National Volunteer Week: A HUGE Thank You to Our International Volunteers!

For National Volunteer Week, as we continue recognizing and expressing gratitude to so many that make NPH's mission possible, we asked our International Volunteers what is special about serving at NPH. Please enjoy their wonderful and inspiring answers!

Kay Bodmer, NPH Nicaragua:

At NPH I like learning about new cultures and like helping people. NPH is a special place to volunteer because you are welcomed into the family and throughout your time you really do feel like a part of the family.  I have learned about another culture, that things hardly ever go as you expect them to and that’s ok, and that the most important thing about being here is the relationships you form, being present, and sharing love.

Claire Edelman, NPH Honduras:

Click here for Claire's blog entry:
http://www.nphusa.blogspot.com/2015/04/ClaireEdelman.html


Jennie Endersby, NPH Dominican Republic:

I like that NPH volunteers have the opportunity to wear lots of hats: in a given day, I can be a tutor, swimming coach, librarian, mentor and playmate. I know that many volunteers have similar experiences.

I have learned that it can be cheaper, healthier, and more fun to make food and other things from scratch with the kids. Some examples are birthday cake, kites, piñatas, and juice from fruit that you have walked a long way to pick and carry.

Anthony Guerra, NPH Nicaragua:

Volunteering at NPH is an amazing experience. You get the opportunity to work with amazing people that strive to provide the best environment for the kids. I've been in Nicaragua for a short time, and this experience is changing me in so many positive ways. It is truly a blessing to work with these kids. Every day they teach me so many valuable life lessons.

Anna Gunter, NPH Dominican Republic:

Here at NPH, there’s never a dull moment.  I love expressing the inner kid in me each and every day.  Volunteering at NPH makes me feel whole and loved, and the smiles and hugs from the kids make every moment worth it.

 

I have learned so much during my first nine months of service.  Whether it’s speaking a new language or living with 235 kids, I am constantly learning and developing new skills.

Anna Hanson, NPH Mexico:

My favorite time with the kids is when I'm with them in a one-on-one setting, like helping with and bedtime.  I will never leave my section after bedtime with less than 300 goodnight kisses from my 34 boys. 

The biggest lesson I've learned from being here is really how unconditional love works. I find myself putting the needs of others ahead of my own way more frequently than I'm used to, and still being head over heels in love with my boys when they upset me so much and bring me to tears. I am so excited to see what more this year brings.

Emily Harig, NPH Dominican Republic:

Every day I try to remind myself how lucky I am to be surrounded by our kids here. Even when something is difficult and things are not quite working out as expected, there are very few things a tiara, a dance party and a good princess movie cannot fix. It is so important to find joy in the positive things that are happening around us and inside of us. The ability and opportunity to think like is a child is an amazing gift. Thanks, NPH!

Eliza Hererro, Nicaragua:

One of my favorite parts of my job here is the constant focus on my relationships with Pequeños, particularly the boys in my section. I love being a part of their lives, whether it be helping out with daily chores, teaching them how to make oatmeal raisin cookies or learning from them how to cook and eat iguana. I consider myself blessed to "be there" when times are tough and often the best part about my day is getting one of them to change a downcast face into a cheek to cheek smile.

Khara Hesse, NPH Guatemala:

The volunteer experience is certainly an adventure, it is a roller coaster ride where the highs are extremely high and the lows are extremely low. You are regularly pushed to your limits emotionally, physically and mentally. It is exciting and challenging and extremely rewarding—truly a life-changing experience.

Anna Hester, NPH Peru:

These past three months at NPH Peru have been incredible and I feel truly blessed to be here. Something I have learned in the beginning stages of my year is the value and power of accompaniment. To me, that means being fully present with the children and not just taking their pictures or writing an article about them for my job as the communication officer. Volunteering here is an incredible adventure and I am excited for what is to come in these next few months.

Maryclaire Hillebrand, NPH Guatemala:

I love working with NPH because it is such a welcoming family-like environment, full of joy, laughter, challenges and life.  Whether working with my students, my section of boys, my colleagues, myself,  the entire community  - I've learned to be patient in an entirely new manner. Being here has also taught me how to truly enjoy the present and to take in the small moments of beauty that happen each day - there are many! 

