Love, Security, Responsibility, Work, and Sharing

All of our International Volunteers make a strong and lasting impression on the children of NPH. At times we are lucky to have a particularly talented volunteer join the NPH family with strengths and skills that create a deep and lasting impact on our organization. Hunter Johnson joined NPH Honduras as a volunteer Communication Officer, and after completing his volunteer year he was hired to create a new series of videos to showcase the NPH homes. He visited all the NPH homes, capturing beautiful video footage of our kids, staff, NPH leadership, and programs. You can see the video he created to celebrate NPH's recent 60th anniversary as well as his other videos here: https://www.youtube.com/user/nphinternational, and read about his adventure below.

Thank you, Hunter. We appreciate the work you have done with NPH.

I still can�t quite believe it. Three things that I�ve come to enjoy most in life are creative video making, traveling to unknown territories, and goofing off with adorable little kids. So when NPH International first approached me with the proposal of a project that is essentially the ultimate combination of all three seemingly unrelated elements, it felt like a dream. Then I agreed to do it, and it was no longer this far-fetched fantasy. It became an incredible, worthwhile reality.

So, what is this task, you wonder? It�s rather straightforward when written out clearly: NPH wants new videos that highlight the programs, properties and people of its nine homes across Latin America and the Caribbean. Working as a one-man camera crew, I would spend a week at each of these locations to capture everything. Then I would edit the footage together to produce a collection of videos for the NPH website and to help with general fundraising. This is what I signed up for, but, as you might imagine, I got a whole lot more out of it than what was listed on the job description.

Let�s rewind a second.

I first came to Nuestros Peque?os Hermanos? as a volunteer in January 2012 to work as the Communication Officer at the home in Honduras. I clearly remember the initial feelings of being overwhelmed and intimidated by the foreign language, demanding work schedule and large quantity of kids that engulfed me from the first day I set foot here. But, I also recall the following months with equal vividness: greatly improving my Spanish language skills; learning to manage my job with competence and efficiency; and finally, abandoning the notion of our children as a giant number and beginning to know them on a more personal and profound level. Now, this place feels like home. I walk around the property with the same comfort I�d walk around my house back in the States. But still, even with all this newfound confidence, I can�t say I was entirely prepared for the epic journey that lay ahead. The fact of the matter was, it took all that time and effort for me to become comfortable at one NPH home, now I was asked to go to eight more.

Nevertheless, I finished my time as a volunteer in Honduras, packed up my clothes and camera equipment for four months of travel to nine countries, and on May 3rd of 2013, I set off on the exciting new adventure.

Well� not quite�

One positive quality this journey reinforced was patience, and I was tested on it right from the very start. You always have to have a plan, but you also have to know that this plan could be delayed, altered, or totally scrapped at any moment. So, two failed attempts to cross the border into El Salvador due to rejected passport stamps and one minor bus crash later, it was actually on May 6th of 2013 that I set off on the exciting new adventure, this time deciding to start the journey in Guatemala instead.

Okay, fast forward again.

This time even further, to where I am currently: in Honduras, sitting in my office, having completed the long tour to all eight other countries and in the midst of what is sure to be a lengthy and detailed editing process. Looking back (literally) at my visits to the NPH homes as I browse the 700-plus gigabytes worth of video footage and photographs, I am now removed enough from the big trip to be able to reflect upon the people I met and moments I experienced that all add up to a larger, more comprehensive understanding of the enormous NPH family.

Since returning to Honduras the question I�ve been asked most often by the children is which home I liked the best. I can�t respond to this question because I simply don�t have an answer. No single home jumps out at me - instead, all the homes are brought to mind. Every home is unique in its size, architectural design, and rhythm of life. The individual children, employees, and volunteers that live and work at each NPH home combine to produce a special environment that distinguishes it from the rest. So, when I�m asked this question, how can I respond? The homes seem so different they�re almost incomparable.

As I dig deeper and deeper into the video archive I�ve begun to notice a pattern not quite so obvious at first-glance. My video footage is organized by country and then further broken down into folders sorted by category: school, nutrition, work, healthcare, free time, religion, etc. Looking through these folders for each country I�ve made a profound observation: The homes are a thousand times more similar than they could ever be different.

Looking beyond the exoskeleton of the superficial characteristics of the homes and seeing right into the heart of the organization is where the real truth lies. What is incredibly uniform across all the countries is the one, omnipresent philosophy that the founder Father William B. Wasson laid out for us. Love, Security, Responsibility, Work, and Sharing: these core principles are smoothly woven in many layers into the video footage I�ve collected. The reality is, while the homes may be in different countries and the children come from various backgrounds, the reoccurring trends in the footage I�ve captured goes to show just how in sync and harmonious these places truly are.

