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.

Eyes Wide Open: A Teen's Reflection on Her Wonderful Visit to NPH Dominican Republic

Lyons Township High School (LaGrange, IL) Junior MelRose Buckler shares this touching story of her extended family's recent visit to NPH Dominican Republic and how she was inspired by what she experienced while there.

When I first found out that I, along with my entire family (mom, brother, sister, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmother and her husband!), was going to visit an orphanage while in the Dominican Republic, I didn’t know what to expect.  We were accompanying my grandma and her husband on a visit to meet Gastón* for the first time (the godchild that she was sponsoring).  But then, within minutes of walking with our tour guide and seeing “pequeños” run up to greet us, I saw just how welcoming and friendly NPH was. 

Our whole family—about 20 of us—received a tour of the Casa Santa Ana village.  We saw the kitchen, the therapy house, school, playground and soccer fields, and the houses where the children lived.  My cousin and I went to a house with 10- and 12-year-old girls and spent time with them, eating lunch and seeing their bedrooms and toys. 

The most memorable part for me was when the girls discovered Altoids.  While a few of the girls and I were kicking around a beach ball in the playground, one of our new friends saw Altoids in my aunt’s purse.  Being curious, she asked for one, received the tin and started to evenly distribute them to all her friends.  After they were all distributed, the girls excitedly tried what they anticipated was a bit of sweet candy. But, instead, they shuddered and cringed because of the “picante” flavor.  We all laughed as I tried to tell them that the spicy flavor was very strong peppermint. 

Although my experience at NPH was short, it still allowed me to see the great facilities and how the children were getting the help and love that every child needs—they gain possibilities for a better future.  Going in not sure what to expect, I came out with my eyes opened.  The facilities that the children have access to allow them to grow and learn, and small things, like “spicy” mints bring such big smiles to their faces. 

The brief experience that I had at NPH Dominican Republic was truly inspirational and made me realize that even with age differences, language differences and differences in life experiences, you can still make real connections. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing mints.

*Name changed to protect privacy.

Meet Some New Children at NPH Honduras and Consider Becoming a Sponsor!

In the last months of 2014, the Honduran version of Childcare Services, IHNFA, was closed down by the government. Most IHNFA programs were promptly shut down or restructured, including the government children’s homes and some of the foster programs. NPH Honduras was greatly involved in negotiations and discussions with the new authorities in order to respond to the needs of the children who had previously been part of these programs. As a result, NPH Honduras has received more than 60 new children between November and December of 2014 as part of new agreements! These children are in need of sponsors and we'd like for you to meet 8 of them below. * All names of the children have been changed to protect their privacy.

ALBERTO: 

Alberto* is 10 and he and his brother joined our family on December 10, 2014.  A total of 45 children came to us that day!

Alberto says:

“If I won $1 million dollars, I would give it to the poor. My heroes are my caregivers and my friend Angel. If I could change anything in the world, it would be that people wouldn’t throw trash everywhere and contaminate the water. If I could have any superpower, it would be Spiderman powers to save people. I like NPH very much, here, there is no need to fight and steal.”

To sponsor him, visit www.nphusa.org/sponsor

ANGELINA:

Angelina* is 13.  She joined our NPH family on December 10, 2014 with a total of 45 children!

Angelina says:

“If I won $1 million, I would gift it to my mother.  My dad is my hero. If I could change anything in this world, it would be that we all live in peace. If I could have any superpower, it would be to make all of my loved ones happy. In the future, I want to be a primary school teacher. I like NPH very much, I have the possibility to study now.”

To sponsor her, visit www.nphusa.org/sponsor

BENITO:

Benito* is 12 and has 2 siblings at NPH.  He joined our family on December 10, 2014 with a total of 45 children.

Benito says:

“Spiderman and Batman are my heroes. If I could have any superpower, it would be Spiderman powers to save people. If I could change anything in the world, it would be that everyone would have clothes and be happy. My dreams for the future are to study in college, have work and be happy.” 

To sponsor him, visit www.nphusa.org/sponsor

JOSE:

Jose* is 12 years old.  He joined our family on December 10, 2014 with a total of 45 children.

