Mariela's story...

Hola everyone.

I am Mariela from NPH Mexico. Please excuse my English�those ESL classes are working slowly for me. 

I am grateful for this opportunity to be in front of you. The people who make NPH possible, without knowing us, you have decided to be part of our life. 

I would like to share a little of my story with you.

So, how did I arrive at NPH? One of the most impactful moments of my life was when my father abandoned us, and my mom died from cancer. I was 7 years old. 

My sisters (Anahi) and (Lucero) and my brother, Christian, and I were left with my Aunt Victoria, who was a single mother. She already had 2 children, one who was disabled. I cannot imagine how hard it was for her to take care of all of us. 

I remember the day when she told us about NPH�how it would be better for us there and that she would always support us. I was 8 years old, and I did not understand what was going on, but I was scared. 

When I came to NPH with my sisters and brother, it was so different. There were so many children and the house was so big! 

Time passed and things changed, and after a while, everything was great. I had many friends at school and we played every day. Sometimes, I wondered where my family was and why I was in NPH. 

 

I just wanted to have my mother and father. 

A �normal� family. 

But then I realized that all the people that were around me at NPH, were now my family. They were the people with whom I share a story, share a life, and that no matter what our past is, we are now making a new story, together. 

At NPH, I kept studying and after high school, we all give 2 years of service to say thank you to NPH before going to university. During my years of service, I took care of a group of 50 girls between 9 and 12 years old. It was really hard work � but during this time I learned that even though I was still young, if you act with love you will be an inspiration for others.

When I thought about the university, I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life. 

Where did I want to go? What did I want to do? Archaeology? History? Administration�well, in the end, I chose Dentistry. But why? This is a good story�

One day when I was 17 years old, I did something wrong�though now I can�t remember what it was. As a result, I had to help the dentist at NPH in the mornings for one year. Although I did not like helping at first, I loved helping the dentist so much, that it became my dream to be a dentist. 

I studied dentistry at the university in Monterrey in northern Mexico for 6 long years�and I graduated one year ago, right before I came to Seattle.  

It was not easy, but I did it and now I am Dr. Mariela Jaime!

 

Now I am here in Seattle for the NPH Leadership Institute. Studying, growing as a person, being responsible, and trying to learn how to be a leader in my community. It is an experience that has allowed me to grow personally and professionally, and it has given me the opportunity to share with my brothers and sisters from other countries.

I have chosen to become an inspiration for my younger brothers and sisters, following the legacy of our beloved Fr. Wasson�who founded NPH. I am only a small part of the seeds that he planted and 

I know he is proud of us all. 

When I return to my country, a new stage will begin in my life, where I am going to face the world outside NPH. It scares me, but I know have the skills, values, and family to succeed. 

I want to end by taking this opportunity to say thank you for believing in NPH, supporting me, and being part of my life. Thank you for helping to give us opportunity and education. NPH really transforms lives, and I am an example of that. 

If you have any questions, feel free to talk to me or the other leadership students here. We would love to answer any questions you have. 

Thank you!

Your home is where your heart is...

Written by Communications Officer, Konstantin Bilozertsev, a heartfelt piece on a volunteer named Claire and her experience living with the pequenos for a year at NPH Mexico.

On our big patio, in the middle of its choir of excitement, surrounded by all of the children playing together, Claire was playing soccer with some of her boys. During this joyful night, a thought suddenly came to her mind. It was a thought as clear as the water of love and as warm as a mother�s hug. "How could I ever not extend?" she asked herself surprisingly. With sudden clarity, Claire could not see herself leaving this place. NPH Mexico had become her home, and over a year later she is still here. "I can�t imagine my life without this place; it's my second home," says Claire. What makes a home? What has tied this ribbon so gently? In the beginning, it didn�t wasn�t as easy with all the changes and challenges of the first months as a volunteer. It was when she got to know her boys, with all of their faults and unique personalities, that she felt that indescribable feeling of unconditional love.

Claire�s boys are sweet and a bit mischievous. Having already worked as a school and preschool teacher in the US, she was prepared for "the tattling and fighting, which any other kids do at their age." But here there was a lot more waiting for her. The more time passed, the more intensely she became involved with all of the children individually, with their little quirks and colorful personalities. "There are always both good and crazy days, but I know them too well to ever stay mad at them. I�m not just a teacher here; I�m their support." Over the last one and a half years Claire has changed. With the challenges of being a caretaker for thirty attention-seeking children, she has learned a lot from: lessons on discipline; teaching social skills when it may be hard to show patience at times; listening to them when they need someone to lend an ear; and to answer all kinds of questions. "We are here so they feel trust and not abandonment," she says with quiet passion. "We are their source of love and attention. Through all of the changes and uncertainty, we are the constants for at least a year. We are whom they can turn to and lean on."

