the girls' Christmas party

The  girls, staff, and Director have all gone off for their holiday vacations.  Most will return about January 7.

They did not however get off without a fabulous Christmas Party for the girls, complete with  a tree, Santa, gifts, cake, and green spaghetti.


Thanks to the generosity of so many from within the Merida Community we had money to provide gifts for the girls, and some family gifts; like towels, blankets, palanganas (wash tubs filled with food items), and pinatas, but also each of the staff received a lovely scarf.  And we have a bit left to be able to stockup the pantry and maybe buy the girls those backpacks they need.

Thank you so much 

to each of you that donated money, gifts, or goods, 

it was and is so appreciated.

all the girls with Santa, yes, Santa is in there, look close - those smiles say it all!

the girls had prepared a few dance routines - very clever

and we all played Hokey Pokey

checking out some of the goodies

one of the families with a pinata.

When we first arrived at HNV, we got the tour of all the recent renovations - the girls are thrilled, and love the new colors, especially the pink and lavender, then the girls entertained us with a dance routine, they led us in some a few carols, we all played Hokey Pokey, Santa passed out gifts - we all enjoyed watching the girls open their stuff, then there was a fair amount of looking at each others stuff, a few trades were made, then playing with some of the toys like balls, hula hoops, jump ropes, and lots of candy eating, we then went to the kitchen and had green spagetti and cake.  It was a very fun evening -

The girls recently visited a nursing home

Among the many lessons the girls learn at Hogar Nueva Vida are caring, compassion, and giving.

The girls recently visited a nursing home

where they sang Christmas carols, danced, played lotería, and passed out Christmas cookies that they had made.

getting ready for Christmas

A group of  the "Friends" of Hogar Nueva Vida recently met at my house to create the gift bags for the girls Christmas party.  Charlotte and I went shopping a a week before, armed with our list of girls names, ages, shoe size, shirt sizes, and pantie sizes.  We did a lot of shopping and were quite successful.

Added to what we bought were items donated through the International Women's Club. AND  a group of friends threw themselves a 70's party, no, not a retro hippy kind of 70's, but all of them were turning or had turned 70 in 2012.  Ken made the offer of a ticket for a free drink to anyone that brought an age appropriate gift.  So we had that stuff as well. Not to mention a collection taken at the Merida Men's Club.  Donations came in all forms, and I wish I could Thank each of you personally, but you know who you are.

Thank You!

So these girls are getting a bagful of goodies, in addition we have a number of things that are for the 'house',  hula hoops, jump ropes, soccer balls, blankets, towels, great stuff all!  They are also getting stuff to give their families, and there was even enough to buy a scarf for each of the staff women.

hair doodads, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, y mas

shirts, and colored pencils, juice boxes, jump ropes

panties, and camis, and chanklas, oh my

soccer balls, complete with pump.

more school supplies, and toiletries

and there are rain ponchos, and school shirts, and oh so much more.  

Really, Thank you to everyone who gave!

all wrapped up with a bow!

Charlotte made these great ribbons with plastic cards with their names on.

Makes the bags look very festive!

Merida Men's Club organize A FACE LIFT

Roger from the Merida Men's Club recently initiated a work crew to do some repairs and freshening up at Hogar Nueva Vida.   A group, of not all just Merida Men's Club men, and not all men  recently spent part of a day scraping, sanding, repairing, and fixing a few things in need of repair around the house, then they scheduled a follow-up painting day.

Unfortunately, and I am famous for this, no pictures were taken that first day.  But this past week, on the paint day, a few photos were snapped, again not by me, I  failed to follow through on that.

Anyway, there were some much needed plumbing repairs, some scraping, filling, door repairs, sanding, sealing and painting done.

here are a few photos to commemorate the event.

Yes, they are happy with the new look!

gorgeous and fresh
 shower area

lavenders and pinks, these are HAPPY girls!

To all of you that helped with the repairs, painting, and donations of paint and supplies - 

Thank You!

IWC approves Charity donation to HNV

Marie Barchus-IWC President, Debi Kuhn-HNV/IWC Liaison, and Patricia Pipkin-HNV Director

Theresa Diaz, IWC Treasurer

At November's General Meeting the International Women's Club (IWC) voted on and passed a motion to donate money raised by the Charity Committee to Hogar Nueva Vida.     This money will got toward school shirts, panties, chanclas,  rain jackets, towels, and a few fun things to help round out their Christmas baskets.





In addition to this cash donation, many incredibly generous members made other surprise donations;

Betina brought the girls a laptop

Carol brought a bag full of books she bought from HNV's Amazon Wish List.

Lori brought several dvd movies, also from the HNV Amazon Wish List.

Cecile gave some clothing and reading glasses.

Reesa, who also teaches English with the girls had books sent.

Irene gave a bag full of hair ribbons and hair accessories.