Lena Mangin Hoeflich, NPH Guatemala:

What I love about my experience volunteering at NPH is getting to know a lot of really incredible kids.  When you come to an NPH home, you are really welcomed into the community with open arms.  I love that.  One of my favorite experiences at NPH was working as a caregiver to my section of girls in December.  A lot of kids leave for the holidays to go see family, but many stay at NPH because they do not have family to go home to.  NPH really is their only home and their family.  I loved being here with the kids and experiencing the holidays with them.  My bond really grew with a lot of kids.

Kristin Horning, NPH Mexico:

When I first learned about Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos I was intrigued by the organization and its history.  The woman who told me about her experience with NPH as a volunteer in the Guatemala home was so passionate about her time with the kids that I couldn't let go of the idea of getting involved.  I came to NPH Mexico in hopes of offering help where needed, sharing love and hope with those who have little, and giving all I can to help brighten the futures of the children in the home.  Instead I have received much more than I am capable of offering.  The children here continue to teach me the true meaning of unconditional love, forgiveness, trust, resilience, and much more. 

DJ Johnson, NPH Dominican Republic:

After 21 months of working with NPH, I'll say that what I like most about volunteering is building connections with my girls' house that I've been assigned to. Compared to the beginning of my first year, things are going a lot more smoothly. I crack jokes at them all the time and they do the same to me. They are mad at me sometimes and I get mad at them. They are really like the little (well, teenage) sisters I never had. I love them! I am glad that I decided to stay another year as a volunteer.

Griffin Jones, NPH Bolivia:

I love NPH because it makes me feel like the world is getting better. There are hundreds of millions of children in need in the world, and NPH only cares for a few thousand, so if you´re zoomed out, it seems like we haven´t even scratched the surface. But if you zoom in, and choose to look at the kids we do take care of, and you see in their faces and how they act with each other that they really are in a better place than they were, that they´re happier, that most of them will be good adults, you feel better about the world and its future. 

Claire Jordan, NPH Mexico:

Nine months ago I was an ordinary 23 year old, surrounded by friends and family, with access to fancy restaurants and large commercial shopping malls. Today, I am a teacher to 16 challenging but wonderful students and a caregiver to 34 adorably energetic boys. I no longer have access to my favorite American restaurants, large shopping malls, and high speed internet. But what I do have outweighs all of those materialistic things: I have 500 new loving brothers and sisters.  My experience as a volunteer at NPH Mexico has put me out of my comfort zone and has tested my patience, but most of all has taught me what is important in life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Hannah Juricic, NPH Dominican Republic:

Every day at NPH, I get to see the kids learn and grow. I have learned (or, re-learned): to share, to be patient even when you are at your wits' end, and to be flexible.  If I can have a meaningful impact on the kids here, I will not have given as much to them as they have given to me. I want to help give them good opportunities more than anything else right now. 

Michael Kavanagh, NPH Honduras:

We recently celebrated Easter at Rancho Santa Fe: no better way to spend Easter morning than with the family of NPH Honduras.

Kathryn Kirkpatrick, NPH  Mexico:

Every day I am loved and hugged by more than 100 kids. I get to tuck 70 beautiful girls into bed each night, after hearing about their days, their woes and their celebrations. These past 9 months have been such a unique and beautiful experience. I feel so fortunate to have this time to get to know such bright, resilient, talented, open, and loving young people!

 Megan Landers, NPH Honduras:

Working as a nurse at NPH Honduras I get the unique opportunity to work with people from the surrounding community as well as with all of the children. Trying to sum up why I love being a part of NPH in a few sentences is impossible. The kids here are life changing, the other volunteers and staff are affirming and supportive and you know after being here only a short time that these people will be a part of you for the rest of your life. 

Kyle Lansden, NPH Dominican Republic:

I love being a volunteer for NPH in the Dominican Republic.  I love waking up every day and trying my best to respond to the call to selflessly give love to the kids here.  Not to mention, I receive so much from the kids in return.  There's never a dull moment here at NPH with all of the high energy and goofiness, and I can't wait to start my second year of volunteering.  I know that the best is yet to come!

Zena Lapp, NPH Bolivia:

Once during my year in Bolivia, one of the educators and I took some of the children to the airport.  They loved it! Really, most important parts of life are love-filled family gatherings and excursions. Experiences last much longer, and are often more important, than material objects. A toy will eventually break, but the children will never forget the first time they saw an airplane take off. And who knows, these small experiences might inspire them in ways that we can never imagine.

Katie Lawler, NPH Haiti:

“It isn’t enough to love, we must prove it.”