Let me give you an example. When I�m editing a video and I�m looking for a shot of a happy child, the fact that I have literally hundreds of shots to choose from which depict children from all the homes joyously smiling at the camera, playing freely with their friends, or laughing in the arms of a caregiver is a definite sign that NPH does good work. It�s a definite sign of the organization�s consistency. This is the principle of Love, captured in its many forms.

The same can be said of the other NPH pillars. Security is a shot of a young caregiver in Nicaragua tucking in a toddler in at night. Responsibility is a clip of a girl studying in Peru for her exam the following week. Work is a recording of three teenage boys in Mexico harvesting fresh tomatoes to serve for lunch. Sharing is in a video of a child in the Dominican Republic happily splitting her juice amongst five of her closest friends. Of course the contexts in which these principles manifest themselves is always diverse, but if a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine what nearly a terabyte of high definition video footage says about the values of the NPH family.

Apart from the actual video being a testament to the mission of NPH, the many personal memories from the trip deeply engrained in my mind also continue to resonate within me. Visiting this many countries so quickly produces a whirlwind of recollections, and some things, unfortunately, blend together. But others don�t. I met so many good-natured people who come to NPH to dedicate their time to do something far beyond them in scope, but when taken one small step at a time, progress can be seen. Some people stay for six months, others stay for 30 years. Simply being in the presence of these individuals and witnessing their dedication, it�s impossible not to remember them and become inspired by their determination.

Interacting with the children in each country was the most significant part of the journey. In each country I roamed the property freely with my camera, attempting to take video of the kids in their most natural states. Of course, sometimes things weren�t as genuine as I hoped, and kids would put on Oscar-worthy performances for the camera. Like for example in Haiti, when 12 boys �prepared for bed� as they stood in two perfect lines and vigorously brushed their teeth, staring directing into the camera lens and trying their best to smile without drooling toothpaste onto their T-shirts. But much more often than that, the moments were truly authentic, and this honesty is felt when playing back the videos.

Some of my favorite memories are the times I shared with kids without the camera as a barrier between us. Usually there was at least one child who decided to become my best friend/personal assistant in each home, carrying my tripod and camera bag everywhere and laughing uproariously at each one of my really-not-funny jokes. Some children opened up to me and told me their pre-NPH story. Most didn�t, and we just took each other for who we were, in that moment. I had so many identities over the course of the tour. These have included uoontair (Spanish pronunciation of my name), Cazador (the word �hunter� in Spanish), Hamster (because I guess it sounds like Hunter?), and my personal favorite, the original blue Power Ranger, as I convinced (I mean, really convinced) about 20 young boys in Bolivia that this was my previous occupation before coming to NPH.

The travels were a true test for me on many levels. Both physically and mentally, things could be demanding. Mentally, because the sheer amount I was expected to document sometimes seemed enormously overwhelming to do working alone. Physically, in that I may have been sick with some sort of illness for nearly half of my time on the road. But that part is over, and now that my reality is a more static one - very static as I find myself editing video at my desk for close to 8 hours a day � I can undeniably see the value in every moment I experienced during the voyage, as challenging or effortless as it was, and I wouldn�t change a thing even if I could.

When I think back at the four months I spent floating from one NPH home to the next, I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to better know the breadth of the mission of the NPH family. I feel blessed to have been able to use my personal strengths and skills for a cause in which I truly believe. And finally, more than anything I feel blessed to have met and shared quality time with so many playful, curious, and motivated children who refuse to dwell on the unfortunate realities of their past and are ecstatic to receive a second chance at being a normal kid with an exciting and optimistic future.

Never underestimate the impact you are having...

Below is an excerpt from a wonderful reflection blog post by NPFS Haiti volunteer, Bridget Holtz.

Children are the hope of the world. This one is a carry-over from my time in Nicaragua � but if you are ever depressed, discouraged, weighed down by life, go look into the eyes of a child, sit and play with him or her. The energy and determination they possess and the joy in their smiles as they discover and share the excitements of their days will bring life and laughter.

Never underestimate the impact you are having. This is not meant to pressure us, but to keep us aware that we are being watched, our actions being measured as we profess a faith or a philosophy. Live out loud, in words and speech, in actions and in truth.

Laughter is healing. Laughter is hopeful. Laughter is intimacy. I knew I had reached a level of trust with the nurses in the clinic when we could laugh with each other. I was willing to make mistakes and sound ridiculous as I learned Creole and learned about Haitian life. Humor was a way to reach the one nurse who intimidated me the most. I am the best kind of target for teasing � I immediately fall for it and react strongly. So the laughter abounded throughout every day and put us at ease with each other. It also reminded me not to take myself so seriously.