In her time here she has learned to be more flexible and to go with the flow, how happy it makes one to appreciate the relationships with the people around you, and that what you share is more important than what you have. "My way of life," she reflects, "has become richer, and that�s all because of the intense involvement with the home and the wonderful people who work together to make something fun and significant happen." Claire is assured she gained much more than she possibly could give. Every time she visits her home in the US it feels like leaving behind her other life in Mexico.

 

 

To see her teaching the children in special education at school with loving patience, to see her motivating her kids doing chores with animating warmth, to see the anticipation in the eyes of bigger kids from other dorms when they are coming over to talk or even just for a hug, just makes you smile and think she must be very happy here. She weaves her work by heart, and its beauty is visible. Proudly, with a bittersweet and loving sadness in her voice she adds, "Since I arrived, they have already have grown up so much." And obviously her heart has, too.

A Reflection on Trust

Below is a piece written by former volunteer and current Upper Midwest Associate Board Member, Hunter Johnson.

Gaining the trust of a child at NPH isn�t always easy. While some kids run to you with open arms, becoming your best friend from day one, others don�t. For some it takes a consistent presence for them to confide in you, especially for older children.

 

This was one of the reasons moving back to the US was challenging for me. I felt that in my two years living at NPH, I�d invested so much time and energy into the formation of deep relationships with the children - children that I truly love - and now I was far away, no longer a part of their daily lives. It hurt. There was no way I could remain close to the children and be seen as a trustworthy presence while I was exactly not that - present. I thought my relationships would fade because I wasn�t living there and that there would be no chance for me to get to know new children.

 

But I was wrong.

 

Last March I returned to NPH Honduras for a short visit. During my stay, I spent many evenings with the same home where I had volunteered when living at NPH: a group 14-18 year-old boys. Many of the ones I knew well had gone on to high school, so the group had changed. It now consisted of different boys. I didn't know these ones nearly as well.

 

One particular night I spent with this group, a boy in the home was quite sick. He said he had trouble keeping his food down and felt pain in his stomach. He asked if I would accompany him to the on-site clinic. I went with him.

 

We walked to the clinic and he was given medication. He told me he was hungry since he had not eaten. Knowing by now that he had missed dinner in the home, I grabbed some cereal from my room and we sat outside and talked as he ate several bowls.

 

He opened up.

 

He told me about his abusive household prior to NPH and the death of his parents. He told me about how things were going in the home at NPH. He told me about how he was doing in school. He told me about who he was dating.

 

I was never close to this boy before.

 

By the time I walked him back to the home several hours later, I felt connected to him. And for the remainder of my visit in Honduras, we were close. I could tell the way his eyes lit up when he saw me that he greatly valued our quality time together, as did I. It�s amazing that this connection was made in just a fraction of one night.

 

So what has this taught me? My relationship with the NPH community did not stop growing when I returned to the states.

As I had previously thought, building relationships through consistent presence and familiarity is certainly an effective approach. But through my experience with this boy, I now know a new way: Gaining trust by responding to a specific person�s call for help and listening when they most want to be heard. This is equally, if not more important. And you don�t need two years to do it.

It was hard for me to fathom how so much compassion and humility could fit inside such small bodies...

Below is a blog post written by Upper Midwest Associate Board Member Katie Lawler.

Silvia told me that earlier in the day, every few hours Claude would ask her how long it would be until we got to Kenscoff.  When she and I were walking out of the hospital with him, she had to tell him three times to slow down so that we could keep up. His excitement was palpable, and it was a happy ride out of the heat of Tabarre and up into the fresh air of the mountains.

Arriving to find a home of twenty running shouting little boys was a rude awakening, however. Overwhelmed by the disorder, he shrank back in apprehension and pressed himself into us as if trying to disappear. When Silvia and I took him to the clinic to get his medications organized with the nurse, he fell apart completely and melted into my lap, crying in despair. The next day, I could see the salt marks from his tears on my black skirt. We tried our best to distract and console him, but it was no use - his shrieks when they finally peeled him away from us were heart-wrenching.

Later that night when the younger boys were getting ready for bed, we went back to check on him. He was calm, subdued. When his caretaker told him that it was time to bathe and put on his pajamas, he stood motionless, small head hanging, and frail shoulders hunched. I was about to move to help him start undressing when I saw another little boy already in motion. He knelt down in front of Claude and started patiently taking off his shoes. When he got down to the socks, he folded each one neatly and placed it inside the shoe. When Claude got back from the shower and stood shivering in front of his bed, a second little boy arrived with a towel and gently patted Claude dry.  He then helped Claude put on his new pajamas, taking care to button each button and to straighten Claude's collar when he was done.

I stood frozen, speechless, and awestruck...it was hard for me to fathom how so much compassion and humility could fit inside such small bodies. To me, this is a testament to the fact that this is a home where love is.

A Message of Gratitude from a Peque?o Who Grew Up at NPH Mexico

Dear Friends:

Let me introduce myself, my name is Gustavo de Jesus Ramirez Rodriguez, I was born in Mexico, and I am now 23, and soon will be 24. I am a medical student in one of the most prestigious medical schools in northern Mexico.

