonrisa Families and Cottages
Casa Sonrisa strives to create a traditional Christ centered family setting for the children in our care. Each cottage is home to House Parents and 10-15 Casa children, both girls and boys ranging in ages from 2 to 17 who come to us from homes where parents are unable or unwilling to properly care for them. Criteria for selecting house parents include: Members of the church at least five years; 35 to 60 years of age; and at least a ninth grade education. Casa children, both girls and boys ranging in ages from a few days old to 17 come to us from homes where parents are unable or unwilling to properly care for them. Casa house fathers are employed outside the home and go to work everyday. House mothers are “stay-at-home” moms and additionally, due to the large number of children in each house, house parents are assisted by 1 to 2 aids. Activities at Casa are those that you would normally expect from any Christian family, children begin attending school at the age of 6 and participate in normal children activities
and support: home work, play, and bible study.
Casa Sonria Oversight in Mexico
Casa
is overseen in Torreon by Dr. Pedro H. Rivas Figueroa. Brother Rivas
was previously President of Universidad de la Laguna (UAL) in Torreon,
now retired. The Universidad Autónoma de la Laguna, its Civil Association and its basic organization,
were born on December 4, 1988, with the support of 2252 students,
210 teachers, 83 staff members, parents, and the community members
in the Laguna. On the same date the Board of Directors was formed
and Pedro H. Rivas Figueroa was named president. Brother Rivas continues
the work begun by his father. In 1939 the late Brother Pedro Rivas
a graduate of David Lipscomb College, began preaching in Torreon,
Coahuila; Mexico. He married Bertha Figueroa who was the
daughter of a Methodist preacher. Around 1939, Brother Rivas
established a congregation in Torreon, Coahuila Mexico. He established the first formal school
of preaching in the Americas. The school of preaching was established
1952 in Torreon, The first graduates of this school of preaching
were Brothers Moises Perez of Lubbock, Texas. He has passed on.
Zenaido Sanchez of Dallas, Texas and Ernesto Reyes Diaz de Leon of
Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. The Iglesias de Cristo now have a history of about
70 years
in the Americas. To this day both the school of preaching and the
congregation that Brother Rivas started continue in existence.
Brother Rivas' excellent reputation in the community has resulted
in much local support of Casa, including a government grant of $25,000
to assist with the purchase of Cottage #3, the donation of $10,000
from a local telecommunications company for a computer lab for the
children, local Rotary gifts of furniture and appliances, donated
clothes and minibuses, and weekly donations of 30 gallons of milk
by LALA milk company.
U.S. Oversight and Support
Casa Sonrisa is overseen by the Casa Sonrisa Operations Committee. Mark Hager serves as the chairperson of the Operations Committee. The Operations Committee is charged with supporting Brother Rivas and the Casa families, coordination of fundraising efforts, receipt and distribution of donations, communication to Casa supporters, financial record keeping and reporting, and compliance with U.S. not for profit laws and regulations.
Casa and the Operations Committee are overseen by the elders of
the Westside church of Christ in Round Rock, Texas, who serve as
Casa Sonrisa Inc.'s trustees.
Casa now receives support from more than 20 congregations and 100s
of individuals.
The History of Casa Sonrisa
G.M. Kemper (right) pictured with Brother Pedro Rivas (left) had a dream of planting a children's home in Mexico and bringing the love of Christ to these children and others through this effort. Exploration of the legal and financial aspects of operating children's homes in Mexico was begun in early 1990. Several information gathering trips were made to children's homes in Mexico. Early helpers on information trips to Mexico included Edgar Judy, Ted Parks and George Roggendorff. Dr. Pedro H. Rivas (Mexico), Stan Stout, and Lic. Saul Palacios (Mexico) were very helpful with cultural and legal advice. Through the help of brother Pedro Rivas we were able to organize legally in Mexico as a nonprofit civil association with bylaws that guide us in getting children as young as possible and nurturing them into young adulthood.
During the early phase several congregations were approached unsuccessfully about overseeing the work. Failing in this effort, we organized under the laws of the state of Texas as a nonprofit corporation (Casa Sonrisa, Inc.). The financial and moral support of the Wimberley Church of Christ was invaluable during the 1990-1995 period.
The first meeting of a board of trustees was on May 3, 1992. Those present were Bill Brietschopf (Bertram), Ken Furr (Wimberley), Camm Lary, Jr. (Burnet), G.M.Kemper (Wimberley), Ted Parks (Round Rock), and Herschel Singleton (Travis Peak).
The official opening of Casa Sonrisa was on January 26, 1993. It was first decided to set it up in Piedras Negras, a border town across from Eagle Pass, TX. It was opened and ready to care for needy children for five months with extremely poor results. At that time it was agreed to move to Torreón where Pedro Rivas could try to gain the trust and confidence of public officials, both local and state.