holy week

Mass on Palm Sunday kicked off Holy Week in the house. It was really cool - the house involved some of the older kids to participate in a reenactment of the Stations of the Cross to begin mass. It was so cool! Watching the kids with large palms, and seeing what really happened and why we're celebrating this week. 

(Beginning mass)

(First time Jesus falls)

(Processional from the school to the church)

(Getting nailed to their crosses during mass)

(A cross I found on the gate to the church when I walked by later that day)

It was such a fun experience. Every Wednesday we walk around the church and read the Stations of the Cross, but sometimes it's hard to really focus on them between making sure my boys aren't sticking twigs in other kids ears, or trying to figure out what all the Spanish says. Getting to see them acted out is wonderful - a reminder of what happened, a way to get the children involved, as well as learn in another way than just reading. 

(A crown one of my boys made from the palms)

(Creative little guys I have! All their palms had a whole lot of pieces to them!)

Holy Thursday, we had mass again outside (all week! Which was fantastic). Father washed people's feet, and children had their First Communion. It was fun to see so many children experience a sacrament. 

(Father washing the feet of various people in the house)

(The kids receiving their First Communion with their candles) 

(Some of my boys after their First Communion, and one of my Year of Service that works with me) 

Good Friday, we had mass and Father talked about sacrifice. During mass, a kid brought up a lamb, and Father motioned to kill it (it went with the story he was telling), and hearing all the gasps from the children made me laugh out loud during mass. I think he got his point across pretty well, since the children listened after that. 

Friday night, the older kids got to watch Passion of the Christ. I was so excited, since I love this movie. It really made me think about sacrifices and what it really means. We can make big sacrifices like giving up a year of our life to volunteer in a country where we feel called to go, or sacrifice the extra $5 left over at the end of the month. It is not the same for everyone, but I hope that everyone can experience sacrifice and have it mean something for them. 

(Father using a live lamb to better illustrate his story)

One of my favorite parts about this week was that the kids from the high school came for a few days. It's always fun to see them and talk to them - we get to practice their English, I can have conversations about things other than fighting and toy cars, and I get to joke with people closer to my own age. I've been building relationships with the men shown below for years, and I am so thankful I have them in my life. 

(2 years difference, and one of the funniest and sweetest kids I've ever met in my life)

(My godson and I in 2009, and this past Easter weekend)

(Also, only a 2 year difference, and one of the smartest and the most gentlemanly men I've ever met)(is gentlemanly men a thing?)

Today, we had mass at 6:30 am, and with the time change that just happened in Mexico, mass felt like 5:30. I took my phone off automatic update and changed the clock last night so I could 'win' a round of daylight savings time, but when I got up (late) at 6, and woke up the other girl who didn't need to work today, she asked if it was really 6, to which I replied of course because I was winning DST, only to find out my watch said 4, so it was realy only 5. Daylight savings time - 1, Anna - 0.

Also, one thing I can guarantee I will not miss about Mexico when I leave are the constant fireworks and parties because...life. Fireworks and music started at midnight, and went until 5:30 this morning, so sleep didn't really happen. 

Mass started at 6:30 in the dark of the morning, and ended with the sunrise, coffee (hot chocolate) and donuts for the kids (: Father gave out chocolate eggs to all the kids, and then the egg hunt began! They hide approximately 500 eggs around the house (hundreds of acres of land) and the kids look for them. They hide 4 eggs worth money, but those are obviously more difficult. 

After the egg hunt, the other volunteers with the weekend off just hung out, went to the market, went swimming (I'm getting tan!!!!!), and just relaxed. Called my parents quick, and had a nice relaxing day. 

(One of my boys with a baby bunny from the farm, the Easter baskets Emily made us filled with goodies personalized to each of us, and the other volunteers I work with that attended mass this morning☺️)

More to come soon! The kids have 2 weeks of vacation for Easter, so my schedule is different, and more exhausting, than normal. 

Do you have what it takes to be a godparent?

My goal for the month of April is to get 30 sponsors for children here. I already have received 3 in the last week, which I will not be counting towards my goal. 

To begin, I want to share some facts with you, so you can make an educated decision. For $1 a day you can provide a child with: 
• A safe and loving home
• Clean water
• Nutritious food
• Shoes and clothing
• Health care
• An education
• A brighter future

Mexico is the oldest home of all the NPH homes, and also one of the two largest. We have about 500 kids here right now, as well as about 150 in the high school, and 50 in the university. Most of them have a few sponsors, but are still looking for more. (If you would like to sponsor a child in Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Haiti, Peru, and Bolivia, you are welcome to!!! I just made Mexico my personal goal for the month)

As a sponsor, or godparent as we like to say, you get to build a relationship with a child that you can either choose, or have selected at random. The children range in age from about 1.5 years old up to about 28 while they're in university. Once they graduate high school, they give one year of service to the house to say thank you, or two if they want to go to university (most opt to go). 

As a Sponsor, you will receive:
• A photo of the child
• The child’s personal history
• Annual school progress reports
• Personal letters from the child
• The opportunity to visit the child at NPH
• The chance to enhance your own life by helping a child become independent and self-sufficient 
(For more information on the organization of NPH as a whole, please click here for a link to the NPHUSA website and story of how it began.)

If you sign up to become a sponsor in the month of April, I have some special things I will give to/do for you, but I'm not going to tell you what they are - you'll have to sign up to find out (: 

Another way that I would love support this month is if you are unable to donate your money, please consider sending me an email to anna.hanson26@gmail.com, and I will get you added to the mailing list for future events if you are more able to give of your time. 

Also, if you follow me on social media, I, as well as other volunteers, use the hastag #nphmexico to document our time here, as well as show some of the children doing normal children things (: check me out!

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anna.j.hanson 

instagram: anhan26

twitter: anhan26

Check out what it's like from the child's perspective to have godparents. 

(a photo of my godson and me)