- St. Therese of Lisieux

Volunteering at NPH has been both one of the most challenging and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  I am so grateful for the opportunity that working in Haiti has given me to learn and grow in ways I never imagined, and by far the best part has been the relationships I’ve been fortunate to form—with the children, with my Haitian coworkers and friends, and with other volunteers from all around the world.  I know that my work in Haiti and with NPH is only just beginning.

Jessica Leff, NPH Honduras:

As a volunteer Speech Language Pathologist, I have been keeping a blog here: http://leffonanadventure.blogspot.com/ It sums up my experiences and how much I love the NPH family.    

Haley Rapp, NPH Mexico:

There's nothing quite like living and working among 500 children at NPH! Of course there are difficult moments, but they often end up overshadowed by ones of love. It's just a joy to interact with them and discover who they are. I'm learning the importance of presence and that doing isn't always necessary. In being present, you can share meaningful moments and express interest. Those times are some of my favorite memories as they helped me connect with kids.  Serving is helping me develop into a more selfless, patient, and loving individual.

Kendra Rosario, NPH Honduras:

Working in the Holy Family Surgery Center, I've gained so much valuable experience; I've enjoyed scrubbing into surgeries, shadowing Dr. Antunez in clinic, and working with my co-coordinators to plan brigades. Still, after a day in the surgery center, I'm always thrilled to go spend time with the girls in my hogar (household) of girls from 12-20. One of our favorite things to do together is listen to music. After they're done with their homework, we like they dance, and they have even attempted to teach me some Bachata steps!

Emily Sandbo, NPH Mexico:

I have been at NPH Mexico for just over two months. Some days I still can’t believe I am living in another country, with hundreds of kids who crack me up, show me love and keep me on my toes. I love getting to develop relationships with my students, my girls and the other volunteers. During my time here I have realized that is what I can do best, spend time with people and be present with them. I do not understand 100% of everything that is said, or the best way to clean the floors, but I can sit with a kid and give them all of my attention or listen to them and make them feel important.

Erin Schumaker, NPH Guatemala:

I love that at NPH I have created great relationships with my kids, while working in therapy and in my section. While volunteering I have learned to live more in the moment, enjoy the little things that happen, and live more simply. The moment I will never forget is when one of the little ones in my section said my name for the first time. I was walking by and said hello, and he just answers back, "Hola Erin". It was a huge moment not only as a professional (because I am working with him increasing his communication) but also in our relationship.

Ben Shattuck, NPH Guatemala:

As an NPH volunteer, I’ve learned to celebrate the small gains. NPH is an extensive organization with an ambitious vision to assist children according to a long-term timeline. I’ve learned that if one doesn’t recognize and appreciate the small accomplishments – a hug, smile, or a conversation in passing with a Pequeño – then one is easily discouraged. It is important to recognize the centrality of small gains in fulfilling NPH’s ambitious vision to assist each Pequeño depending on his or her needs.

Emily Siegler, NPH Dominican Republic:

As a volunteer at NPH I like being able to have a working and personal relationship with the kids.  I like making the kids smile!  I like working in community with fellow volunteers.  I like receiving and giving about 80 hugs a day.  

I have learned that a lot is out of my control and that is okay. There is a lot of things I wish I could change, but I don't have the capacity to change all of them, nor is it even my job to do so a majority of the time.  All I can do is just love on kids, and do it to my best ability.

Valerie Sis, NPH Honduras:

What I like most about working at NPH is that all the work I do and the love I give is multiplied and given back to me through smiles and hugs.  I’ve learned that no matter how far from home I am, the children here are the same as anywhere else in the world.  All they really want is to be taken care of, played with, and loved.  I’ve also learned the value of the volunteer community, as it makes a world of difference when you have others around that are experiencing the same things as you.  While I have many good memories here, the best ones consist rocking the babies and watching them walk and say their first words.  They seem to be growing up so fast already!

Bridget Springer, NPH Guatemala:

At the start of my service, I was often frustrated by the time “wasted” in meetings, activities, and interruptions.  I’ll always remember the Friday morning in September when that changed.  One of my second graders stayed in the library after not winning bingo, and I sat next to him on the bench as he cried and stared out the open door.  After a few minutes of silence, I asked him if he wanted to be alone or with me.  He answered “with you.”  As I sat there, I thought of my unplanned lessons and ungraded papers, but it occurred to me that I didn’t feel like I was wasting time.  He walked back to class – “with me” – a half hour later, unaware that he had taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my service: the importance of just being there.

