Mission Honduras International
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty ... One Child at a Time
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December 2010
Newsletter
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Give a Gift, Get a Gift
Help Bring Hope to the Children of Liberia Mission
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Greetings!
This year as you contemplate the joys of Christmas, we ask you to take a moment and share that goodwill with some of the world's poorest children by giving a sponsorship or general donation to Liberia Mission Incorporated. You may also choose to honor another person by donating in his or her honor.
In recognition of your donation, we will send you, or someone you designate, a copy of ACTA Publication's brand new edition of A Christmas Carol. We can't think of a better gift to symbolize the spirit of re-discovering generosity than this time-honored classic.
Click here to sponsor a child or donate online and receive your free book. Sponsorships are $32 a month or $384 for the year. Or you can mail a check payable to Mission Honduras International by December 24th to:
Mission Honduras International / Liberia Mission, Inc.P O Box 56007Chicago, IL 60656-0007
This wonderful new edition of Charles Dickens' original classic A Christmas Carol has an insightful introduction by storyteller and theologian John Shea.
"A Christmas Carol is a classic precisely because it cannot be confined to a wintry Christmas Eve and Morn in nineteenth century England," Shea writes, "and it cannot be completely tamed by familiarity. The story may be old and often told, but it is not toothless. 'Beware' should be stamped in red letters on the cover of this book.... Scrooge awakens in us a vague uneasiness, a need to scrutinize our choices to see where they have led us. We might have cut ourselves off from something essential. We may be missing the fullness of what is available."
This book is printed on high-quality matte paper with a linen-finish soft cover. It is the perfect birthday or holiday book for family, friends, colleagues, and staff members.We hope you will take a few minutes to read on in this newsletter about Advent at Liberia Mission. Thank you for your continued generosity and prayers this Season!Wishing you a Holy Christmas, 
Bob O'Dwyer On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Mission Honduras International
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Advent
| Advent is my favorite liturgical season. It is a time of awe, wonder, waiting, stillness, and hope. Being here in Liberia for Advent requires me to make some mental adjustments when I enter into prayer. Back home (Boston, Massachusetts), my anticipation for Advent begins when I walk towards my parents' house for Thanksgiving, leaves crunching under my feet the crisp autumn air upon my face, apple pie in hand, family from near and far gathering. The ever colder and darker days invite me to stillness in prayer as I anticipate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here in Liberia, many of my Advent "markers" are absent. Liberian Thanksgiving is celebrated the first Thursday of November. Under my feet I find crunchy leaves replaced by grass, dust, ants, and crickets (those can be crunchy). The air is hot, my family is far. The days are ever warmer and brighter as we enter into the dry season. Stillness is hard to come by when surrounded by over 100 children in my own home.
And yet, it is the same Lord that I and the Liberians await with excitement and anticipation. It is the same familiar Church dressed in purple. The same "Angels We Have Heard on High" that the children have begun to sing in prayer and while walking around the mission, albeit with a unique upbeat pep and drum accompaniment that is new to me. I love that in Liberia I can dance to Christmas carols!
At our mission chapel, the beginning of Advent was marked by the Harvest celebration, which the adult prayer group organized. People danced down the aisle during offertory, bananas and papayas balanced on heads, babies strapped on backs, smiles on everyone's faces. House Mother, Mrs. Helena Gonyor, shares her story about the Harvest celebration in this newsletter.
And so, while it wasn't what typically marks Advent for me, it was still a day of giving thanks: thanks to our gracious God for crops, food, and community. And indeed we have much to be thankful for at this particular time. Construction of 5 new classrooms for our school has just been completed. We recently hired a new house mother (Ma Victoria) for the boys' dorm who helps with their studies, teaches them to mend their clothes, shows them how to make cherry jam, shares laughter, and gives hugs. Our catechist, Brother Lawrence, has joined us full-time, now also teaching religion at the school, guiding the Catholic Youth Organization and adult prayer group, nurturing the daily prayer gatherings for the children, and being an additional compassionate ear for the children. Many of the children have been on the Honor Roll at school over the last two marking periods. The house parents meet weekly to share ideas, improve our work with the children, and share stories about our joyful moments with the children.
Truly, there is much to be thankful for, and we thank you, our donors, for being a driving force behind all of these accomplishments. It is your prayers and generosity that strengthen us as we, the children and staff of Liberia Mission, Inc., deepen in love and grow as a family. May the wonder of Advent and the hope for Christ Jesus be a blessing to you and your families. We hold you in our prayers always.
Blessings, Bernardine
Director, Liberia Mission Inc. |
Harvest in Liberia
| Mrs. Helena Gonyor, a native Liberian is house mother for the girls at LMI
 Harvest is a tradition of the Catholic Church in Liberia. Harvest, in an African setting, has become a tradition, adopted by the Catholic Church from the days of old. The scripture reference concerning Harvest in the Bible can be found in the book of Numbers 15: 17-21.Harvest in the various parishes in Liberia is celebrated to bring parishioners together, including those who have broken away from the Church. Also, during this time, all members of a parish community willingly bring in their produce and vegetables from their farms and gardens to form a part of the procession during offertory. If the member does not have a farm or garden, he or she may buy an item with his/her monthly salary or from some money earned during the period. This harvest celebration is to show some sign of an appreciation to God for a good harvest.Gifts are brought up to the altar in lines of twos, carrying gift items on our heads and in our hands while singing, dancing, and praising God. The priest receives the gifts, blesses the people, and thereafter they return to their seats. After the Mass the priest decides how the items brought up will be used, for charity or other purposes. Later the celebration continues by sharing, chatting, and eating. This is how Harvest, which has become a tradition, adopted by the Church, is celebrated in our country, Liberia.Mrs. Helena GonyorHouse Mother, Liberia Mission Inc.
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