Holy Week in Honduras

  

Holy Week is one of the hottest times of the year in Honduras. It is vacation time for most of Latin America but for the girls of Our Little Roses it is a time of sharing the secular with the religious. During Holy Week all the governmental institutions are closed for the entire week. Most private businesses and banks close Thursday and Friday. 

Our girls had a whole week of vacation where many activities were planned including a trip to the Retreat Center, Our Lady of the Roses and Weeks-Schilling Conference Center. They were able to escape the heat of the city to enjoy a relaxed time in a cooler, harmonious environment where they were able to enjoy the mountain air and the freedom of walking to the village and enjoying the river that runs behind the property. The Center promotes their personal growth and helps to develop and strengthen their spiritual lives. Pueblo Nuevo, where the Center is located is a small rural touristic town located 45 minutes from San Pedro Sula. 

Like many other rural villages they have traditions and dramas enacting indigenous beliefs. One of the most renowned and popular traditions during Holy Week is the visit by characters called "judios" (Spanish for "Jews"). These are masked individuals who carry wooden swords, speak in a strange guttural manner and generally cause mayhem by staging riotous mock sword fights. The "judios" run through town until finally someone gives them some "lempiras" to go away or to leave them alone. 

 

The youngest girls who had never seen these characters before ran to the Retreat Center screaming but quickly the tias were able to calm their fears by explaining that this age old tradition was only a prank played out every year during Holy Week. Afterwards, the "judios" took off their masks so the girls could see that they were normal people. Soon afterwards they enjoyed being able to pose with them for pictures.

Rose Garden email newsletter!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Sign up for the Rose Garden email newsletter!

Don't forget to sign up for the monthly Rose Garden newsletter to keep up on the latest news from Our Little Roses.

Just click the title or right here (you can also copy/paste this url into the address bar)-  http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=0018nJcGPmgGojv8mqfzx-N7br_3XyuBq0Z6qB7m8SQcEFTCuF79kD3pIeBUHijVKWktR81_CqoxQkGhbDMNoBP5w%3D%3D

Run For Our Little Roses

A benefit run for Our Little Roses - A home for at risk girls in Honduras

 

 Dear Friends,

Thank you to all who participated in last year's Annual OC Coast Run for Our Little Roses Marathon and Half Marathon. It was a special event that benefited Our Little Roses, a home  for at risk girls in San Pedro Sula , Honduras .

The fourth annual run takes place in Newport Beach , California on the same  course as last year’s run along the beautiful pacific coast. Last year we raised more than $10,000 from the run alone! We hope you can join us this June to help us ensure another great year.

The run will take place June 9th, but the April 2 , 2012 deadline for registration is quickly approaching.

To register for the 2012 Run for Our Little Roses please click on  http://runforourlittleroses.com/donate/

Do you want an easy way to help Our Little Roses?

Whenever you book your flight on either American Airlines or Delta Airlines, in addition to submitting your frequent flyer number to get your personal miles, you can add Our Little Roses Business Account Number to get extra business miles. The great news is that this is a bonus. It does not impact your frequent flyer points. It is just additional points for Our Little Roses.

For both airlines you can add the business account number 2 ways. Here is how you do it -

1) If you have an online account with either airline you can add the number to your profile. 

For American it is called:

American Airline Business ExtrAA: 781284

For Delta it is called:

 SkyBonus® US0020787

2) Every time you book a flight using either Delta or America as your carrier regardless if you are booking via Expedia, Travelocity, your travel agent, etc., when you give them your frequent flyer number also give them these business account number. Just keep these numbers with your frequent flyer numbers.

It is easy as one, two, three and it makes a big impact for Our Little Roses. If you have any questions, email Kristen@ourlittleroses.org.

Thank you!

Still feeling the effects of the Earthquake

On November the 16, 2011, over a year and a half since the 7.2 earthquake struck Honduras students and teachers noticed a visible change in the gradient of the floor of one of the classrooms on the second floor of Holy Family School (the Our Little Roses Ministries bilingual school on the campus of Our Little Roses). It is a wonderful school where 20 of our girls have the opportunity to learn English alongside other girls and boys from the community.

