Blessings and Thanksgiving

Mission Honduras International

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty ... One Child at a Time

November 2010

Newsletter

Greetings!

While many of us in the United States are lucky enough to celebrate Thanksgiving with a turkey dinner, family, and friends around us, many of us are not. We're still going through some hard economic times, which can make it difficult to feel very thankful. That's why Amy Spelz' note below was such a welcome reminder to me of how to be joyful in the face of hard times.

The children at the Liberia Mission don't have much in the way of personal belongings; many of them don't even have families to spend holidays with. Yet, somehow they manage to be joyful in their celebrations. They find happiness in such little things, whether it is just sharing a laugh, sharing a game with friends, or sharing a banquet. I think the key-word is sharing. Sometimes I forget that it is not how much we have to share but how well we share it with others that counts. Thank you, children, for reminding me.

May God grant us all continued blessings,

Bob O'Dwyer
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Mission Honduras International

In This Issue

Thanksgiving the Liberia Way

Buy a Brick, Build a School, Teach a Child, Change a Nation

Quick Links

Sponsor a Child!

Children of Hope: The Liberia Mission Story Documentary

Build a Classroom, Brick By Brick Campaign

Learn More: Books and Films about Liberia

Liberian Thanksgiving and LMI Anniversary-One Great Celebration

Liberia celebrates its Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November; this year it was November
4. After talk Lisa and James Egg Race

ing to the house parents, we decided to celebrate Thanksgiving and the 7th Anniversary of Liberia Mission Incorporated jointly on Sunday, November 7. The LMI Anniversary had never been celebrated before so everyone was quite excited about throwing ourselves a birthday party. We invited the day staff to come and bring their families. Severalbrought their children to join in the fun.

Emulating family celebrations where members contribute a dish for the meal, the girls offered tomake the soup, the boys made the rice, and the international staff (with some help from the boys) made bread rolls and "cake" (or bar cookies as we know them). Many of the children and staf

f decided to "fast" from after dinner the night before until the late lunch feast. Fasting at Thanksgiving is a fairly wide-spread Liberian practice.

The day started with giving thanks at Mass and continued in the afternoon by "breaking the fast." Ma Helena led us by blessing the water and food. As is tradition in Liberia, we had coconut and cassava to eat. Two of the youth leaders volunteered to be in charge of entertainment. They coordinated a game of volleyball before lunch, after lunch, the games continued with a soccer match, bag races, fishing for bottles, and egg races. Laughter rang through the courtyard as boys and girls and staff competed. The day ended with tired but happy residents going to chapel and preparing for tomorrow's lessons.

Amy Spelz
Program Coordinator, Liberia Mission Inc.

"Buy a Brick, Build a School, Teach a Child, Change a Nation

New Classroom Construction November 2011

Just 1200 bricks will build a solid, safe, dry place for our children to learn and grow for years to come! Thanks to the generous support of donors across the country. Buy your br ick t oday and help us reach our goal of 1200 bricks!

Donate online and we will email you a "brick certificate" which you can give in honor of a loved one for a special occasion. Thanks!

Buy Your Brick online here!

About Mission Honduras International / Liberia Mission

Mission Honduras International is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for children and families through material and spiritual support and a Catholic education.

Learn more on our website!