Carson Stevens, NPH Honduras:

I love the opportunity to work with adorable kids because I get to be myself (a kid, though not as cute as the Pequeños).  I have learned a tremendous amount about respect, patience, and doing what I want to do, not what others expect me to.  The last time I spoke with my dear former volunteer coordinator, Miriam Streit she told me to never give up on what I want in life.  She was an amazing support before, during, and after her time as my volunteer coordinator.

Ilyssa Tamler, NPH Mexico:

As my time as a volunteer at NPH Mexico is nearing an end, I have been reflecting a lot on how incredible my experience has been. I have absolutely loved spending time with the kids in this house. They have changed my life by welcoming me with open arms and showing me unconditional love, and for that I will be forever grateful. I have learned so much from them, as well. They have taught me about hard-work and discipline, the importance of family and friendship, living life to the fullest, and most importantly about the true meaning of love.

Kim Wassil, NPH Mexico:

At NPH Mexico we have a vibrant dance group.   To me, being involved with the dance group represents different aspects of what it means to be a volunteer for NPH: spending time with and getting to know the children, participating in cultural experiences, and putting yourself out of your comfort zone. I am so happy that I have gotten to work with so many amazing children and participate in this experience with some of them.  I am sure these next 9 months at NPH will be full of experiences and challenges that I cannot even imagine, but by keeping an open mind to different perspectives I will be ready for them.

National Volunteer Week Kicks Off with Profile of NPH USA Midwest Volunteer Claire Edelman

All this week, in observance of National Volunteer Week, we will be featuring some of the many, many people who give so much of themselves for the children of NPH. Meet Claire Edelman, NPH USA Midwest volunteer currently at NPH Honduras. Enjoy!

Name: Claire Edelman

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

NPH Home: Rancho Santa Fe, NPH Honduras

Volunteer Position: Visitor Coordinator and Chicas Poderosas (Powerful Girls) Coordinator

Name one celebrity you would love to introduce to NPH: Neil Patrick Harris, because whenever you Google NPH you get him!

Favorite Honduran food: Gringa, it’s like a quesadilla with veggies.

Favorite spot at Rancho Santa Fe: Padre’s porch.

Favorite NPH moment so far: Tie-dying shirts with my girls when my mom came to visit. They all wear them and I can see them coming from far away. It also makes my day when they call my name from afar to say hello.

What do you nerd out on the most at NPH: My girls!

One word to describe your experience at NPH: Family.

Tell us something we don’t know about you: I’m a hog wrestler. My friends and I won the Boone County Fair hog wrestling contest. No hogs were harmed in this activity.

Absolute Joy Found by Being Host Family for an NPH Student: It's All About Giving Back

In recognition of National Volunteer Week April 12-18, enjoy this wonderful reflection by NPH USA donor, volunteer and sponsor Cheryl Goodwin as she recounts her and her husband Paul's experience hosting NPH student Magda in their home.

When we agreed to be a host family for one of the NPH Seattle Leadership Institute students this year, I knew that I would be glad I had done it. My family has been involved with NPH since 2007, when my oldest daughter worked at the regional office. She invited us to a Faces of Hope event that introduced us to NPH, its founder, and the children who are part of a large, loving family.  Shortly after that we sponsored our first godchild from Guatemala, and then a second one. 

I have been a Table Captain at numerous events, volunteered in the office, and am currently serving on the Regional Board.  This past summer, I visited the home in Guatemala and was able to meet my godchildren and see first-hand that everything that I had heard about NPH was true. I remember clearly driving through the entrance of the grounds and being brought to tears by the beauty of it all, especially in contrast to the poverty we had passed through on the trip from the airport.

During this trip I was able to visit with several of the young men and women who had been through the Leadership program in Seattle during the past few years.  It was good to see them living out what the program was aiming for – providing leadership and support to their sisters and brothers at NPH. I was also introduced to Luisa, who was planning to come as one of this year’s students.

Paul and I have always opened our home to others.  Our children’s friends were (are) always welcome, extended family members have lived with us for several months, holiday gatherings are frequently at our house, and we have had weekly meals with a  large group of friends for nearly twenty years.  However, in recent years, I kept feeling the call to show “hospitality to strangers.”  We had been asked to consider hosting a student the prior year, but for several reasons had decided it wasn’t the right time.  The idea had stayed in my mind, however, and my visit to the home in Guatemala made everything so much more real than it had been before.  So, when Kara King (the director of the program) asked us to consider it again this year we said yes. 

