Circle of Love

Susan and Phil Robinson of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, along with several of Santa's helpers, bring Christmas each year to thousands of children living on the Havai Supai, Navajo, and Hopi Indian reservations.

Thirteen years ago, when the Robinsons' oldest daughter and son were serving missions in Central America, Susan worried about their health and living conditions, and found she simply had to focus on something else. That year her daughter Natalie collected eyeglasses for her Laurel project, and the Robinson family hand delivered them to Colonia Juarez, Mexico. "While there," Susan said, "we fell in love with the people."

The following year, the Robinsons stuffed pairs of white tube socks with presents and hygiene items for the children in Colonia Juarez. By the fifth "sock Christmas," youngest daughter Brittany told her parents all she wanted for Christmas was to go to Mexico to "see the kids." Although her parents resisted, they ended up packing their van and heading south. As they were driving home, Susan remarked that she hated to go home and have to go to the mall. When her daughter asked why she was going shopping, Susan replied that she hadn't bought one single thing for Christmas. Brittany then said, "Mom, don't you get it? This was Christmas."

Following that trip, the distance and border difficulties caused Phil and Susan to look for a needy group in the United States. A ward member suggested the Havai Supai Indians, who live at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Susan contacted the coordinator of the Marines' Toys for Tots program, and in 2000 her Circle of Love organization took Christmas to eight hundred children living in the Grand Canyon and at a boarding school in Chinle.

Each year the project grows and more children are served--over five thousand during Christmas last year. During a one-week, nonstop tour, Mr. and Mrs. Santa host three to four parties a day. At night they sleep at the boarding schools. "We've seen these kids grow up," commented Susan. "Seeing their innocent eyes light up when they see Santa is wonderful. Our children and grandchildren know this is what Christmas is in our family. They all help, though now that they're scattered it's harder."

Natalie Robinson Wright, now the mother of three, makes a certain number of quilts each year and has enlisted her ward's help as well. "I like knowing where the quilts are going and seeing pictures of the children after my parents return," remarks Natalie. "I love how this project brings our family together."

"Humanitarian work is not always smooth sailing," Susan says. "We learned to substitute, stretch, adapt, make do, do without, work in the dark, and even change directions where needed. On the other hand, we saw one miracle after another as we reached children who needed someone to care for them. The trailer containing our gifts was like the loaves and fishes in the Bible; it seemed to stay full no matter how much we took out. For one week we left the cares of the world behind and walked as the Savior would have walked. We were with His precious children and received far more than we gave."

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