Let me offer my most sincere thanks for everything that this great family has done for me, which I have the honor of being part of - Nuestros Peque?os Hermanos (NPH).


If I may, I will try to summarize how amazing it has been to be a part of this family for over 18 years. I mean, I'll try, because I know that words are not enough to describe the difference they have made in my life and the lives of thousands of children and youth throughout the 9 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Everything started out on September 5, 1996, when I was five years old and accompanied by my four brothers and three sisters, after a period of domestic violence, alcohol problems with my father and his abusiveness in our family, we had the amazing opportunity to be part of this amazing family, where, from the first day we had the opportunity to get access to medical and dental services, education, psychological support, services that we never believed we would have access to. At NPH we belonged to an environment full of love, service, solidarity, trust, fun, friendliness and safety, where everyone around us greeted us with an amazing smile and made us feel part of one big family.

For 18 years I had no problem feeling part of a family at NPH; my family is like any other family in the world, I think the only difference is the number of brothers and sisters, as we have hundreds or thousands, and over time more and more come. With the support of this great family, I can say that my greatest success has been in academics. With access to a quality education, good values, and my own personal growth, I received my primary education, high school education, and eventually college education. During the course of my studies, I was always taught a very simple philosophy that shaped my future� to serve my fellow man. So it was that which I studied toward in high school, a technical career directed to biological science, with the aim to help prepare me for medical school.

Upon finishing my upper secondary education, I was required to perform two years of service to NPH as a way of giving thanks for all I had received. I took care of younger siblings, and it's a way to continue sharing and communicating the importance of serving others - that's how I got the opportunity to start a project on the border between Mexico and the United States in Matamoros; Tamaulipas, one of the states with the highest social disintegration in Mexico.

With this project I learned many things during those two years and had the opportunity to share with the children and youth in the hacienda of Miacatlan, Morelos. What I learned: the value of responsibility, understanding, support; and many other things. These years of service were a time of great reflection through which I made the most important decision in my life. It was a time when I realized many of the lessons of life that our father and founder; Father William Bryce Wasson wanted to convey. During this time, I had the opportunity to prepare to take my entrance examination to college, which I passed successfully, and gave me the opportunity choose between attending two very prestigious universities in Monterrey, Mexico with a full scholarship to complete my studies. It was one of the greatest satisfactions that I personally have had, but I think it's the least I could do to make all those who have made this possible for me feel proud.

Currently, I am in the eighth semester of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Monterrey (UDEM), on full scholarship. I must admit that it has not been an easy road, but this is what I am really passionate about, and it gives me great satisfaction to serve those most in need of my services. Most likely we will not be able to change the health system in my country completely, but I'm quite sure that I will strive to give the best of myself every day to those in need.

During my time at NPH, I have had the opportunity to meet many people who help make the dreams of me and my brothers and sisters come true; people without self-interest are able to give the best of themselves for us, like receiving a letter of congratulations on a birthday, spending time with us on important celebrations such as graduations, or perhaps through financial contributions, they have managed to create an atmosphere of security and love, for thousands and thousands of children and young people. We can never thank them for as much as they have given us, but I guarantee that the seed is being planted now, and will provide very good results.

Friends, thank you for all you do for us. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity you give us to gain access to a better future for our lives. Without you this would not be possible. You are loved and appreciated.

Sincerely,

Gustavo

High Schoolers Host Fundraiser to Support Sponsorship

Below is a reflection written by high school student Danielle Stone from Glenview, IL, who organized a fundraiser to help support Johana* at NPH Guatemala. 

Recently, my tennis team and I decided to have a bake sale at our school. We wanted to have a team bonding experience and be able to help others at the same time. When we were trying to decide what organization the money should go to I suggested NPH. I told them all about the organization and about how I sponsor a child from Guatemala. They thought it sounded like a great cause and so we set a date for the bake sale. Everyone on our team made 3-4 dozen baked goods that we sold during lunch hours at our school. We sold cupcakes, brownies, cookies, lemon bars, pumpkin bread, and donuts. Everyone signed up for a shift time when they could work the table and sell our goods.

It was so incredible to see how many people wanted to learn more about NPH and how everyone was so supportive. Our goal was to raise around $300 and we ended up raising $400.66. We sold out of all our baked goods in 5 periods, which is very fast. It was such an amazing experience for me to be able to teach my peers and teachers about the mission of NPH.

*names have been changed to protect the privacy of children 

A Grateful Heart for NPH

Below is a letter written by visitor Claire Krummenacher to her parents and aunt who introduced her to NPH

Dear Mom, Dad, and Auntie Randy,

Thanks so much for this wonderful opportunity.  I�ve had a lot of fun with the peque?os but also learned a lot of valuable lessons.

1.       It�s okay to accept help with things you don�t know, even if it�s a six year old correcting your Spanish grammar.

