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In 2010 we are featuring stories of personal faith journeys. We hope by sharing these stories that our visitors and parishioners may grow to have a deeper understanding of the
call we each have to live our faith daily.
JANUARY
Ms. Sara Weiner shares with us the history of a very special orphanage mission working in latin countries and her personal experience with the children.
Written By: Sara Weiner
Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) started in 1954 when a little boy living on the streets of Cuernavaca, Mexico stepped into a church and stole money from the poor box. He was arrested and taken to jail. The pastor of the church, Father William Wasson, went to the jail and asked for custody of the boy. One week later, the judge sent him eight more homeless boys and by year’s end, he was caring for 32 boys. And so began Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), Spanish for Our Little Brothers and Sisters.
As Father Wasson grew older, slowing down was not an option. He saw that children in many other countries had no one to care for them. Before his death in 2006, he extended the NPH family by opening orphanages in eight more Latin American and Caribbean countries. The children of the homes are provided with food, shelter, spiritual guidance, health care and education through the university level. Many of these little ones grow up to finish school and break the cycle of poverty they were born into.
My relationship with NPH began in July 2005 when I set off on what I thought would be simply a year-long adventure teaching English at NPH’s Mexico home. Soon after arriving in Mexico, I realized that my year would be much more than just a new experience. Working with the children of NPH taught me more than I ever imagined it would about love, generosity and the resilience of children. It was only after three years of working with the orphanage that I was able to say goodbye and move back to Charlotte.
Looking back, I realize that because of this experience, my faith has deepened greatly. Instead of my Catholic faith being simply a tradition, something that I grew up with, it is now a driving force in my life. The example that Father Wasson set during his life has become for me a constant reminder of the Christ-like love that Jesus wants us to have for each person he places in our lives.
While I was never able to speak with Father Wasson before he passed away, I was able to observe him from a distance during his visits with the children. Simply being in his presence was comforting. As he entered the orphanage, the children would flock to him, greeting him and showering him with hugs. Remembering the scene, I think of what Jesus said as the children were brought to him. “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” I also think of Jesus saying, “Whatever you do unto the least of my brothers, you do unto me.”
I am very grateful for the opportunity to experience the work of Father Wasson and the example he has set for us. I believe that I must strive to love each person I encounter with the Christ-like love that Father Wasson exemplified throughout his life. I will probably never open orphanages or be a parent to thousands of abandoned children as Father Wasson was, but each day I am given the opportunity to love as Christ did and I must pray for the grace to do just that.
NPH is funded 100% by private donations. A large part of the funding comes from a “sponsor a child” program in which you can
write letters and even visit your sponsored child. If you would like to donate or sign up to sponsor a child online, you can
visit www.nph.org. For more information, you can contact me at
sarahmweiner@gmail.com.
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