It's so easy to sing the praises of NPH and all they do to improve the lives of the children in their care...

Below is a testimonial from Lorraine Riedl in our Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region who recently visited NPH Guatemala!

 

Amazing! That's how my seven year old granddaughter, Magnolia, described her stay at Casa San Andres, the NPH home in Parramos, Guatemala.

 

July 24th through July 28th, my son, granddaughter, a friend and I travelled to Guatemala to visit the children that we sponsor. Although it wasn't my first trip to an NPH home, or my first trip to Casa San Andres, it was as exciting as if it were.

 

There's an immediate connection with the children and staff that makes you part of the family. My granddaughter and her godsister were inseparable, and she enjoyed playing and spending time with all the children. It was fun for the adults, too. I fell in love with a 6 year old lovely little girl, a kitten lover, who I am now sponsoring in addition to the goddaughter I went to visit.

 

Everyone at the NPH homes receives a first rate education. They are also given the opportunity to learn a trade, such as baking, cooking, woodworking, or welding, to name a few.  Sports are also a big part of their daily lives. They are nurtured physically, mentally and spiritually.

 

I return from each trip energized. It's so easy to sing the praises of NPH and all they do to improve the lives of the children in their care. Because of those who sponsor children, volunteer and dedicate their time, and share their love and knowledge with the children, those young people have the opportunity to achieve a bright future.

 

Please visit your godchild, or visit an NPH home and sponsor a child while there, and discover the miracles that NPH, with your help, can perform.

 

 

Three Generations of Giving

Introduction note from Steve Schmidt, Development Manager, Upper Midwest Office:

The following benefactor story comes to us from a sibling of the Konz Family, Ms. Judith Koeppler.  When I first reached out to Ms. Koeppler I asked how she first became involved with NPH and she shared one of the most beautiful stories of family-philanthropy I have heard to date.  To honor her parents and her family I said I would follow-up with a few photos from NPH.  In the picture, I had the honor of presenting Ms. Koeppler and the Konz Family with this photo book.  In this article Ms. Koeppler tells that story of their family-philanthropy and how the joy of philanthropy continues to be passed down in her family, generation to generation, benefitting organizations like NPH.  Please enjoy this wonderful story! 

Written by Judith Koeppler on behalf of the Konz Family:

When you think of a family tradition, especially during the Christmas holidays, you think of eating, celebrating, trees, lights and togetherness. Our family has added a new tradition and that is philanthropy.

It all started with Anne and Larry Konz and their strong commitment to their Catholic faith, Catholic education and their love of travel. They traveled all over the world, but their favorite country was Mexico. They loved the countryside, the people and the culture. Prior to one of their trips in the late 1950�s, Father Ray Zagorski, a priest at their church in Appleton, WI, told them about Father Wasson and the orphanage that he established. They made plans to meet him and see the orphanage. As always, they brought a couple of duffel bags full of clothes to give to the children. They were impressed and stayed in the local village to learn more about Father Wasson�s vision and decided that they like the philosophy he embodied for the families of the children. All children from one family would never be separated. All of the children were educated and worked on the farmland to help produce food and embrace communal living.

The Konz family quickly grew to a family with nine children. The entire family learned from early on that you cherish your family and bring sunshine to those less fortunate. It can be a smile, a bouquet of flowers or a home cooked meal.

The meeting of Father Wasson and the children started a friendship that lasted for years. Anne and Larry sponsored one little boy for years who finally graduated from College. Judie and Maribeth, two of their kids, were fortunate to meet this young man in Mexico City in 1980. He was all smiles and so very grateful for the opportunities the Konz�s made possible for him. How proud they were to meet him.

Anne Konz passed away in 2001 and in memory of her giving spirit, the family established the Granny Annie Fund through the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Anne embraced philanthropy in a simple way � with �heart�. A women of profound faith, she always considered others before herself. Her authentic concern for humanity continues to thrive in the extended Konz families. Donations are made throughout the year by family and friends. Every Christmas Eve they gather together and collectively discuss charitable opportunities and decide worthy programs to fund. Anne�s giving spirit was quietly contagious and is now embodied in the hearts of three generations that follow in her legacy. Her favorite NPH, quickly has become everyone�s favorite because of what it meant to her and Larry. Their philanthropic spirit has spread through the generations.

As the families gather together this Christmas Eve they will decide on her behalf where the dollars generated from her fund will benefit. They will capture the true meaning of what it feels like to give.

Finding family at NPH Guatemala...

Below is a reflection written by our very own Ross Egge, Development Manager in the Northwest NPH USA office about his recent trip to the NPH home in Guatemala!!