Jose says:

“My dream for the future is to be a soccer player. Just God, is my hero. If I could change anything in the world, I would change the danger here in Honduras. If I could have any superpower, it would be invincibility, to save people.  Do I like NPH and has it changed my life? Very, very much.”

To sponsor him, visit www.nphusa.org/sponsor

MARIA:

Maria* is 16 years old.  She has two brothers at NPH.  She joined our family on December 10, 2014 with a total of 45 children.

Maria says:

“If I won 1 million dollars I would donate it to poor children. My hero is my caregiver Mirna. If I could change anything in the world, it would be to make people stop dying. If I could have any power, it would be the power to make miracles happen. I like NPH very much. The help and advice from my caregivers support me a lot. In the future, I dream of becoming a professional trade expert.”

To sponsor her, visit www.nphusa.org/sponsor

CARMINA:

Carmina* is 14 years old.  She joined our family on December 10, 2014 with a total of 45 children.

Carmina says:

“If I could change anything in the world, it would be that everybody would just say the truth.  My hero is superman.  If I could have any superpower, it would be Spiderman superpowers to save people.  I like NPH very much, it changed my life, it is much better here.  My dream for the future is to go to college.”

To sponsor her, visit www.nphusa.org/sponsor

EDGAR:

Edgar* is 11 and is the brother of Alberto* who we also feature above. He joined our family on December 10, 2014 with a total of 45 children.

Edgar says:

“If I won 1 million dollars, I would buy a house for my family.  Power Rangers are my heroes.  If I could have any superpower, I would want laser beams to save people.  If could change anything in the world, I would paint all of the walls pretty so that all of the houses were beautiful.” 

To sponsor him, visit www.nphusa.org/sponsor

JUAN:

Juan* is 12 years old and has 2 sisters and 1 brother.  He joined our family on December 10, 2014 with a total of 45 children.

Juan says:

“If I won 1 million dollars I would buy a house to share with my siblings.  My caregiver, Rafa, and my brother are my heroes. My dream for the future is to work as a soccer player.”

To sponsor him, visit www.nphusa.org/sponsor

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.

Sponsors Meet Godchild After 12 Years!

Below is a reflection written by Mary Waldmann regarding the impact meeting her godchild had on her life

In 2002, we began sponsoring four-year-old Boris at NPH Guatemala. Over the next 12 years we exchanged drawings (his), photos and letters. Sometimes it was a little frustrating when letters weren’t very detailed or responsive to questions, but we kept at it. In July 2014 we were fortunate enough to travel to NPH Guatemala with a Seattle group, with the primary goal of meeting Boris. I was prepared for him to be a little standoffish since he’d never met us and and was now a 16-year-old teenager...and I’ll admit I was a little nervous. The first afternoon we arrived, Donna Egge was giving us a brief familiarization tour of the grounds when she spotted Boris on a balcony and called to him. In a flash, he was down the stairs wrapping his arms around me. As he planted a big kiss on my cheek, it really hit me just what a significant role godparents play in the lives of the pequenos. At that moment I was so glad I’d kept up our correspondence, even when it was challenging. And I was so grateful to finally meet the wonderful young man that little Boris has become. Over the next week we were able to spend a lot of time with him and learned much, much more about him. With his smattering of English, our smattering of Spanish, some help in translation and a lot of smiles and gestures, we were able to communicate pretty well and our correspondence will be much richer for it.

To those who are not yet sponsors, I can tell you what a difference you can make in a child’s life—please consider becoming a godparent. If you already sponsor a child, please consider visiting your godchild—it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life!

