David came up to me one day, telling me about how excited he was about a volunteering event he attended with his homestay. He was excited and felt good helping the folks he was with. He wanted to share a bit about it with you in his own English:

Living in West Seattle with this amazing people like Norene and Jacob has been phenomenal so far. They had told me about some of the volunteering they do since they are both retired. They both work at St. Vincent de Paul–which is a group of people that work with a purpose for people in need. Jacob and Norene have been volunteering there for twenty years with a joy and passion for helping others. The organization is huge, but my family only works in the West Seattle area. The Guadalupe Church provides them a place in order to plan and attend their meetings every week. They offer food, furniture, rent and clothing to people in need.

One day, I had a day off of school, and I decided to help them with some of the deliveries during the morning. Jacob, Norene and I had a typical Friday delivering couches, a sofa, a bed, a twin bed, and a set of drawers. Once we arrived at the place with all the things, the family that we met was very kind, grateful and blessed for the support. After that, we ate a well-deserved breakfast and talked a lot about our lives. In conclusion, learning from them makes me feel at home. The way they help the community will remain with me as I go home to Guatemala and try to serve the community there.

I asked Roxana to share a little bit about what her experience was speaking at Faces of Hope. In this blog, she talks about the challenge of speaking, but how it was possible because she had support from her community. A link to Roxana’s speech can be found here. Thank you to all your support for NPH! 

Faces of hope is a great opportunity that is very important for us at NPH as a family. It is one of the ways that we raise funds to continue educating, feeding, clothing and caring for our family. These actions wouldn’t be possible if people like you didn’t exist. I know that merely saying thank you feels short, but we at NPH really feel thankful and blessed to have people like you helping us achieve our dreams. thank YOU for being part of our personal story. Thanks to folks like you, my story is told differently.

I would like to thank all the people that helped me prepare for when I shared a bit about my life at Faces of Hope. A big thank you to my homestay, to the people who work so hard in the NPH USA office, to Bob and Jacqueline, and to my brothers and sisters in NPH. Thanks to all the godparents, benefactors, friends and volunteers who make NPH possible.

I must admit that when they asked me if I was ready to share a bit about my life, I did not feel ready whatsoever. I was scared, and my head immediately began to bring back memories of my childhood. It was a mix of many emotions–happiness and tragedy. With all of these memories, I decided that I had to challenge myself. It was not easy to talk in another language in front of so many people. It was something that caught me off guard. But thanks to all the people who took time to support me with patience and love, I was able to overcome the challenge. Now, I know that anything is possible because I am not along in this journey. It’s easier when people are there to support me. I am and forever will be thankful for the work that YOU do to make NPH and my great family possible.

One of the resources that NPH and the Seattle Institute offer our students is counseling and therapy. Between all the stress and adjustment, it is helpful to find spaces that are safe and confidential to process. Our therapists that we partner with are trained and highly skilled in cross-cultural situations, fluent in Spanish and familiar with NPH. David writes a little about his experience in his own English!

When I came to this program, I had never asked for an appointment and visited a therapist, because I had a negative image of going to a psychologist. My first time was in December when Jacqueline asked us to visit just one time.  I really didn’t want to go because I have had bad experiences. I did not know how the therapy worked here in the United States.

However, I had to go before my trip to Minnesota for Christmas. Once I arrived to the therapist’s office, I was happy. We were able to meet with Kara King, who is an amazing person. I realized that it was a little difficult to express all the things that I wanted to say because I was nervous and I did not know how to start. During my time in Seattle, sometimes I feel like I’m alone. I think about my University, friends in my country, trying to learn a new language, and I begin to lose sense of this program. So then, I began talking about Seattle with Kara. For example, my homestay, school, leadership formation, Seattle’s culture and a little bit about myself.

I really enjoyed my time with Kara despite everything, I felt very comfortable at the end because I could express myself freely. In conclusion, I am taking advantage of this opportunity that NPH offers me. Sometimes, we are looking for someone to tell our personal things to, or you might even have your own person! But if you need any help, you can talk with your loved ones, Jacqueline, or even go to therapy.

Saravia and her homestay participated in the Women’s March in Seattle, which was one of the largest marches ever recorded. She writes about the importance of women’s rights and her experience in her own English!

I attended this march because my host family firmly believes that women’s rights are also human rights. 130,000 people joined in this event to demonstrate that women are not what the president of this country believes or says. Men also joined this march to demonstrate that they respect the existence of women.

I am very surprised with what happened in this march. Because it makes me think a lot about my country and it makes me very sad because my country is going through the same political situations, and I think even worse. In my country corruption is like a disease–everywhere you can see it. Citizens of my country put a president in office who does not respect the constitution of the republic, a person who steals money from the people, a person who left thousands of families without social insurance. But the citizens of Honduras will never make a march like the one I saw in Seattle .

Finally, i hope that the American people will remain strong and united. To fight for their rights and values, to fight for a better country for future generations and for the rights of immigrants

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Below, Jimmy writes about spending time with iLeap a few weeks ago. 

On March 30 and 31st, we spent time at iLeap. They were two days full of happiness, learning, and much reflection for me. It was so good to see the wonderful people that work there as they shared their knowledge and friendship with us.

Those two days were full of learning because I had the opportunity to learn many new things. I learned that vulnerability affects us in many difference situations and that sometimes we become victims of our own lack of confidence and trust.

My favorite activity was that we had to represent our lives as a river. It made me reflect a lot as we had to draw about our lives in past, present and future tense. This impacted me, because it made me think about the things that happened to me in the past that continue to affect me presently. The activity helped me think about the manner of how I’m living my life now and how life could be in the future.