This past July, I had the extraordinary opportunity to travel to our home in Guatemala with a group of amazing people from the NPH Northwest community. Though NPH has been part of my life for many years, I am never more inspired and continually impressed with the work and dedication being afforded to these children and communities then when seeing it and sharing it with others. For many in our group, it was the first trip to an NPH home, for others it was a long-awaited return, for everyone it was an experience to remember, and an impactful reminder of the positive change we get to be part of with the NPH family.

The children, so loving, so fun, so very much children being children. It was so fun to see some of the godchildren meeting their sponsors from the Northwest for the first time. Some on our trip have made trip down many times and were able to relish in how their godchildren have grown, and catch up with the children and staff they have built relationships with over the years. 

Where the full weight of what this trip was for me and for those in our group cannot be shared in words or pictures, the love shared among our group and with the children and staff of NPH Guatemala is fully present for all of us upon our return as we attempt to transfer the intangibles of what we experienced to our daily lives, making better a world so desperate for healing, and seeking new ways to support and encourage the beautiful children of our NPH family. I want to thank all our participants for joining us on this journey and for being an inspiration to me in the way you became family, not only to the children of NPH, but to one another. That is truly the power of being in a place so fully infused with love for others. Thank you! 

 

 

 

 

Princesses and Soccer Players at NPH Nicaragua...

Below is a reflection written by NW supporter Lisa Casterella about her recent visit to the NPH home in Nicaragua! 

Jumping rope, learning new soccer moves, eating Gallo Pinto, playing with toy cars and just being with the peque?os (Spanish for �little ones�) are some of the images that I associate with my stay at NPH Nicaragua.

This large campus which houses 300+ children along with 190 dedicated staff is found in the lush green setting of SW Nicaragua. 16 cinder block homes, a large covered outdoor auditorium, soccer field and cement play area became a part of our daily routine for the time that our Seattle youth group spent in rural Jinotepe. 

While many of the NPH students were away on break during our stay, we had the unique opportunity to bond with the children and NPH University students who remained. The adult visitors became �Mama� and �Papa� to little girls dressed up like princesses and boys who loved soccer and card games. Laughing at our attempts at Spanish, the peque?os were eager share their food if they thought we needed more. One day I �accidentally� dropped a piece of cheese to feed to a hungry dog at my feet. The little boy next to me offered me his piece without hesitation!  

These beautiful children share toys and clothing. They eat and pray together in their respective homes. NPH is their family. Executive Director, Marlon Velazquez explains, �When a child comes to NPH, he is never made to feel like the new kid. I say to the other kids, �Victor, this is your sister Carla or your brother Manny.�� The children are now part of a big family which will nurture them with patience, compassion and education. Marlon continues, �I tell the children, if you see your brother or sister crying, you sit down and cry with them. They are your family.�  

Joseph, a high school sophomore, understands that once you become a family, �You literally have to forgive and accept your family and that�s what they do at NPH.�

All of us plan to bring the spirit of NPH back home. Bennett, a high school junior who calls the trip �transformative,� vows to �love my friends and family unconditionally, especially my own brother who has always been there to protect me.� We left with a full heart, knowing the importance of our new family.

 

 

 

Pilot Laptop Computer Project at NPH Mexico

NPH USA's first pilot laptop project was the result of a collaboration between Gilbert Classical Academy (GSA) and NPH sponsors, Teresa Ventoza from the SW region and Sarah McNary from the NW region. It was coordinated with and received enthusiastic support from Belinda Roda of the SW office.

It started with Teresa�s and Sarah�s idea of providing a laptop to second year service students headed to university and blossomed through a conversation at the Southwest Region�s NPH Gala. Mr. Erik Gilman, who teaches service learning to high school students at GSA, was sitting at a table with Teresa. Erik heard about the idea and suggested that this need could be a perfect match for a class project at GSA in partnership with Arizona State University�s (ASU) STEM service learning program. Four students from the junior class of GSA, under the direction of Mr. Gillman championed the project and decided to come up with a way of obtaining computers that could be refurbished for the students in the NPH home in Mexico.

The STEM service learning is a program sponsored by ASU. To qualify for the program, students find a project that helps a non-profit organization, write a proposal to obtain funds, and, once approved, work on completing it and delivering it to the organization. The GSA students enthusiastically embraced the project and did a wonderful job of refurbishing laptops and loading them with software tailored for the university-bound recipients. It truly was a labor of joy and connection across these two student populations that enriched both groups.

Six young women benefited from this initial collaboration and were overjoyed with this tangible support for furthering their education. While this was an initial pilot project, the need exists for more laptops to support other university-bound students and this presents an opportunity for future projects. For more information, contact Belinda Roda at broad@nphusa.org.