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 pequeños 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 

A Year Spent at NPH Mexico

Below is a reflection written by volunteer Leslie Ford after serving at NPH Mexico about how the NPH family impacted her life  

Words fall short of describing an entire year of life, especially one which so profoundly touched my heart, opened my eyes, molded my perspectives, changed my values and lifestyle, and left me with hundreds of new brothers and sisters and a new place to call ¨home.¨

NPH Mexico has over 700 children and 200 employees, and we were a team of 10 international volunteers working as teachers, caregivers, and clinic staff. I experienced some of the hardest moments of my life there, but every single one of those moments was quickly and completely overshadowed by the opposite: some of the most extreme, pure, genuine moments of happiness I have ever felt. I spent my mornings working as a nurse in our on-site clinic, which mainly involved giving health education chats and providing primary nursing care to children who came as "walk-ins" for minor injuries and sicknesses. In the evenings, I worked as a caregiver for 21 amazing, bright, joyful, absolutely wonderful kindergartners, which is where I learned about unconditional love and the importance of patience, laughter, and the small things. Being able to share love and happiness with those kindergartners (as well as with all the other children, employees, and volunteers in the home) is something I will forever be thankful for and will never, ever forget.

Although it´s time for me to continue on a new path, my actions, perspectives and heart will now always reflect the lessons I learned and the love that was shared together as a part of the NPH family.

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!

Happy Mother's Day!

At all of our NPH homes, even though many of our children come to us because their biological mothers can no longer take care of them, our pequeños are not motherless by any means. They have many "mothers" in their lives, and a strong and supportive family that lets them know they are truly loved.


"To them, I was a mother figure (yes, some of my girls called me “Ma” and “Mommy”), a sister, an aunt, a friend, a teacher and a mentor. What they were to me was an inspiration. Each day, I was encouraged by their ability to overcome any and all obstacles. They made my time at NPH fulfilling, and I was able to fill a void in their lives." -Kelly Hettic, volunteer at NPH Mexico 

"When the sun sets and the moon comes up, our mothers don't tire; they continue their work. As Charly, a Tía from Casa Santa Maria Reina, says, "there isn't a day to say everything that we as mothers have done, because every day is something special for a mother." Every day is Mother's Day; however, on this day we open up and remember all the help, encouragement, and love that each mother has brought into the lives of all the children here at NPH and in Honduras." -Benjamin Katz, Home Correspondent at NPH Honduras

"In their service, the mother figures live out and offer the very core values that NPH works to instill in its children: love, security, sharing, work and responsibility. Their presence of positive motherhood is vital for the healthy growth of our children, many of whom have experienced loss and abandonment by loved ones. Learning by their example, we hope that our pequeños will know the gifts of service, love and responsible motherhood in their own futures." -Hailey Rademacher, Communications Officer at NPH Honduras

Summers at Casa San Salvador

For the past three summers I have spent a week at the happiest place on earth. This place is not Disneyland; it is an orphanage in a small town, three hours outside of Mexico City. The orphanage is called Casa San Salvador in Miacatlan, Mexico. I go there with an organization called Friends of the Orphans, which raises awareness and funds for orphanages run by Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in 9 different Latin American and Carribean countries. This trip is the highlight of my summer. Each of the more than 600 kids is amazing to spend time with. Even though most of them come from battered homes or from life on the streets, they are the happiest kids I have ever met. They are so happy, with so little, it makes me appreciate how much I have. After each trip I come home and am thankful for all the material goods I have, but also for my family. While these kids have each other, most of them do not have parents. I make the trip to support the kids, but what they do not know, is that they teach me valuable life lessons, like how important family is, and how thankful we should be for what we have. In my daily life my appreciation of my family is not always visible; we get in arguments and sometimes do not get along. But at the end of the day I love them, and I tell them this so they know that I do appreciate them. This experience with Friends and NPH has made me a more compassionate person and has shaped my personality to be as such. Each year I leave the orphanage in tears because of the deep love and compassion I feel for the children, and I miss them all year long. I consider them to be a part of my family. These family members are not blood relatives, but related through wonderful experiences. I stay in special contact with two boys whom we sponsor and financially support throughout the year. I come home from this trip and give more of myself to my friends and family. I take all the love and compassion I have for the kids and try to spread it around. To do this, I share my stories about the children and encourage people to get involved with Friends and NPH. The kids have taught me that I should appreciate all that I have, especially all the people who care about me. Because they have had such traumatic experiences and difficult lives I know how lucky I am to grow up with a house and a family who care about me.


Lauren Dominguez is from Danville, CA. She has gone on Friends-sponsored Mission Trips to Mexico for the last few years. Her family also hosted pequeños when they visited California last year.