Oh, Haiti, I miss you. I miss the genuine presence of each moment, the sun and the laughter and the sounds and the little hands and feet, the sweat and the tears and the chanting of my name and the full-body hugs of the little ones. The 7Up, the morning coffee, the baby cows mooing like they are full-grown, their mommas checking for cars before letting them cross to the pasture, the rice and the beans and the spice and the chicken, the refreshment of a cold shower at the end of a brutal day, the simplicity of life, the knowledge that one life could make others better. The determination of a people who refuse to give up, no matter what the cost, who fight for each moment and possess faith far beyond mine. Three nurses who showed me every day that if we have faith, hope and love, we have the tools to succeed. The bravery of young children who run after life with abandon, who dance and sing and love and rejoice and embrace each day with all they have. I pray that I can bring these and so many more tidbits into life here in the States, and that the depth of my heart will only serve to dignify, love and be present to those who are now before me.

Read her full blog post here!

I�ve come to learn that relationships and communication are incredibly intricate and so valuable here.

Below is an excerpt from a blog post written by Ashley Siferd, a volunteer from NPH El Salvador. Ashley talks about how much she has learned about the delicate and extremely meaningful relationships built with the children at the NPH homes. 

I�ve come to learn that relationships and communication are incredibly intricate and so valuable here. Building trust with some of these kids takes time and effort, especially given some of their backgrounds and personal histories. So each new interaction or deeper conversation with any of the children for me is a victory because that means we are getting closer and leaving superficiality behind.

For example, almost 5 months had passed when one of the older girls finally opened up and started talking with me; at least it became more than just saying hello in passing. Just a few weeks ago, she felt comfortable enough with me to cry on my shoulder. I would never have expected that when I first met her.

Read her full blog post here!

I'd heard that being a tia was hard work...

Below is an excerpt from a blog post written by NPH Guatemala volunteer, Jessica Heintz. Jessica shares about how rewarding her experience being a "tia" last December was for her! 

I was pretty nervous leading up to December. I�d heard that being a t?a was hard work, and it certainly was. The hours could drag on, the kids wouldn�t listen, etc. At the same time though, it was an experience I really enjoyed. My position as clinic assistant doesn�t provide a lot of direct contact with the kids. Thus, the intense time I spent with so many peque?os in December was great! Also, because I had a new group of boys for the most part, I got to know a lot more kids within the home.

One of my favorite parts of the t?a experience was doing �vela�, or night duty. I would drag my blankets down from my house to the section, rocking sweat pants and glasses. My partner would leave and I would put on some lovely Latin bachata music until my boys fell asleep. Then, when everything was quiet, I too could snuggle up on the t?a bed until the morning, when I was in charge of waking everyone up for another day. While I missed my own bed a bit on these nights, it overwhelmingly felt like such a position of honor to be able to have the privilege of keeping watch over the kids while they slept.

Read her full post and see more pictures here!

We are a family here!

Below is an excerpt from a blog post written by volunteer, Kristin Mages, who worked at NPH DR. This week, National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we are celebrating all our volunteers like Kristin, who selflessly dedicate their time to helping positively influence the lives of the children living in the NPH homes!

WE are a family here. That was Padre Wasson�s philosophy when he started NPH in Mexico back in 1954 and that continues to be the case to this day. It�s not uncommon to hear a kid here referring to one of their housemates as their brother or sister; some of them have known and lived with each other since they were babies. Plus lots of our kids have siblings here with them. 

On that note, we have a really special project that we do here as volunteers called Proyecto Familiar (I�ve mentioned this before in other blogs). More or less, once a month, each volunteer is assigned a family of siblings and together, we make supper. It�s simple, it�s fun, and it�s about being together. Some siblings here are very close, but there are others that you rarely see together and as you can imagine, when you live within 4 walls with 250+ other people, there�s not often time to be alone as a family and not surrounded by others.

This past Sunday, I did two different Proyecto Familiares. First off, we had Franchesca (one of my girls) and her younger twin sisters, Fernanda and Katery. I knew this one would be a walk in the park, because these siblings are super close and Franchesca is very responsible. Franchesca planned it all and we ended up making ensalada de coditos (pasta salad, Dominican-style) in the way her mom taught her years ago. We had a great time!

Read the full post here!

Little things bring great change...

Below is a blog post written by wonderful supporter, Ursala Houser, about her recent trip to NPH DR. You can also check out Ursala's beautiful photos from her trip on her site here. 