2.       ADAPT ADAPT ADAPT.

3.       Be willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

4.       It�s good to meet new people but remember the ones you came with too.

I�m not doing a very good job of explaining the experiences that really made this trip special for me, but it�s hard to put into words because they can�t really describe the sound of Levi�s* laugh or Mackenson�s* smile or the sunlight on the mountains in the early morning or how Concha wanted me to sit with her at Mass and how Zolia* couldn�t talk but still held my hand and those are just a few of the beautiful moments.

But thank you for giving me good reasons to come home: a loving family that has always supported me, delicious food, a comfortable bed, the opportunity to go to school. Thanks for working so hard and for teaching me good values.

And thanks so much Auntie Randy, for introducing us to NPH in the first place. I am so happy we came and feel so lucky to have had an experience like this that changed my life.

If NPH has taught me one thing, it�s that it takes a village to raise a child. Thanks for being my village, and for giving me roots and wings.

Always,

Claire

*names have been changed to protect the privacy of children 

You have been with us every step of the way...

Gena Heraty, Director of the Special Needs Programs at NPFS Haiti, gives us an update on some of the children and what she describes as "a big family" at Kay Christine.

Thomas just appeared upstairs, and we are having a discussion about his love life!! He is forever changing "girlfriends"!! But he always finds another guy for the girl he is dumping!! So just now I asked him if it�s true he has left "Zouzou". She is for another he says!! All of us agree that if Thomas was able to walk we would never be able to keep him home as he has a real eye for the ladies!!! Today he went horse riding and he loves that! He is such a wonderful boy - always full of love and life and always down for a laugh. He has many many friends and kids of all ages, boys and girls, are always coming to chat with him or to wheel him around. His speech is clearer now and so it's easier to understand him. He would make a good journalist because he is always telling me when someone misbehaves. Last week one of his sitters got married, and he was so so excited to go to the wedding. How proud he was and how wonderful it was to see he and his Mom and three sisters there. They love him so much and his mother was proudly showing him off to all her friends and neighbors. I felt so many emotions during the wedding. So happy for this family, so happy for Thomas. So happy to see his joy. And I missed so much his twin brother- "my little prince"! Almost thirteen years have gone since he died, and yet he is never far from my heart. Somehow I like to think that he too was celebrating with his family that evening.

Robenslee has a new "karate type" routine! He is so funny! Doing his routine every day. Don't ask me where it came from - he just started doing it, and we all remarked that it was like a martial arts routine! One day I was sitting outside in front of the house and I was on the telephone. He was walking around and the next thing he just backed up and sat on my knee for a few minutes! Then he went off again! So cute! I have been deliberately giving him more attention these past months because it would be easy to go a day and just see him as he is so independent! And I remember how affectionate he was as a child. I have noticed that sometimes he will come close just for the contact, he will stay a while while I rub his back or head and then off he goes again! Other times he is too busy!!

Alsone has had a good year! He is so handsome! And so special! There he is in his chair - unable to do a thing by himself and yet always quick with a smile. Never impatient. Never grumpy! So gentle in so many ways. You know some people will look at him and never see beyond his body! Never notice his beautiful bright eyes, shining with love. Never notice his gentle presence, his kind smile, his twinkling smile - in the world of today so many people will always be blind to so many things. 

Cepha is watching me from her bed! She is always watching silently, and when you let her know you notice you will get a big smile or a laugh! During Mass she sometimes gets jealous if she cannot sit next to me. The tears will come and we move her over to me and then she is fine! Other times when I am with the smaller ones she will be watching! So I make sure to give her extra attention! She is a happy girl and loves a bit of fun! Still loves the chocolate too! Sometimes her hips give her a lot of pain but more often she is fine. She loves her school and the special ed classes are going really well.

Yoldi is now one year without seizures! Wonderful, right?! What happened? Well he told all of us he asked God to cure him and he did! Medically speaking we have no reason to explain the seizures stopping because the medicines are the same and even with the medicines he was having seizures regularly! He no longer wears the helmet! He wanted to stop taking the meds but we said no for now. Maybe if he goes longer without them we can try! After him begging us for months to let him return to school (to the program we have for older kids that includes life skills, and trade school) we relented! So he is a happy student and doing great!

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful support. I know you have been with us every step of the way. I will never meet most of you, but know that I consider you all to be part of our family here in Kay Christine. You will be happy to know that we continue to work hard to bring services to children with disabilities living with their parents. Our Special Ed school is going very well, as are our therapy programs. Not only that but we are trying to help other people in the rural areas of Haiti so we can reach out to the children that no one ever helps. Our dream is to to be a part of providing services throughout Haiti � one parish at a time!! With the help of God and good people like you, we will get there!

Creative Writing Contest at NPH Honduras

Every year NPH Honduras celebrates the anniversary of Padre Wasson's passing with a special Mass followed by a weekend of celebration. This time of year is a special one as it encourages many at NPH Honduras to reflect about their home and the founder who made it possible. This year volunteer tutor and music teacher Douglas Orofino organized a creative writing contest to showcase the children's talents, and help them further reflect on what they value most about NPH. The following are three winning poems and stories from the contest, which due to their creativity and description, stood out among the rest.