 

You can imagine the surprise on the student's faces when they arrived to class only to notice that the floor was beginning to sink. The teacher reported what was happening to the floor.

Immediately the director of the school removed the students from the classroom in order to make an analysis of this unexpected development.

After taking down the false ceiling, the mystery of the slanting floor was revealed. The steel beams holding up the second floor had been doubled in a wave-like form, obviously from a tremendous force which we can only attribute to the earthquake. We thought we had only suffered minor damage during the earthquake but now the real truth has been unveiled. We are still fortunate that more damage was not done.     

The estimated cost of the repairs is $8,051.80.  If you like to donate or assist, please contact us at olr@ourlittleroses.org.  

BACK TO SCHOOL- September 2011

OUR LITTLE ROSES MINISTRIES - A MINISTRY OF LOVE, HOPE AND JUSTICE San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Written by Mrs. Mayra
 
At the age of two years old, Rocío dreams of going to school. She tries on her sister’s uniforms and backpack and she says: "I am ready for school”. She doesn't understand why she can't go to school, she says "I am big, I can run", but the reality is that she is still too young and she has to wait one more year in order to turn 3 years old, which is the required age for Pre Kinder.

Going back to HFBS School is a big event at Our Little Roses Ministries. The girls started classes at the end of August, but since July, the staff has been making sure that the girls will have new uniforms, new school supplies and everything they may need in order to fulfill the important role they will play at school.

(Rocio)

This year there are three new Roses attending Holy Family Bilingual School. Two in Pre Kinder: Brigit, 3 years old, Critzenn, 4 years old and one girl in eight grade: Bianca, 14 years old. This makes a total of 20 girls attending HFBS. This is a year full of expectations and new challenges.


Holy Family Bilingual School was founded to meet the educational needs of the girls from Our Little Roses, especially for the girls that get to the Home at an early age, so they can be prepared beginning at Pre-School. Unfortunately, not all the girls are able to finish a bilingual education because they grew up in abject poverty and they came to us malnourished. 


The consequences are devastating for being able to learn because they don't develop the ability to manage two languages at the same time. Those girls that face serious learning problems are moved to Spanish speaking language schools where they learn to read and write in their native language with a Spanish only educational curriculum. When they are ready, they can take English classes so they can communicate with sponsors, friends and visitors.

(Tania, Diana, Astrid, Ismelda)

Our Little Roses girls know exactly what they want to be when they grow-up: Leyli, an eight grader, has dreamed ever since she was 7 years old that she would like to be a Doctor. After 8 years, she continues with the same dream to be a doctor, "I want to save children's lives", she said with a smile. Katherine says: "I would like to be a flight attendant" "I love tourism". Katherine is a very talkative girl, she is not afraid to face life, she loves soccer as well.

Sofia, a kindergarten student says: "I want to be a “Miss", meaning that she wants to be a "teacher". (Sometimes the children call the women teachers at HFBS Miss.)

What goes through the minds of these little girls? 

When interviewing Brigit, (she is only 3 years old and just started Pre Kinder) she said: "I want to be Mrs. Mayra". Mayra is a member of the staff and her position is Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director. Brigit can't explain exactly what she wants but she has people in mind that she would like to be like. Maybe in two years she will say that she wants to be a dentist or some other career. The amazing thing is that they all have dreams and they all are working for what they want.


After a day of classes the girls return to the Home singing what they have learned or playing the teacher's role with the other girls. The older girls have lunch and then change from uniforms to shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops in order to start doing homework or studying for classes the next day. They all are excited and very enthusiastic that school has begun again so that they can continue to transform their lives into what they want to be in the future.