To be honest, even after saying yes, I was nervous and uncertain about whether or not it was a good idea. Our student, Magda, is from Honduras and she spoke very little English.  Since neither my husband, my mother, nor I speak Spanish, I was worried about how we were going to communicate.  The first couple weeks were a bit of a challenge, communication-wise.  The translation programs on our cell phones were a life-saver, allowing us to at least get the basics of what we were trying to say across. However, we were able to laugh as we fumbled our way through unfamiliar words and as Magda’s English skills increased and we learned a little Spanish, communication became easier.  We now have long, detailed conversations with only the occasional look-up of a particularly difficult word.

I had also worried that we wouldn’t be exciting enough for her – we don’t have kids at home, we aren’t soccer players, and are pretty busy with work commitments.  But we can, and did, provide an opportunity for her to be part of our family, with all of our quirks and goodness. Our friends and church family have loved getting the chance to get to know her.  I was rather surprised at how quickly Magda began to feel like another daughter to us.

As I mentioned earlier, I knew that I would be glad that we had agreed to be a host family and that it was the right thing to do.  What I hadn’t counted on, however, was the joy I would experience in the midst of it.  I love introducing her to our family’s traditions, taking her to our favorite restaurants, participating in holiday activities, spending the evening watching a movie at home, and even helping her with her homework.  I am humbled by the fact that she has been willing to share her life story with us and that she trusts us to love and care for her.  I am blessed by her generosity and kindness toward her brothers and sisters at the ranch. I am impressed with her hard work to learn a new language and a new culture. I know she will take a piece of my heart with her when she returns to Honduras at the end of June, but am comforted by the knowledge that I now have another reason to visit the NPH Ranch there.

An added benefit of being a host family is the opportunity to get to know the other five students and their host families. Each of them, Luisa, Samy, Lucre, Florine, and Nelson, are wonderful individuals who challenge and bless me.  As I near the end of this year, I am saddened by the fact that I will miss them all and so very encouraged by the good work that I know they will all do in the future.

I am grateful that I have been able to play a small part in their lives. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The sun, in truth, never sets. It only changes horizon.

Enjoy this Easter reflection from Fr. Rich Frechette

Dear friends,

I just came off the roof of St Damien hospital. I was sitting up there with a dying baby rabbit, and my bible, in that order.

The rabbit is very small, and was abandoned by its mother, and became very dehydrated. Ironically, I was able, through the graces of the visiting father of one of our volunteers, to get phone linked with veterinarians abroad who rescue wild animals, to get a quick lesson on how to try to save the small rabbit from shock. I tried everything, but to no avail. So I brought the rabbit to the roof, to hold it until it died.

I had read a long time ago, in a nature magazine, about someone who was snorkeling and was surprised by a close encounter with a dolphin. I remember the point of the story was that their eye’s locked, and the author felt the eye of the infinite God was looking at her through the eye of this beautiful creature.

Something similar happened to me with the rabbit. During my attempted rescue, the rabbits right eye set on mine, and our eyes locked together, and I felt like the whole universe was looking at me through that tiny rabbit’s eye. It’s probably clearer to say, I felt united with God’s whole created world through that eye, held steadfast on me on me by this dying rabbit. It didn’t seem right to put the rabbit down somewhere to die, but seemed more natural to hold my small friend until the end, while reading the bible as the sun set.

When the rabbit died, I was struck by this image. Here was the symbol of springtime, of fertility, the commercial image of Easter, dead in the hands of a priest.

Far below, a mother started to wail a loud lament. Her vigil with her dying child had just ended, with the departure of her tiny love from this life.

The sunset, the last breaths of this tiny creature in my hand, and the terrible loss this mother was now enduring, all took place at the same time. I went downstairs to speak to the grieving mother my useless words of sympathy, to close the lifeless eyes of her daughter as I gently gazed at their emptiness.

If Advent and Christmas have a more natural tendency to aim us toward joy, Lent and Holy week aim our gaze at sorrow. During all the liturgies of Lent, both mass readings and the liturgy of the hours, we widen our gaze to grasp the sufferings throughout history, and the present sufferings throughout the world, and can’t help but wonder if Resurrection is possible, and what it could really mean.

The Resurrection of Christ has been symbolized by the rising of the sun. For centuries, Catholic churches were built with the altar facing due east.

Yet the Easter joy does not work miracles, changing and healing life in an instant, so that we no longer need this hospital, or our home for orphan and vulnerable children down the street, or our therapy center to help children overcome incredible physical and mental disadvantages.