"My Home" by Estefano, 10
From the prettiest rose, from the aroma that gives life, NPH gives life like a caring mother. A mother that treats each child with much love and care and who does not follow the wrong path, but walks to God as their end. Even though I was not born here this is my home because in all of my time here, I grew thankful to NPH for its grand love. When the moon goes away, the sun shines and there is something that only the Ranch has: security, love, and respect. And in addition, nourishment.

"NPH, my home" by Marleny, 11
Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos is my family and my refuge. Here they have given me love. For me, NPH is a change in my life. I want to thank my teachers, caregivers, and directors for creating a special life for me. Because of them, I am in this beautiful and kind home. Thanks to Padre Wasson, NPH is a family of many children where we have a beautiful heart full of happiness. I have grown in this loving family.
Love is a value that Padre Wasson always practiced. Padre Wasson loved every one of his children equally. He always had a thought that I know I will never forget, �I want my children to come to God by serving and loving others.� He also said, "Don't treat me like a stepfather. I want you to treat me like a real dad." At the end of this thought he invited us to imitate this idea and message of peace and glory that he sends to his sons and daughters.

"My inspiration, my home, NPH" by Viviana, 9
Of all that the Ranch has given me, what am I grateful for most? I am grateful for a nice school and a home to live. In school, I learn to write, read, subtract, add and multiply but as well, I am grateful for a home that they have given me NPH. I�m grateful because it feeds me and gives me strength to live well in my home and school.
When I lived outside NPH, I was sad because my mother and father did not take care of me well. They had to work every day, and then one night they brought me to a family called NPH. When I came I was with the youngest girls, which I liked because they cared for me well.
I remember when I arrived at NPH. I was young, but one day I grew up and passed to a new home with the girls. In this house, we are friends and play together all the time with games. They teach me to finish my homework and do it quickly!
I want to thank NPH for the things that have given me like shoes, socks, clothes, food. Especially, I want to thank Father Wasson for a house that he gave us to live in peace with my friends. I am grateful to God as well for the days that he has given me. For this, I always pray in church or in the morning, afternoon and night. Thanks to God and Padre Wasson, we can live in happiness and harmony. Thank you Padre Wasson!

Now not only was I writing and reading, but dreaming...

Below is a speech from Merlin Antunez from NPH Honduras. You will be amazed by his story. 

Today I will share with you my story of how I came to NPH and how it changed my life along with my brothers' lives forever. 

I come from a family where both of my parents only had an elementary education. My father was a farmer and my mother a housewife. My parents could not afford to send me to school and until the age of 6. I only had one day in kindergarten. The kindergarten also served as a grocery store or a movie theater depending on the day of the week. We had a decent life but could not afford the basics of medicine and food, and as a result I became ill and ended up in the hospital many times. I lost two brothers to pneumonia before they turned one year old. I remember holding onto my mother�s long dress as my father and some strangers buried my second brother who died of pneumonia, a moment I will never forget. Soon afterwards my father became very ill and was diagnosed with Parkinson�s. We had to sell some of his belongings to pay for a local shaman�s advice since it was cheaper than a doctor. The medication that my father needed cost more than the average family�s income in Honduras. At that point we stopped having regular meals. The stress of my father�s illness soon caused my parents� divorce in 1985. The court appointed full custody of my two brothers and I to my father. On that day my mother kissed me goodbye and I did not see her for another 10 years. Several months after the divorce my father realized he couldn't provide for us. He then made the decision that changed our lives forever. He asked a friend to take us to a transitional government orphanage in the capital, a 14 hour ride from our home, and left us there. At the orphanage we attended a public school for some months, but without love, attention and the basics of books, paper and pencils we didn't learn anything. It was a very difficult situation. 

We stayed there for 9 long months until the day we were blessed by a visit from Reinhart Kohler, co-founder of NPH Honduras. He came to the orphanage and we were chosen to be part of the first group of children to join the NPH family in Honduras. Looking back I can now say that was the luckiest day of our lives. 

It was a cold and foggy morning when I came with my two brothers to the home for the first time. When we arrived we were shown to our very own warm bed, and were given breakfast of pancakes with honey and butter, and to this day it is still my favorite meal. 

We were greeted by smiles and hugs from strangers whom were very happy to see us. From that day on I called NPH �home�. Although I had moments of sadness because my parents were gone, somehow at 6 years of age I understood I had other things to worry about like my future and planning out my life. I finally had the 24 hour a day support I needed from my new family and now I wanted to do more. 

I learned to read and write and was considered one of the best students in my class before the end of my first year at NPH. I visited my first grade teacher 20 years later and she still remembered me for being the intelligent but stubborn little boy with the curly hair. For the first couple of years NPH did not have its own school until I was in 3rd grade when I finally had a classroom to attend with my own chair, desk, notebooks, pencils, crayons, books, snacks and recess. What else can a child ask for? It became easy to succeed when you had loving support and are provided for every day. One day while playing on the tire hanging under the mango tree at my new home I decided I was going to study hard and become a doctor so I could help my sick father. 

