Orphan’s Hope Project Blog

I wish I was back in Guate, living at the hogar, waking up at 5 am to make breakfast for the children, serving their breakfast, walking them to school in Satelite at 6:45 am, feeling the sun on my face and the sweat on my back as I walk back up the hills, walking back into the orphanage gate to discover what my tasks and jobs will be for the day…. and more. There are a zillion different ways to spend time while living and working at the orphanage. Time just zips by when you are there. But, my work here in the US isn’t allowing me time to sneak away to Guatemala, not this month at least. So… instead, I will work hard, think of the boys and continue to collect donations of new clothes and money.

Happily, we can report that the April 13th fundraiser in Sharon, MA. has now brought in over $3700 for the church construction project. This past week, I was contacted by a potential donor’s company and one more donation is in the works for Orphan’s Hope Project (as a result of this fundraiser effort). A great success, all made possible by Roger and Steve. Roger is on his way back from the orphanage so I will get a full report very soon. We do appreciate caring volunteers who realize they can make a difference in so many young children’s lives. These individuals know the need, have the time and the resources and are helping us and the orphanage in a very big way. Congratulations and thanks to all who helped, participated, donated and have helped spread the word. I wish there were more people like Steve and Roger. Thanks guys!

It’s the third week of April already. Can you believe it? Time just keeps zipping by.

Roger arrives at the hogar today. I know he’s excited to be going back. I wish I was there right now to see the progress on the capilla and to work with him.

The fundraiser that Roger and Steve worked so hard on has been very successful. The fundraiser was held on April 13th in Sharon, MA. I think it was really a fundraiser and a funraiser. But I know it was a lot of work for them and the hosts. As of April 20th, they have received donations that total $3000 with another possible donation or two yet to be received. That is so fantastic.

Since the capilla sits high on the hill, with more hills behind it, the next task is to build a retaining wall. When we build new buildings, we have nowhere to go but up on the property. So we have lots of retaining walls on the orphanage property. Our buildings seem to keep climbing up the land that we have. We are lucky to have the land and the great views that it gives us. The soil is sandy and you know that sand slips. So, we build retaining walls. One will be built behind the new chapel to give it more stability.

So, the walls will be going up… but they won’t be used to keep anyone out!

Thanks for reading about us.

Near the top of the orphanage property, high on the hill and above the transition house, sits our new chapel, the capilla. This chapel has been taking shape for a few months but the activity really picked up in the past month. The walls are finished now and the tile is on the floor. We bought the tile in August 2007, carried it up the hill to store and now it is finally where it’s supposed to be…. on the floor. Orphan’s Hope Project is proud to watch this capilla get built with funds that we have raised and then wired to the orphanage account. Since returning to the US in February 2008, we have wired $13,500 to the orphanage account.

Much of this money is being used to finish the chapel. It’s pretty amazing that donations in the amounts of $5, $10, $20, $50, $200, $300, $500 and $5000 add up to a substantial sum that then gets used for this great building. Some people have donated by buying $5.00 pulseras at community talks that I give. Sometimes I get a check out of the blue from someone I don’t know. Other people are donating through Pay Pal on the website. Lisa’s friends are donating instead of buying her wedding gifts. Steve and Roger are working hard at raising awareness, having a fundraiser and have other ideas for raising more money.

By being a community of citizens that cares about others, we have made the orphanage a better place. Soon, the new building will be used for services and other activities. It can also be used as a meeting room. When we start using it, that will free up the other classroom space that is temporarily being used as a capilla. That room might become a silk screening room, teaching the boys new skills and allowing the orphanage to print t-shirts that they can sell to raise more money for the orphanage, as well as raise awareness of the orphanage.

Thanks to all our donors, young and old, employed, unemployed and retired, former volunteers and others, who come from all walks of life……..who are thoughtful enough to keep us in their thoughts and in their checkbooks. All of you….. We give you A BIG THANKS!

I understand that more donations are coming in from the Sunday fundraiser that was held in Massachusetts. I have received the majority of the donations but now the organizers tell me that they will be sending more money. I think they’re going to top $3000 very soon. And that is good. Actually, that is great! From one fundraising event, they are able to keep the church construction funded. We expect to see more progress on the new capilla very soon. And we appreciate those donations… more and more.