A more realistic picture of Resurrection, from our side of the grave, is the image of the sun striving to rise.

Like the sun sending fleeting rays through the heavy clouds of a stormy morning, or lighting up a pale winter sky pregnant with snow, with no direct evidence of the sun’s place in that sky, so it is that the sun striving to rise represents a world striving to be risen.

It is easy to see this light, in the children who come to our homes and schools from brokenness and sadness, and then show so much strength as they strive to thrive.

It is easy to see this light in the children and staff who fill our rehabilitation rooms, sharing apprehensions and encouragement, sharing patience and hope, as first steps are taken once again, after the legs had been knocked lifeless by illness or tragedy.

It is easy to see this striving sunlight in the children of our hospitals, fighting to breath, fighting to live, fighting for health, fighting for strength, and in their mothers who are fully in this battle with them.

Life striving to live, fully and always. This is a great cause of our joy.

Here is another sign of resurrection. You striving to help me, and me striving to help you. Even when we ourselves feel low, empty, useless. We are just like sun striving to shine, when we live out the deepest teaching of faith:  we come to be fully alive, by spending ourselves so that others may live.

The season is soon upon us. Christ has died, Christ is Risen. Alleluia!

The Christ has shared with us the power of his Resurrection. The God of Life is in our striving. The sun, in truth, never sets. It only changes horizon.

Let us thank God together for these perennial gifts: for the light of faith, and the power of hope, for the joy of love.

Let us see be able to see in each other’s eyes, and in the eyes of all creatures, at least once in a while so we don’t forget, the brightness of eternity.

May God bless you and your families at Easter, with special thanks for your much needed support for all the children in the strong and tender arms Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos.

Fr Rick Frechette, CP

Light, Love, and Responsibility - Sunday with NPH

Below is a wonderful reflection from Rory Cooney, the Director of Liturgy and Music at St. Anne Catholic Church in Barrington, IL that highlights the children of NPH and the recent Pequeno Tour in the Midwest region. 

No, not Neil Patrick Harris. "Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos."

Our parish almsgiving project this year was tied to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos ("Our little brothers and sisters"), a project that began 60 years ago based on the vision of Fr. William Wasson. A newly assigned associate in a parish in Cuernavaca, México, Fr. Wasson intervened with a court to dismiss charges against an orphan boy who stole from the church's collection box to buy food. He petitioned the court for custody of the child, and not only got custody of the boy, but continued to received other orphans as a ward of the court. Ten years later, beginning in Arizona, charities were incorporated in the USA and elsewhere to support the NPH project, which later became affiliated with one another. In addition to the house in Mexico, there are now NPH houses in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru.

I discovered that I have my own strange ties to the people involved with NPH as well. A former associate pastor of St. Anne, Fr. Jim Hurlbert, left his pastorate about 5 years ago at St. Alphonsus Liguori in the city of Chicago, and, with the blessing of the cardinal, went to NPH Guatemala as a spiritual guide with a vision to build a chapel for the pequeños there, which he has done with donations from friends and colleagues in the States. And an Arizona family, Trisha and Jim Hoyt, whom I've known especially through Trisha's catechetical work around the country (Jim is a deacon), has at least two children who are intimately involved with NPH, and their daughter Melissa is the special events officer for NPH in the midwest, with an office in Chicago. A video that her brother Chris made about his work with NPH is shown below.

The preacher at all the masses was Fr. Ron Hicks, a young priest who had worked with NPH after college and then for several years as a priest. Ron is now, thanks be to God, the new Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Chicago. In his homily, he challenged us to be light for a world full of darkness by our continued support of NPH. He told stories, and had Alexis, one of the young men who was visiting with the NPH group, tell a bit of his story so we had some idea of who the kids are who are in the NPH project. Alexis told us that he was born sickly, and that his mother was extremely poor. At the age of two, she abandoned him, and when he came to NPH he was malnourished and sick. The boy who stood before us had obviously recovered completely, had just finished high school, and was giving back a year of service to NPH by teaching physical education and being a "big brother" to younger boys in the dormitory.

What struck me was that these were not ordinary orphanages at all: these kids were not going to have foster homes. NPH creates communities. Those who work there give the children who come to them unconditional love, food, education, and an environment for growth. They teach the children the responsibilities that come from love; particularly, they expect that, after graduation, the children will give a year of service back to NPH in some capacity for which they have a gift. Fr. Ron said that many people ask him if children leave without doing so, if, after graduation, they just walk away. He said that in 25 years of association with NPH, he has not heard of that happening in any of the homes.