When I made the decision to become a doctor I did not keep it a secret, I told my friends and the people taking care of me, �Listen, I have decided to become a Doctor. Maybe I can heal my father,� I said those words as if it was a treasure I had just found on my way to the bus that would take me to school that morning and repeated it all the time. Caregivers and friends were very supportive of me. Just a few short months before I could not even write my name, now not only was I writing and reading but dreaming. I knew I wanted to make a difference, and in my new home I knew I would get the support I needed to make my dreams come true. 

During my time at the home I had wonderful Godparents from Germany, Holland, United States and Switzerland. My God Mother Renata and I still keep in touch. I met her 16 years after sponsoring me when I had the chance to go to Germany. It was an amazing day and I had a wonderful time and I thanked her often for sending me the delicious chocolates in my childhood. 

I finished my first nine years of school while also learning English and German from my caregivers at NPH. For high school I was given a full scholarship to a private school in the city. After high school I did my three years of service at NPH, the third one as a nurse assistant at the NPH clinic. With the support of NPH I attended the National University of Honduras and graduated in 2009 as a general physician. For the next two years most of my patients were the children of NPH (my brothers and sisters) and the villagers. The villagers received medical attention and medication practically for free, one of the many ways NPH shares with the community. During those 2 years I had the opportunity to follow up with patients that had orthopedic surgeries at NPH surgery center; it was then that I fell in love with orthopedics. In December 2010 I decided to become an orthopedic surgeon. I still have 14 more months before I accomplish that goal. 

26 years have passed since I entered my home at NPH. When people ask me if I think if I made the right decision to become a doctor working for low income areas, I smile and say I have no doubts at all. I really enjoy working for people in need; the best way they can pay me is with a smile. My favorite patients are the poor ones that are humbling and tell me their heart-breaking stories. Their relatives sleep on the floor next to them, often bringing them meals since the government cannot afford their medication, tests, or a physician. 

Every story I hear reminds me how much I have been blessed by NPH. I work at least 90 hours a week with no regrets. I love what I do. I love being a doctor. I am a living example that NPH helps so many children and families. NPH gave me an opportunity to change my life forever and I took advantage of it, and so did my two younger siblings. One is now an English professor and a father, the other one is an electrical engineer. Perhaps you will be surprised to hear that none of our generations in the past five centuries had a University degree. 

Following the values Father Wasson instilled in us we have managed to heal deep wounds. Today I help cover my father�s expenses and I also provide him with medicine every month. My brothers and I are currently working together to build a new safe home for our family. We reunited for the first time as a whole family after 24 years. Of course none of our dreams would come true without your generosity and unconditional support. I achieved my dreams! I DID IT! And I know my little brothers and sisters still at the home can too with a bit of faith from you, and for that I thank you from the very bottom of my heart.

Blanca

Blanca is 15 years old. She has two older brothers and two sisters at the home at NPH Mexico. What she likes most about Christmas is the candy and Posadas. She can't wait to break the pi?ata this year!

Josue

Josue is 4 years old and has two older brothers and two older sisters along with him at NPH Mexico. What he likes about Christmas are the presents and Santa Claus! He loves to draw and paint for and always enjoys helping with decorations during the holidays. 

Esteban

Esteban is 11 years old, and has one younger brother in the NPH Mexico home. What he likes about Christmas is the gift-giving! Every Chistmas he plays with his friends and has lots of fun. All he wants is for everyone to be happy!

Diego

10 year old Diego lives at NPH Mexico. What he likes about Christmas is the toys, Christmas Eve, and the festivities. He likes going to mass also. To celebrate Chistmas he loves decorating the tree! His wish is for next year to be another happy one. He says, "Christmas is very pretty! I like it so much!"

The word "bittersweet" has never had more meaning...

Below is a blog post from great Friend, Tom Bongi. He shares about his trip to NPH Guatemala this past summer and the children he met there. Thank you Tom!

Our last full day in at the NPH home in Guatemala. We all know the end is near and now the word "bittersweet" has never had more meaning. We are dreading having to say goodbye to all our friends, new and old. But we also miss our families and our homes.

The teens were quizzing one another about the first thing they are going to do when they get home. Some said they are going to take a two hour hot shower. Dinner at In-And-Out was a popular one.

We got to sleep in a bit because of our late arrival back at the home last night. Breakfast was quesedillas, frijoles refrito, cereal, milk and juice.

We had work assignments after breakfast. I took a group out to the fields to get our work assignment from Eric, a pequenos in his second year of service. The pequenos give a year of service back to the home after the 10th grade and another year back before they head off to the university.