"It is truly a joy and a privilege to be part of the NPH family and to be able to encourage these remarkable young people to continue their education. My darling Goddaughter is one of the young women who received a computer and I know that she, as well as the other recipients, felt elated by this expression of support and confidence in them as they take this next important step in their education. Huge thanks and kudos to Erik Gillman and the students at Gilbert Classical Academy for making Teresa's and my concept a reality. It would be wonderful if we could build on this promising beginning." - Sarah McNary

"It was a privilege to be part of the link between two groups of young people who are doing what they can to make the world a better place. My hope is that this pilot computer program inspires other groups to reach out across borders to help each other." - Teresa Ventoza

Without this trip I would have never realized the true joy that comes from giving back to others...

Below is reflection written by sponsor Isea Kelley after returning from a youth trip to NPH DR this April.

On the morning of April 14th, I arrived at the airport with my father and my close friend to head off on a weeklong service trip to NPH DR. Little did I know that the week ahead was going to change my life forever. When we arrived in the DR, we walked outside as a wave of heat hit us all, and with a sigh of relief we all secretly appreciated the warm weather we hadn�t experienced in months. We got on the bus and rode through the streets of San Pedro to the NPH home. This was the first time I had seen such poverty - there were families of five packed on small mopeds and cows eating garbage bags on the side of the road. About 20 minutes later we drove through the gates of NPH. We got off the bus, put our things in the visitor's house, and took a tour. Although it felt somewhat awkward at first to be in a new place with new people, I loved every minute of walking around the home with hot rain hitting my face.

The next morning we were eager to spend time with the kids! Upon arriving at the boy�s house a little boy wrapped himself around my legs and would not let go. He was playing on the ground with sticks and pulled me down by his side to play! I didn�t realize this at the time but this little boy, who I now sponsor, changed me forever. We spent the rest of the day building and flying kites together! It was eye opening to see the kindness and openness these boys, and all of the children at NPH, have for each other and for us as visitors.

During the week we helped out around the NPH home and in the batey. Singing classic Disney songs at the top of our lungs, we loaded giant sticks in a truck and mixed concrete. Working each day in the batey was a way for us to help and meet other children and adults. While we were mixing concrete, strangers would walk by and give us a cheerful �hola�. These small gestures at both the NPH home and in the batey filled my heart � as sharing a wave or a hello with a stranger in the states is rare. Never in my life had I had more fun, than when we made an assembly line passing heavy buckets of concrete to one another while listening to Spanish Pop music. The rest of the week, when we weren�t working, we spent time with the children. There was endless amounts of playing games, dancing, making kites, playing catch, and drawing. Although all of these things seem simple, the time we spent together with the children was so valuable and special. 

As the week came to an end it was heartbreaking. Endless amounts of hugs were given all around and we had to say our final goodbyes. A few tears rolled down my cheek as I said goodbye to Jose (the boy I met on the first day), some were tears of joy and some of sadness. Joy because I was so incredibly thankful to have been given this opportunity and to meet such kind and amazing people, but sadness because I knew that I would have to wait so long to come back. My time at NPH DR was a time that I will cherish for the rest of my life, but I know that I will hopefully be able to go back sometime soon. This trip changed me for the better - without this trip I would have never realized the true joy that comes from giving back to others. I am extremely thankful for this experience, the children, the people I met, and the friends I made both in the DR and right here at home! 

There is a pure happiness and love at the NPH homes that lifts me up�

Below is reflection written by sponsor and Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Junior Board member Angel Deschamps after returning from her recent trip to NPH Dominican Republic.

I first travelled to the NPH Dominican Republic home on a school service trip over a year ago. I was afraid that my Spanish wasn�t good enough to develop relationships, but as soon a little boy came up and asked my name, all my worries went away. I learned that language barriers are something you can overcome, and quickly decided to sponsor this confident, mischievous little boy who had stolen my heart. I love that our relationship has been built on memories shared, and not stories told. When I returned this year, I was officially a sponsor, not just a visitor. Reunited with my godchild, we were excited to spend time together � eating lunch together and spending time in the park. My godchild seemed so proud that I was his madrina � sharing this with all his friends and caregivers � and I could not be happier to be sponsoring him!

NPH has given so much to me. What really strikes me is that the kids are so happy at NPH. I've now visited both the NPH Dominican and Honduran homes and have found that although the children may come from difficult backgrounds, they all still manage to smile and enjoy life. When I am at an NPH home my troubles fade and everything is put in perspective. The children are grateful to have a place to call home and to have people who care about them. There is a pure happiness and love at the NPH homes that lifts me up. I am now a member of the Junior Board in my region, proudly wear NPH bracelets, and tell anyone and everyone who will listen to me about my time at NPH. I do it in hopes to give back at least a little to the enormous gift NPH gave me. I'm extremely grateful to NPH and to my godchild who continues to show me what really matters in life.