A Guatemalan cultural group in Chicago gave NPH the use of their beautiful twin marimba set, and the kids sang songs during mass, danced, and performed at a fiesta for the parish on Saturday evening. During mass they sang some of their own liturgical songs ("Vamos al altar," and a Marian song called "Es Maria la paloma blanca") accompanied by marimba and drums, as well as the more familiar "De Colores" and an arrangement with Spanish text of the Sebastian Temple Prayer of St. Francis, "Hazme un instrumento de tu paz."

The kids stayed with host families in the parish for two weeks while they visited churches and schools in Chicagoland, and the parishioners I spoke to had a great time with them in those visits.

As you might suspect, there was a time when the "old Rory" would have had una vaca about this irruption into the Lenten liturgy on a scrutiny Sunday, performing at mass, etc. etc. But being older has some benefits, and one of them is clearer vision (I hope) about what liturgy is for, who belongs, and (thank you, James Alison) who the real protagonist is. Maybe that vision, in fact, was created in this blind man by the same fingers that made mud paste on the Sabbath by the pool of Siloam, who gave the light of creation to one who was born blind. I may have earned that blindness through education, and clung to it tenaciously for some years, but I would like to say some day that "now I can see," and that my sight was restored, as we proclaimed in the gospel and in the scrutiny, by the one who is light of the world.

Better Vision Comes to Rancho Santa Fe

Enjoy this reflection from Jean Parker on her recent experience at NPH Honduras. The mother is currently living at a home for the blind, while her daughter is enrolled at NPH Honduras.

My daughter, Joanna (14) had been nagging me to return to Rancho Santa Fe in Honduras since our first visit in 2013. When a trip planned by Monica Henry, NPH Northeast Regional Director, coincided with a school break, Joanna’s resolve went into overdrive and she convinced her friend, Laura (14) to join us. In the end, Laura, her brother Kevin (16), and her father, Dr. Richard Seeger – an ophthalmologist - would round out the Rochester contingency.

Dr. Seeger was interested in putting his medical skills to use during the visit, and had pre-arranged with Monica Henry, NPH USA Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region Director, and Michael Kavanagh, the International Volunteer Coordinator of Holy Family Surgery Center at the Ranch, to see pequeños for a special, three day Vision Clinic.

While the children explored the Ranch and got to know the pequeños, Dr. Seeger checked equipment and set up the examination area.  My job was to record exam findings. A translator was provided and kept the paperwork and patients flowing.  Thanks to this team effort, Dr. Seeger was able to provide eye care for over 60 Pequeños and others during the three-day period.

Each day, Dr. Seeger worked tirelessly with only limited breaks. Some children required minor attention, but most received full ophthalmic exams with pupil dilation.   For those needing prescription eyeglasses, Dr. Seeger had come prepared, bringing an assortment of frames from which to choose.  Girls were drawn to the brighter colors.  Boys chose darker ones.  Dr. Seeger had the eyeglasses prepared back in Rochester, and they were shipped down to Honduras afterwards.

               

As word spread that an eye doctor was at the clinic, several staff also requested appointments.  Dr. Seeger accommodated each one.   Doña Gloria – the Ranch’s beloved tortilla maker - was the recipient of two pairs of glasses:  one for reading and one for everyday wear.

Although it was immensely gratifying to me to be of assistance during the Vision Clinic, the most poignant moment of the trip came on the last day, as Dr. Seeger and I were walking back to the visitor’s residence.   We were met by a group of women who were leading a blind teenaged girl and a younger girl by the hand.  Monica was with them, and we were told that the blind teenager was the mother of the young girl, and that she was concerned that her daughter might be going blind, as she had when she was her age.   This was of great concern because the child had become her blind mother’s ‘eyes’ – guiding her everywhere.  Dr. Seeger did not hesitate; he pulled out his ophthalmic light, dropping to one knee to examine the petite child.  Happily, he determined that her eyes were healthy.

Monica translated this to the girl’s mother and Dr. Seeger offered to look at the mother’s eyes as well. After only a brief glance, he asked to speak privately to Monica and the accompanying Tia.  I was perplexed, but remained with the young mother, her daughter, and the others.  It was only later that I learned the reason for Rick’s action.