Eric gave us the assignment of harvesting carrots from the fields. I would like to say we worked really hard but have you ever picked a carrot? You give it a gentle tug and it slips out of the ground. Some of the carrots were massive, others deformed. So we had a contest to find the biggest and the ugliest. The winner of the ugliest contest looked line a lobster.

After carrying the carrots in sacks from the field, we had to wash them, count them and bring them in clean sacks to the cold storage next to the kitchen.

The carrots that were too deformed to peel were set aside for the rabbits. We asked if we could feed the rabbits and Eric agreed to bring us down to the rabbit hutch. This led to a tour of the goat pen and the pig pen. Very interesting but also very offensive to the nose.

After the field work and animal pen tour, we got back together with the other groups and had a wrap session with Deacon Jim Hoyt. Jim asked a few of the pequenos to talk to us about their background and how they ended up at NPH.

Eduardo spoke to us first. He is paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair. He graduated from high school a year ago and now in his second year of service before he starts at the university in Guatemala City where he will study business administration.

Eduardo, his brother and his sister were abandoned by their father when Eduardo was three. He and his siblings were raised by their grandparents. While living with his grandparents, Eduardo was somehow shot in the neck and instantly paralyzed. It wasn't clear how he got shot but he kept referring to the incident as "the accident."

A social worker for NPH found Eduardo in the hospital and eventually he and his siblings came to the home. Eduardo indicated that he and his siblings have had the opportunity to develop socially, emotionally and academically at NPH. He said that if he continued to live with his grandparents, they would not have had the opportunities they have now. Eduardo said that, in a strange way, the accident that caused him to be paralyzed actually created the opportunities for him and his siblings.

Cesare is 16 years old and lives at the NPH home in El Salvador. He "believes" he came to NPH when he was four years old but he really isn't sure. What he does is that he arrived at the home because both his parents died.

Cesare's first memory of NPH was when he arrived on the first day as a very shy boy. He recalls kids coming right up to him and asking him to play. He is currently in the 9th grade and has one more year of studies before he has his year of service. He wants to attend the university and study hospitality and hotel management.

Alexander is another pequeno from NPH El Salvador. He came to NPH when he was eight but has been in some type of institution since he was one after he was abandoned by his mother.

Sadly, Alexander was at another orphanage in 2001 when he went with a group of kids for a day at the beach. There was a massive earthquake and when they got back to the orphanage, they found it destroyed. 

He then was placed in the NPH home and although he missed his friends, is happy he has had the opportunities afforded by NPH. He plans on attending the university after his second year of service.

I missed lunch because I had to head into Pastores to pick up my newly made cowboy boots. By the way, they are awesome.

In the afternoon, we had free time with the pequenos. I spent the time hanging out with Paulo. Paulo was a little down because knew our time together was coming to an end. He asked me a question but I couldn't understand. I asked him to say it again slowly. Still, no comprende. Finally I had an idea. I pulled out my Ipad, obtained a wireless signal and went to Google Translate. I had Paulo type his question.

"Are you leaving tomorrow morning?"
Yes.
"How long is your trip back to California?"
About seven hours. Hey, this Google Translate thing is pretty cool.
"Someone stole the flashlight you gave me the other day."
I have another one I can give you.
"When are you coming back here again?"

Wham. I guess I should have expected a question like this but I was totally unprepared to answer it. It would be easy to lie and say I'd see him really soon or that I'd be here next August for sure but I can't say that for sure.

These kids have experienced so much pain and disappointment in their lives that the last thing I wanted to do was make a promise I couldn't keep. So after some thought, I decided to be completely honest with Paulo.

"I will try to see you next year."
What I didn't list for him is all the "ifs" that come with that statement: - if our group even has a trip to NPH Guatemala next year - if my work schedule permits it - if I have enough vacation time - if I can stand to be away from my family for nine days again.

Paulo seemed satisfied but I have a feeling that the only thing he took away from my answer was "next year." Paulo started typing again on my Ipad. I braced myself for the next probing question; the next inquiry that would put me on the spot and make me squirm.

"Can I have some candy?" I laughed out loud. Partly out of relief. And partly because Paulo's mind had already moved on to the here-and-now rather that discussing the future. Yes Paulo, you can have some candy.

The home threw us a going away party that evening. Our group arrived at the dining hall to find it packed with every pequeno and the best seats in the house reserved for us. There was dancing and singing. One group did a folk dance in traditional Guatemalan costumes. A boy sang a pop song and a group of the teen boys did a dance that was obviously meant to impress the girls in our group.

Rather than eat dinner in the dining hall, we ate our meal (black beans and tortillas) around a bonfire. The staff passed out bags of popcorn (a HUGE treat for the pequenos). I gave mine to Paulo. He ate his and saved mine for later.

Before we knew it, the party was over. The pequenos had to get to bed (remember they get up at about 4:00 AM) and we had to pack. I walked Paulo back to his dorm. I went in and hung around as Paulo and his dorm-mates made their beds. The tia led the boys in a prayer and everyone headed for bed. I gave Paulo a hug and told him I'd see him in the morning.