In conclusion, I feel very grateful to iLeap for all their support!

El pasado 30 y 31 de Marzo compartimos tiempo con el personal de iLEAP. Fueron dos días llenos de alegría, conocimiento y de mucha reflexión para mí. Fue muy alegre porque pude ver una vez más la gente linda que trabaja ahí y que comparte su conocimiento y su amistad con todo el que lo necesita.

Fueron días llenos de conocimiento porque tuve la oportunidad de aprender muchas y nuevas cosas como, la manera en la que la vulnerabilidad nos afecta en tantas situaciones y a veces no nos damos cuenta que somos víctimas de nuestra misma inseguridad.

La parte que mas me encanto y que me hizo reflexionar muchísimo fue la de representar nuestra vida en forma de un rio y dividida entre pasado, presente y futuro. Esa me impacto porque me hizo pensar en cosas que no fueron muy buenas en mi pasado y que de alguna u otra manera me están afectando en mi presente, al darme cuenta de eso sentí mucha satisfacción porque gracias a esa actividad estaba revisando mi vida.

La actividad mi vida como un rio me ayudo muchísimo a retroceder hacia mi pasado, pensar en la manera en la que estoy viviendo en mis años actuales y también me ayudo a pensar de la manera en la que me visualizo en algunos años. En conclusion, me siento muy agradecido con iLEAP por el trabajo que han realizado con nosotros como NPH y en especial conmigo.

As many of you know or can guess, our students from Haiti are often challenged with learning English as their 3rd or 4th language. I am constantly impressed with Samuel’s willingness to learn English and just how much he has grown in communicating! This is a piece he wrote by himself reflecting on his learning in Seattle. 

I am pretty sure that most of you know that Seattle institute is a program focused on Leadership, English and also Service. I only want to talk a little bit more about my journey in Seattle and especially Seattle institute.

This program have changed me in different ways, the Seattle institute helped me to discover my really personality and help me to know that I have greatness within me. This program taught me that there are more than these three things, which are English, service, and leadership. It is true that we all can be leaders, but being servant leader is not really common and the Seattle institute allows me to be a better leader and even servant leader. The best thing by being a servant leader is to be humble and sincere, I can say firmly that this program has taught me how to be more sincere and how to be a better person every single day.

Being able to be part of this program is such a great blessing for me, and it cannot be possible without NPH (NPFS). I know that words are not enough to express how grateful I am; yes I really know what NPH is for me, but the fact that I am living in Seattle I can say that I learn more and more about NPH and what it really means to be part of this family. When I say my journey in the Seattle institute is more than learn English, leadership and also give service. This is what I mean; first I want to say something, which is similar that Father Wasson said, “ We all from different places, but what we really are is a family”. Father Wasson was more than right about he had said because I am from a different places and being able to live with and call the Marre family (my family) it is such a great thing for me. Being able to meet and spend time David, Roxana, Mariela, Saravia, and Jimmy another way that Father Wasson was right. To be honest, being able to meet all those beautiful people that are so dedicated to NPH explain the idea about the fact I say the Seattle institute is more than learn English, leadership and give service. During my journey in this program I have learned many things, things that help me to be more grateful than ever. The Seattle Institute has helped me to be the best version of me. The Seattle institute is one of the important parts of NPH and also helps me to know and understand what it means to be part of NPH. My journey in Seattle will not be possible without the host families, without those who give bodies and souls to this family that we all call NPH. I know thank you will not be enough to express my gratitude, but I hope my witness will be enough to show how grateful and I am for everything that you have done.

Thank you to my great host family (The Marres) that turns into a real family to me, I need you to know my journey will not be great without you. Thank Seattle institute for helping become the best version of me and I can so far you are the best thing that ever happened to me. I feel blessed enough and honored to be part of this beautiful journey, which is Seattle institute.

I am sure that these experiences will lasts forever. Love and Gratitude!!

Saravia shares a bit about her homestay and how they have helped her adjust to Seattle. She wrote this in her own English!

I would love to share a little a little about who my host family is. Especially because because they have been excellent people with me. Because they make me feel welcome at home, I am treated more like a daughter and sister. And that makes me feel very good.

Katie: was the first person of this family I met. She was in my country and we met because she is the director of the NPH offices in seattle. She spent a week in Honduras and we talked a lot. She decided that she wanted to be my godmother and that she wanted to support me in my studies and in my life in general. Since then, we have been in contact for many years. Eight years to be exact

Laura: Laura is the wife of my godmother Katie. Laura is originally from Seattle. She is a person who has a lot of patience and that impresses me a lot. She is also very motherly in every way, she knows how to take good care of people and has very noble heart. She is really smart.

Nicholas: He is 9 years old, he is a very cute and very intelligent boy. Nicholas loves sports like me –that’s why we have a good connection because we share things in common. He is a really good soccer player, he plays as a goalkeeper.

Rory (Aurora): Rory she is 9 years old too. She and Nicholas are twins. Rory is a very intelligent girl. When I see her, I think of the great future she will have in her life. She loves to read most of the time she is reading, I think she has read more than any other adult in their life. Also, she has a very strong personality. That’s what i like most about her, because it is how we identify ourselves. She always what she thinks and i like that too, for many girls with the same age i think she is too mature.

Willa: she is 3 years old. She is the most beautiful kid that exists. Thanks to her, children have started to like me more. She is a very cute an funny girl she makes each of my days the best. Willa makes me feel welcome and loved, and I really like it.

I am very grateful to be part of this family and grateful that they are part of my life and my NPH family.