And numerous other members, including some listed above made cash donations.

I do apologize that I don't have photos of each gift giver.

Thank you ALL SO MUCH for your generosity - 

it is truly inspiring how you open your hearts.

and a special thanks to the members of the Charity Committee!  Reesa, Beth, Jan, Roberta, and Jill!

holiday happenings

There is so much going on - We're getting ready for the girls' Christmas Party, we provide them with cake, pinata, some games, a Santa, and some gifts, mostly utilitarian stuff, school shirts, socks, undies, toiletries  etc, but we also try to include some fun stuff.  We've already had a new blanket for each girl donated.

We hope to receive a cash gift from the International Women's Club, and some of you Supporters are once again showing your generosity. So shopping will soon be in order.

The Merida Men's Club is heading up a Repair and Maintenance project to do some much needed repairs and painting - repairing some leaks, fixing some broken screens, and just whatever else shows up along the way.   These guys are fabulous!
Donations of building materials are starting to trickle in.  Still looking for paint.

This year the girls will be getting an extra lesson - that it is as important to Give as to Receive.  The girls are indicating things that they'd like to give their families, if they could!  We hope to be able to give the girls something that they can then 'Give' to their family.

One of the programs that Tricia is doing is called Values Lessons, to help with that
I've put the bug in the ear of my friends at sanctuary evolucion, the dog shelter, and am hoping soon that the girls will be getting a lesson in animal care and compassion.

and wouldn't it be fabulous for them to visit an albergue de ancianos, essentially an old folks home.

I will try to post some pictures soon, maybe some before and afters of the repairs and maintenance, and of course the girls with Santa.

okay, so don't forget to check back often to get updates, or you can sign up to receive the updates to your email, just there on the right sidebar.

Positive Outcomes!

We've had a Very Positive feedback - and I want to share it with All You Who Help and Support Hogar Nueva Vida

 HNV Friends, 

Here's a quick "Thank You" for your help at Nueva Vida.  You are making a significant impact in the lives of these girls now and for the future.  I see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices every time I am there. They try the English out on me that they are learning.  They show me improvements that have been done to the facilities and what more there is to do.  The girls have pictures of the parties, eat better food, and are building self esteem because of your interest in them. 

Thank you. 
Ron ### ###### 

What we do does make such a difference! Thanks to all you who help, here, and in other endeavors!

Halloween 2012

On Monday evening, 29 October 2012, a small group of Friends of Hogar Nueva Vida gathered to help the Director and Staff to throw a little Halloween Party for the girls.

We had a plan--

Juegos

Nariz en la bruja--(Pin the Nose on the Witch)
Fantasmas escondidas--(Find the hidden ghost lollipops)
Globos en la sillas--(Sitting on balloons till they pop)
Manzanas en el tanque--(an apple dunk tank)

Pintura de caras--(Face Painting)

Salimos disfrazados a la calle (walk  in the neighborhood in their costumes, visit some neighbors, and stop at a house for some treats.)

Comida  (Dinner)

• Espagueti rojo con carne molido y elote--(Spagetti in tomato and sausage sauce with hominy to look like teeth)
• Momias--(hotdogs wrapped in baked dough but with a cutout at one end to look like a Mummy)
• Refrescos--(Soda)
• Pastel--(Cake)

Bolsitas de dulces--(bags with candies and treats)

Overall it was quite a success, although we did forget to play pin the nose on the witch.

Here are some photos!

There were fun decorations

bobbing for apples

                                                      face painting

 and fun food for dinner, these are mummys, 

hotdogs wrapped in dough, and they were very popular!

It was great fun, the girls enjoyed it, and so did those of us involved!

HNV - A New Beginning

A small group of 'Friends of Hogar Nueva Vida' recently met with Patricia (Tricia, or Paty) the new director of Misión de Amistad. She tells us “I am finding my experience as a former volunteer at the Mission of Friendship, and as an elementary school teacher invaluable as I begin leading the Nueva Vida.  Cari and Marilyn are also guiding me from afar for now, and will probably arrive back in Mérida in October for their last season here before retirement.”  Cari and Marilyn have been the Directors of HNV for many years, and are finally, and this time for real, RETIRING.  In fact they are in the States right now attending to business.  But that is their story.

Tricia also thanks all of those who have generously given of their time, talent, and financial resources to enrich the lives of the girls living at Hogar Nueva Vida.  She is excited by the possibilities before us, and your willingness in continuing this work.”

HNV began this year (2012) with twelve girls ages seven through twelve, in first through sixth grade;  They can accept up to eighteen girls.  There are eight women on the staff, including the cook, the two women who spend the nights with the girls, the three women who take care of the girls and attend to their school needs, and two women who come for the sole purpose of tutoring.  The high staff-to-child ratio helps ensure that each girl receives lots of personal attention.