Back in our dorm, people were packing up. It was obvious that we brought a lot of "stuff." One of the teens asked if he could leave his shoes for the kids. I told him to put them over in the corner. Another teen wanted to leave some shirts. They went over in the corner too. In no time at all, we had a pile of donated "stuff" that was three feet high.

When we turned out the lights, there was not the usual chatter in the dark. Everyone was tired and we all knew we had to get up early. The party was almost over.

Gabriela...

Below is the story of Gabriela, a little girl at NPH Mexico reported by Erika Klotz, Project Coordinator.

Gabriela is a nine-year-old girl who came to NPH with her older siblings in October 2011. Gabriela and her 3 siblings lived in a very small village in a rural area of the neighboring state of Guerrero. The siblings came to our home as a result of extreme poverty. Gabriela�s parents are illiterate. Her father is a farmer, however the soil of the farm is very poor, and he was unable to provide his family with nutritious meals or proper clothing. It was difficult for Gabriela and her siblings to attend school on a regular basis due to the distance along with the cost of travel. The state of Guerrero is the most poverty-stricken state in Mexico, and many of our children come from this area due to poverty and the violence. 

Gabriela and her three siblings have received a new start at NPH where they have proper nutrition and attend school every day. Gabriela�s new start has involved a lot of changes in her life, but she is learning a lot and doing very well at NPH. Her caregivers all agree that Gabriela is kind and extremely helpful. �She likes to help put things away and is always offering to help with chores,� says one of her caregivers. 

Not only is Gabriela eager to help others, she is also hard working in school. Gabriela comes from an indigenous community in Guerrero where the language Mixteco is spoken. She did not speak Spanish when she arrived at NPH. However, despite the challenges that come with moving to a new home, starting a new school, and making new friends, this dedicated nine-year-old is learning Spanish quickly and thriving in school! �There are still words that I sometimes do not know, but I like school a lot,� says Gabriela while seated with her friends at lunchtime. 

When asked about her new home at NPH, Gabriela responds, �I like it here a lot because I have a lot of new friends who are like sisters.� As active as any young child, Gabriela stays busy between school, homework, and participating in her favorite activities. She really enjoys playing soccer, learning to swim in the pool, and spending time reading princess books in the library. 

Gabriela�s siblings are also doing very well at NPH. She has two siblings who are at our home for younger children where she is, and one older sister who is completing her first year of high school at our high school home. Although she misses seeing her sister, the two pass notes back and forth with volunteers who travel between the homes. When a volunteer from the high school home sees Gabriela, she gets a big smile on her face and eagerly asks how her sister is doing, how she spends her time, and what she did the previous night. The volunteers happily relay stories and after hearing them. Gabriela is content that her sister is doing well and enjoying NPH just as she is. 

Gabriela also has three cousins at our home for younger children and one cousin who is in the same grade as her sister at the high school. These eight children�s lives have all been filled with opportunity upon arriving at NPH, and they are really enjoying it. 

A debt of goodness...

Below is a wonderful story shared by great Friend, Sharon Li, who recently celebrated her child's 9th birthday and instead of asking for gifts, they came up with the idea to ask their friends to support our mission. 


My child's name is Skyler Li. He is just 9 years old. I have been taking him to volunteer since he was 5. We volunteer for Hidaya, packing shipping containers with clothing, toys and housewares that are distrubuted to the poor in Pakistan. We also volunteer with a Buddhist organization visiting the elderly, and I have organized a small group of 3 children to visit another group home for the elderly where the children sing songs and play their violins. 


When I was 6 years old I used to write letters to Father Wasson. I was a child, so of course I wrote only brief, silly things about my day. Father Wasson must have been very busy himself with more important things, but he ALWAYS replied to me and reminded me to remember the poor. I did. I donated my toys. After writing for several years, I grew older and stopped writing. But I never forgot the poor and have volunteered myself since high school. 


Later, as a young mother, I remembered Father Wasson and wrote again to thank him for shaping my young life and inspiring me to give and have compassion. Our lives are always changing. In times when I was in need myself, I have received the grace, mercy and compasssion of others. I cannot pay back those who extended kindess to me, but I can give kindness to others who are in need. I believe that every kindness shown to me creates a debt of goodness that I need to pass on to others. 


Now, as a woman in my 50's with another young child, I still remember the poor and to always give back and create good karmic connections. What Father Wasson did some 50 years may have seemed very small and insignificant at tthe time; afterall, what can writing a letter to a 6-year-old do? It planted a seed that has been passed on to countless others for so many, many years. I believe that everything we do creates a cause and effect. Karmic affinities that are built will have their good result. 

Support Children in Need: Change the World One Child at a Time

An estimated 100 million children live in the streets in the world today. That number is close to the entire population of Mexico. What if these children were suddenly given a loving home, an opportunity for a decent education, and medical care?


Would this change the world?


I believe it would.


Miguel is a perfect example:


Read more of this Huffington Post article by John Iberle here!