Although the young mother had been initially reticent to share the truth about her blindness, the facts soon emerged.  She had been the victim of a horrific crime and had been intentionally blinded by acid.   Dr. Seeger knew the instant he had looked at her eyes that her blindness had been caused by trauma, and not as initially described.

Upon closer examination, Dr. Seeger established that although one eye was irreparably damaged, there was optimism that some vision might be restored in the other. A trip to the USA for delicate eye surgery would be necessary, with the hope that she would be able to ambulate on her own – a remarkable improvement over her present situation.

This event brought a bittersweet, yet hopeful closure to the Vision Clinic at Rancho Santa Fe.  Led by Dr. Seeger, the team brought the gift of better vision to many. To me, those few days were truly a blessing and I was grateful to have been able to play some small role in the outcome.  I thank God for Joanna’s determination in returning to Honduras, because in the end, it set the stage for so many Pequeños and others to see life more clearly… quite literally.

A is for Amor

Volunteers are the heart of NPH USA. Enjoy this reflection from Kailyn Kenney on her recent experience at NPH Honduras.

Over the past several months I have been teaching new arrivals at the “The Ranch” in a special “leveling classroom” at the school. Most of the new additions to our family enter my classroom and remain there for two months, studying math and Spanish concepts until they are evaluated and placed into a grade level appropriate to their age and capabilities. For me, this time that I have shared with my students has been so much more then reviewing verb conjugations or multiplication tables. I have had the unique opportunity of spending my days with a small group of students and felt that I was able to give them a lot of individual attention during a time when they are very vulnerable, and are at risk of getting lost in the hustle and bustle of busy Ranch life.

I have been blessed with the opportunity of seeing very hurt and lost children come into my classroom looking broken, only to emerge after a few months of love and attention into bright, caring, and most importantly happy members of our family. Just to be able to show my students that someone loves them and cares about them, is willing to be patient with them when they make mistakes and forgive them when they misbehave, makes their entire world.

Trying to undo the cycle of poverty and violence here in Honduras begins with offering each of these children the opportunity of an education that the majority of them would never have had otherwise. I could not believe my ignorance when I realized that many of the students, whether 8 or 13 years old, didn’t even know a single letter of the alphabet. I have been equally unprepared for many of their questions that haven’t been as easy to answer as which letter comes after A. My students ask me how we can be a family when they are here and their mother is not. They are amazed to find out that I have loving parents who raised me and an entire NPH family. I am astonished at how quickly they trust me, and how patient my students are with me when the first “gringa” that they have ever known is teaching them Spanish and trying her hardest to not make too many grammatical mistakes herself.

My students have taught me that it’s okay to show your vulnerabilities, because some days I just miss my family too, and if I can show them that we are all in this together we will all feel less alone and afraid. These kids come here with the same sorrow worn on the faces of children that one sees on the streets of Tegucigalpa and the weight of the world on their shoulders. But through the love given to them at The Ranch, they begin to find hope and happiness in their struggles. Through my days singing the ABC’s to my students they have taught me the truly transformational power of love and the meaning of family.

Our First Christmas in Nicaragua

The below poem was written by two of our board members, John and Mona Fonseca, which reflects on their Christmas visit at our NPH Nicaragua home.

To share a few highlights of our NPH home visit

We were asked to take 3 to 4 minutes of your time

To say it all in this time allotted

We decided to organize our thoughts in rhyme.

Last year we planned on doing something different for Christmas

And visiting an NPH home just sounded like a treat.

We had no idea what to expect while we were down there

Except, our godchild for the first time we would meet.

Elizabeth was there at the airport to greet us

With her sister and Mila at her side

We made our introductions on the drive to the NPH home

With Mila translating all through the ride.

There were so many planned activities

During this festive time of the year

We spent as much time as we could with Elizabeth

Who seemed to be always filled with good cheer.

Eating time was really bonding time

As far as we could tell.

With each meal we shared at Elizabeth’s house

We slowly got to know her close friends as well

We’ll now always recall the events of last Christmas eve

Where we celebrated our first outdoor vigil in Spanish

Followed by delicious food, fun and frolic

Capped off with fireworks right at the finish.

Wishing everyone “Feliz Navidad” was quite memorable

At the end of that festive night

It felt like we were with family

And our hearts filled with immense delight

This was our most relaxed and fun-filled Christmas

All mixed into one.

We loved being part of the NPH Christmas traditions

And joining in their fun.

We’ve heard others share “You got to visit to feel it”

We now truly know what they meant

Our hearts were filled with such wonderful feelings

That we’ll be making this trip our annual event.