Regina DeCristofaro's Reflections

Each day, I am witness to little miracles that allow me to understand more fully the call I have to work with these boys. Each day truly is a gift from God.  In February, I was able to take José Nahun Quijada to the local hospital here, in a town called Sula. There we met with a Medical brigade who agreed to operate on Nahun’s ear. Nahun has lived his whole life with only ½ of his ear drum in his right ear. The brigade went in and reconstructed Nahun’s ear drum and gave him medicine to protect from infection. The consult, the surgery, and the meds were all given free. This past week we followed up with the specialist in San Pedro Sula, Dr. Borjas, who said, Nahun does not need to return to him, nor does he need more medicine. It was awesome. We just have to monitor him for symptoms of a cold/cough, and take him directly to a doctor to be sure his ear is safe. It is pretty amazing.

Last month, Don Ubil, Grace Nuzzi and I took one of our boys José Luis Arita (lovingly known as Arita) to “find” his mother. He had not seen his mother in 6 years, and we were literally looking for a needle in a haystack. We arrived in Corquin, Honduras, not knowing if she was alive or dead, asking about her. Arita had last been to this area when he was 3 years old, and then went to live with his father, and then was put in different orphanages until he came to us. In all honestly, we thought she could have been dead. However, we found her. Amigos de Jesús reunited one of our boys with his mother. He got to smile, hug, talk, and look at his mother again. He was reunited with his little brother, 10 years old, who looks like a mini Arita. The moments were breathtaking. I waited to cry until we were back at the hogar, and cry I did. Since then, Arita has been able to stay in contact with his mother, and we are planning on continuing to grow their relationship.

To me, this is Amigos. A place for growth. A place to form relationships. A place where we answer God’s call to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. What happens on the ground here is NOT of me, or the volunteers or of the board. It is of Christ. It is a small glimpse of his glorious kingdom. Amigos, the hogar, has decided to answer a call. A call that is bigger than just feeding and clothing street kids. It is more than just a place where our boys get food and shelter. We have the potential to influence a new generation of Hondurans; the opportunity to create more growth and change in each boy we ingress into the Hogar.

In God’s hands our boys find a home here. I am blessed to have the opportunity to witness and play a role in Amigos de Jesús.

Matthew 25:40

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." 

"Honduras Orphanage Collage" Written By: Anneliese Strube

Amazing Grace
A wide and vast valley
Ringed by mountains
A sanctuary
Bienvenidos Ninos
How Sweet the Sound
A tall white cross on a hill
Visible for miles on approach
Through many danges, toils and snares
The dark eyes of the smiling boys
Resilient despite adversity
I have already come

A gate that stays open all day
As a symbol that everybody
Is free to leave
I once was lost, but now I'm found
A dining hall for all
With equal portions for child or adult
How sweet the sound
Clean beds and bathrooms
Towels hung up neatly
Drying laundry hanging on fences
Amigos de Jesus -yes, friends indeed
In this land of poverty

My son, giving his time and money
To serve the less fortunate
Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
I see him crossing himself
In front of a plate of yucca and vegetables
And grace will lead me home
It makes me smile to see him adapt so easily
To his new environment
Having never crossed himself in his life
Before he arrived here
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see.

Toothbrushes for Toddlers

A BIG Thank you goes out to Christy from Toothbrushes for Toddlers and all those that supported the children at Amigos de Jesus with their generous donation!

Easter at Amigos de Jesus

Father O'Donnell recently visited Amigo de Jesus for Easter. He reported that the children, by the grace of God, continue to be happy and healthy. Father gave mass, held a feet washing ceremony and shared in all the celebration of the Easter festivities. His thoughts and reflections will be shared with everyone in our next newsletter.

unicef Background information on Children in Honduras

Background

¡Feliz Navidad!

Things are busy at the Hogar these days. Everyone is on vacation from "escuelita" ("little school," which takes place during the (summer)time when school is not in session). The tree is up in the comedor (eating hall), some (practical!) presents have been bought and wrapped for the boys, and the volunteers are preparing to receive some visitors right after Christmas.

This past Saturday, the 19th, the volunteers took the boys to a poorer area to sing Christmas carols and distribute some gifts to other children who have nothing. This is imporant - that we promote within our boys the awareness of what is going on in the world around them, to not enable a sense of entitlement within our orphanage, and for them to recognize that they have been very lucky at Amigos, and that we are all blessed, and it is our duty to help others around us.

Within the country politically, Zelaya is still advocating for his reinstatement, and still residing in the Brazilian embassy. Yesterday marked three months that he has been residing there. According to Telesur (www.telesurtv.net) yesterday Zelaya visited with Hugo Llorens - US Ambassador to Honduras - and spoke of the need to bring this country out of the crisis that has existed since June 28th. Hopefully with the Christmas season bringing new life to all of us, there will be some clarity and resolution to the situation of the past months in Honduras.

As we, as a Christian family, move from the anticipation and hope of Advent into a Christmas season of incarnation and celebration - with still much to be done - let us embrace the challenge to do God's work in this world as Jesus did in becoming human, when he walked this earth. Let us look one another in the eye, serve one another, fight for one another, and in a very special way, care for the most vulnerable among us: the children.

May you and your loved ones be blessed with immense joy and deep peace this Christmas that will last the coming year through.
¡Feliz Navidad!

The Work of Christmas Begins by Howard Thurman
When the song of the angels is stilled,when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,to heal those broken in spirit,to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,to rebuild the nations,to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart… And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins.