Friends of the Orphans

Our Stories: Supporters

Kasey
Godparent, Upper Midwest Region
From Minnesota to Guatemala
July 2007

Kasey and boys at NPH Guatemala

I had no clue while traveling five hours south from Minnesota to Guatemala at four in the morning that I was about to go through a life-changing experience. When I visited Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for "Our Little Brothers and Sisters") Guatemala last June, I did not know what to expect. Other kids from my high school who visited last year told me that I was going to have fun and learn a lot about myself, but I never knew how much I would learn about myself and about how faith plays a role in my life.

When our bus arrived at NPH Guatemala, we were greeted by 300 to 400 adorable young children with balloons, hugs, laughs and firecrackers. Before these kids even knew us, they ran to us and hugged us. They didn’t know who we were, what our names were, who our friends were, or what kind of house we lived in. But none of it stopped them from smiling and leaping into our arms.

There is no judgment or selfishness among these children. I learned that although they have few material things, they have so much to give with their hearts. Throughout those 10 days, I grew especially close with a group of 8-to-10-year-old boys. As soon as they learned my name, they called for me and wanted to play “tag” or soccer as much as possible. The kids love to run around and be carried, and they all play with each other and share the toys and balls that NPH supplies for them. I always ate lunch with this group of boys, and every time that I didn’t have a plate of food in front of me, they would all offer me their food and make sure that I ate.

One of the things that I thought was cool was that they all hand wash their own clothes, and all of the clothes are community clothes: one day David would be wearing his yellow and red striped shirt, but the next day Wilmer would be wearing it, and they loved it.

Spending 10 days at NPH Guatemala made me appreciate my family and the little things that I have—all of the things that are practically handed to us here in the United States. Since returning home, I look at my pictures every single day and I think about those kids because they really did impact my life. It is hard for me to be home in my beautiful house with a pool in the backyard when none of it is worth it compared to living at NPH, helping those kids who are so loving and full of laughter and hope. I plan to return to NPH as soon as I can because it opened my eyes to a whole other side of life and really changed my perspective on life. I love my NPH family! ¡Yo amo a mi familia de NPH!

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Related Information:
• Child Sponsorship Program
• NPH Guatemala Fact Sheet/Visitors Guide

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