On the first day we arrived it felt like time stood still for us.  I swear I got more accomplished in that one day than I would have in a week here in the states.  We stayed at NPH orphanage in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  We arrived at night, while everyone was sleeping.  The next morning our wonderful Tia (house mom) made us breakfast, porridge and fruit.  Now this wasn�t just any porridge.  If you ask my husband, it was the �just right� porridge that Goldie Locks talks about in the story of the Three Bears.  Twenty-five minutes later I was sitting in my very first Spanish mass.  Something about hearing the liturgy in Spanish made it so much more beautiful.

After mass, a quick tour of the orphanage and then lunch.  Lunch was a humbling experience because we were allowed to eat with the children.  My family got to eat with the baby house, which was the kids who were between the ages of 3-5.  When we arrived we were welcomed by some of the most polite children you will ever meet.  They took their eating seriously, not one of them played with their food.  When they were done eating everyone of them picked up their plates and put them in the sink. AMAZING!  Can I sign my kids up?  When they were done they did chores and then we all played outside.  

On the first day being offered the same meal as the kids I felt guilty.  I shouldn�t be taking food from these beautiful people.  To see the expression of joy on the kids� faces as they partook of the exact same meal that they ate every day, beans and rice, was something EVERY American should see.  Needless to say my daughter, Ana, and I cried into our beans and rice that day.  After lunch and playtime we went to our rooms and debriefed.  That afternoon we took some of the kids to the beach and later that night we went to the director�s house for dinner. Seeing how our different cultures mesh together was perfect. We sang songs, and by the end of this very long day I felt like I was home.

The next day posed a different sort of challenge.  We had made plans to go into the Batey and work within little village outside of the orphanage to help build a house for a family.  A Batey is a sugar workers' village.  The men in the village all work in the cane fields, and the women stay at home and raise the children and cook.  In these more modern times, that definition was a little looser, but most families stuck to the traditional customs.  When we arrived to start building we didn�t know what to expect.  My husband is very knowledgeable in the building process, but he soon realized that the American way had no place in the Dominican Republic.  The �Dominican Way� was king and cement trucks that mix the concrete for you were a luxury.  Here you used the ground to mix the concrete. The supplies were limited, and nothing was wasted, and my husband learned from a boy who was just a bit older than our son, how much water, sand and cement to use.  Humbling, yes, but also inspiring. 

As Americans we sit in our world thinking that the people in other countries are poor because they are lazy.  Not true. The people in the Dominican were very industrious.  Besides that, they don�t have the luxury of being lazy. If they don�t cook, they don�t eat.  If they don�t build, they don�t have a place to live.  The young men were taught young how to build and work with their hands. In the same manner the little girls are quickly taught by mom how to maintain a household.  Schooling is reserved for the rich, as there is no public schooling system, and it costs a great deal of money.  In the orphanage the children had godparents from the States and Canada who help cover these costs, so their lives were much different than the children in the Batey.  So, unless there was outside intervention, if you are born poor, you know that your life is going to be one of hard work and labor. 

Depressing? Nope! I must say that the first day in the Batey I experienced a wave of emotions; empathy, compassion, and this last one was strange for me, envy.  As I played with the kids all barefoot, I realized something;  this is true happiness. This is true freedom. 

At one point on that second day one of the men took a little break and came and played with us.  My daughter and I were doing bubbles with the little ones as their father (later I learned his name was Sandy) looked on with curiosity.  I asked him if he wanted to join in and he said that he didn�t know how.  I told him I would teach him, and 5 seconds later I watched him blow his first bubble. So often we feel like we have to do great things to change the world, but at that moment I had the epiphany that little things bring great change. Now, I�m not saying that bubble changed Sandy�s life, but it sure did change mine. 

Here is a slideshow of Ursala's photos from her trip.  

International Student Leadership Program in WA partners with other local org

Read this wonderful update below directly from our NW regional staff about an exciting new partnership in the works!

We are developing a wonderful partnership between the International Student Leadership Program and a place here in Spokane, WA called the Hutton Settlement.

The Hutton Settlement is a children�s foster care home with some great similarities to NPH.  Their mission is to nurture, educate and prepare children who are in need of a safe and healthy home.

In October, the students from the International Leadership Program came over to Spokane (we are about 300 miles from Seattle) to attend our fundraiser and to do a service project at Hutton Settlement.  The service project was to build a sandbox. 

The children from Hutton were also invited to join in.  It was a beautiful, crisp fall afternoon, and after meeting together and learning about each other, our students and some of the Hutton children began the project, which involved some digging, leveling and placing the concrete brick border.  

What I found really great about the experience is that there really seemed to be a bond between the Hutton children and our students.  They really didn�t share any language abilities, but they worked side by side in this joint effort to create something of lasting  benefit for the children.

Learn more about our International Student Leadership Program here and check back for updates soon!