This is a satelite picture of the orphanage. The top circle is the orphanage. The one below is the village school where many of our children went to school in the past. Most of the children now walk to Satelite to go to school… which is not visible on this map. The circle on the left is the ‘campo’ where the kids often go to play soccer.

“Successful fund raiser for Hogar Miguel Magone held in Massachusetts on April 13, 2008. More details to follow.”

Going to the chapel (Ir a la capilla). Yep, pretty soon our boys will be going to the chapel for services.

We are making progress on the new chapel at the top of the hill. Donations have been coming in and some of the donations have been designated to be used for the construction of the chapel. Don Lorenzo has been busy working and just this last week, he poured the concrete for the floor of the chapel. They’ve been working on the electricity and the next step will be to finish the interior walls. And, the beautiful tile was purchased in August 2007 and it will be in there before we know it. Add some windows, finish the altar and we will have a beautiful capilla.

We are excited to have this beautiful new building and hope that the progress continues quickly. As of April 8, 2008, Orphan’s Hope Project has wired $8,500 to the hogar. We are about to wire some more $ for this construction project.

We appreciate the recent donations and the donations that will be arriving as a result of the fundraiser event on April 13th.

Together, with all of us helping, we are making this happen. Thank you.

Did I catch your attention with that title of 47-6? Good. I meant to.

The significance of this title has to do with a donation that I received. A family stopped in to see me yesterday afternoon and they were carrying a large box. I could hardly carry the box. Inside the box are 47 brand new shirts and 6 beautiful, thick green sweatshirts… with hoods. Some of the shirts are long sleeved, some are short sleeved and there’s even a polo shirt in the stack. And the sweatshirts! Man oh man! The boys will be pleased with the sweatshirts. These sweatshirts are thick, hooded and they feel so cozy. You know, we don’t have heat at the orphanage and we don’t have hot water either. So that means in those early morning hours and evenings, it can get downright chilly. They are gonna love these sweatshirts. I can’t wait to see them on the boys….. we’ll be seeing green for a while.

Thanks to the Ishida family, the boys will be happy and warm. This is a great donation. We do appreciate it!

I just wanted to share another great initiative that will raise money for the boys at Hogar Miguel Magone. This is a fund raiser organized by Steve & Roger, who have visited the home twice since December. A third trip is coming up in April 2008.

“Upon this rock I will build my church.”

Please join us for a wine & cheese social fund raiser hosted by Joe and Paddy Favazza on Sunday, April 13th from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. As many of you know, we have been to Guatemala on two occasions to volunteer at Hogar Miguel Magone, a home for orphaned, abused, and abandoned boys (and now girls). Every Sunday, the children of the orphanage are joined by dozens of other children from the surrounding village and their families to celebrate Mass and participate in religious education activities in a small, crowded room. A new church is slowly being constructed at the orphanage, but is still unfinished. In February, $2,200 was raised to lay conduit for electricity and pour a concrete floor. An additional $5,000 is needed to complete the church. To view a brief slideshow (14 photos) of the orphanage and church, click on this link. Church Hogar Miguel Magone

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution. There are several ways to do so:
1) on-line through Pay Pal and Orphan’s Hope Project (www.OrphansHopeProject.com);
2) a check made out to Orphan’s Hope Project and mailed to: Orphans Hope Project 2631 Chapparal Court Pinole, CA 94564; or
3) join us at the home of the Favazza’s, (across the street from the church) for wine and cheese with friends, and make a cash or check donation at that time.

Roger & Steve

Hi Everyone,

I received a great donation yesterday. Stacey M. brought me 7 new t-shirts for the boys and 75 pairs of socks. New socks. Clean socks. Still in the package socks. When the boys get brand new socks, they are so excited. They clamor for them, the write their names on them with a permanent marker and they feel good. And you know how boys are… they can have some pretty dirty feet and shoes when they play outside all the time. So… socks are definitely a good thing to receive. They are needed. Thanks Stacey.

And… I was the speaker at a Kiwanas Club meeting yesterday. The group enjoyed my power point presentation and my talk on the orphanage. They might have a sock drive for us too.

Yay… keep those socks coming. The boys need socks…..all the time.

Til next time.

Diane