On a Honduran Mountainside Christmas Shines Bright by Christine Galeone l Christmas Inspiration l Inspiring Stories l Inspirational Stories l The True Meaning of Christmas

Love

While you might think the children would naturally choose to give up their most disliked or most worn clothing, shoes or toys, the opposite is true. In the true Christmas Spirit, they give gifts wrapped in the love and compassion that Jesus gives us. Tess Blackwell, the child sponsorship manager for NPH USA (Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Region), volunteered at the Rancho in 2007 and 2008.

After seeing so many of the teenage girls she worked with give up “their most prized possessions,” she was moved to tears. She said “It was humbling to witness, and I ended that day having such a greater appreciation of the impact that giving back – no matter how small the act or item may be – can do for a person and amazed at how selfless these girls were with regards to which items they chose to give away.”

Light

And the love they share at Christmas endures throughout the year. Not only that, but it lights the way for volunteers, staff members and other children and adults to follow a similar path. Blackwell said “Anytime I’m back in Honduras at the NPH Rancho, I’m constantly in awe of these children and what they’ll do to help one another on a daily basis. You’ll see kids helping the younger children – carrying them here or there. You’ll see children helping to push our special needs or wheelchair-bound children all over the Rancho. You’ll see newly-arrived children being consoled and reassured by other children, who have been with NPH longer. It’s an amazing sight to see.”