(Aylin and Heydi)

(Twins: Ana Ruth and Ana Cecilia)

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO MAKE OUR GIRLS REACH THEIR DREAMS?
The answer is by sponsoring the education of one of our Roses. Any amount for education is welcome. Your support will enable our girls to soar to reach their dreams.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO TRANSFORM A GIRL'S LIFE!! 
For more information about OLRM: www.ourlittleroses.org
e.mail: nprdiana@aol.com or ourlittleroses@yahoo.com

October 2011 News

Friday, October 28, 2011

October 2011 News

OUR LITTLE ROSES MINISTRIES - A MINISTRY OF LOVE, HOPE AND JUSTICE San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Written by Mrs. Mayra

Honduras has an estimated population of almost eight million people. (67.3% (4.992.792) of the population are under 30 years old and 63% of the population lives in poverty.) 1. Honduras became independent from Spain in 1821 and all Hondurans celebrate its independence on September 15.

Sihan, Katherine, Astrid, Tania, Ana Ruth & Ricci Mejía. 

The girls from Our Little Roses Ministries are always on the first row to participate in the different activities that the schools have to celebrate. Independence Day. This year was not the exception and all of the girls got involved to commemorate this important date. Some of them played in the band, and others were cheerleaders.


CHILDREN DAY- SEPTEMBER 10

Ismelda

High school students from Holy Family Bilingual School celebrated Children Day with the girls from Our Little Roses. The girls received gifts, and had fun with games and a talent show where both groups showed off their talents. They also enjoyed a delicious lunch that the students offered them. 


LIVING AT OUR LITTLE ROSES MINISTRIES

Vanesa, Jackeline, Ingrid, Iris, Damaris, Kathy & Suyapa

Living in an orphanage could not be an outstanding experience, but living at Our Little Roses makes a difference. OLRM is NOT an orphanage, it is a HOME. It is a peaceful and loving place where the girls are loved and cared for. Being part of the transformation of the girls is also a long life transformational experience for the staff involved in OLRM.

It is heartbreaking to see the new girls the very first day they are moved from IHNFA (Honduran Governmental shelter) to OLRM. It is so sad to see their little faces, so sad, without a vision for the future and without hope. They are full of loneliness and hopeless, but at OLR they find love, companionship, friendship and the sisterhood. They come to realize that they too can have a vision and hope for the future. They develop relationships and friendships with the other girls that will last a life time. It is something amazing to witness.


2011 is almost ending and this year OLRM has received 6 new girls: Suyapa (December 4, 2004) and her sister Ingrid (January 3, 2007), Bianca, (November 15, 1996), Genesis (September 26, 1997) and the newest girls Martha (3 years old) and her youngest sister Suyapa (1 year old).


DENTAL CARE:
Our Little Roses has their very own dentist - Jensy. From living in the slums to becoming a dentist – what a success story! Jensy is completing an internship and will graduate in December 2011. 

Jensy shares, “Thanks to the support of people like you, we have the opportunity to improve our lives and build a future in which we can become professionals and Christian women serving God, so we can give back, and also help people who need us.” Jensy arrived to Our Little Roses at the age of 9 years old and her dreams to become a dentist were stronger after she was taken to the dentist to fix her teeth and she got braces. Jensy's dreams became a reality thanks to the support of many people of God. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver " 2 Corinthian 9:7

The Dentistry career is one of the most expensive careers in Honduras. School supplies, tools and medical equipment are very expensive, but the fruits of all the efforts is praiseworthy and now Our Little Roses not only have a dentist, but also a dental clinic equipped to provide dental care, not only to the girls and staff from Our Little Roses, but also to serve the community.


BRACES: Ana Ruth, Leily, Wendoly and Eduviges are four of the girls from Our Little Roses Ministries that are fortunate to receive the braces' treatment to fix their teeth and soon they will enjoy of a brighter smile. The cost of each Braces' treatment is $1,800.00 which include installation of braces and dental visitation. The treatment last two years.


There are 6 more girls than need braces. Any support to the Dental Fund will be highly appreciated.


THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO TRANSFORM A GIRL'S LIFE!! 
For more information about OLRM: www.ourlittleroses.org
e.mail: nprdiana@aol.com or ourlittleroses@yahoo.com