Vignette from the Hogar: From Hell to Heaven

Buenos Dias Padres, Madres y Amigos en Cristo!

Como estan? Espero que todos estan bien con ustedes. Estoy muy bien, pero un poquito consado. Saludos para todos ustedes de Madres Ines, Maria y Ivonne.

I returned from Guatemala and the Hogar San Rafael Ayau Orphanage as scheduled late Monday evening. After a day of "catching up" at home (mainly correcting midterm exams from XU) I am back at the church. I am also back to using English which does come to me a bit more naturally! Be that as it may, I would like to share with you some serious reflections and observations following my short stay at the Hogar, especially concerning the children and their upbringing there by Madres Ines, Maria and Ivonne.

As usual, a visit to the Hogar is an experience that paradoxically fills me with a sense of sadness and inspiration. In just a short period of time, it is virtually impossible not to feel sad on behalf of these "abandoned, abused, and orphaned children" and the brokenness of their young lives. There are even encounters that will either melt or break your heart. Yet simultaneously, it is impossible not to be inspired and deeply moved in a positive sense as you briefly witness how these broken lives are being protected and even slowly put back together again. The process of healing is taking place below the surface and when clear signs of it become manifest this is truly exhilarating and a cause for joy. Here is a very poignant and dramatic case in point:

There is a lovely young girl of about ten that presvytera Deborah and I met in June and spent some time with on an outing to a plant and garden nursery. We made friends that day and enjoyed her company for the rest of the week there. On my recent visit I discovered the shocking fact that she had been terribly violated ("let the reader understand") while living in a tenement building. She was then eventually brought to the Hogar and taken in. This is the part that truly breaks your heart, especially when you see this child up close, call her by name, hold her hand, hug her, and spend some time with her. To be perfectly honest, it also boils your blood. The tragic character of the fallen world is no more fully manifested then in the destruction of the purity and innocence of a child. The consequences are severe. The words of Christ make this clear: "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." (LK. 17:2) This also makes many of the children very susceptible to mood swings that will include a kind of depression. And yet this young girl has been baptized and now participates in the sacramental life of the Church on a daily basis. So, I am not ashamed to say that when she came to Communion on Sunday while I was serving, tears came to my eyes as I gave her the Body and Blood of Christ "unto life everlasting." This little child is truly on a journey from hell to heaven! She has been in the "dark pit" described by the psalmist, and has now returned to the light of day. This is the part that is inspiring. Or that uplifts your troubled heart.

We cannot romanticize this healing process. It is slow and difficult. Madre Ivonne further shared with me that for many of the children, it is not until they are about fifteen or so when they realize that they are being cared for in a spirit of love. They may not really "open up" until then and fully trust their caregivers. (By that age at the Hogar, we are speaking about teen-aged girls, for the boys have been transferred elsewhere to another very fine institution - Ak Tenamit - that further educates them and prepares them for life in society).

When you support the Hogar it is a child like this that you are supporting! You are helping to feed, clothe, and educate her. And protect her from the outside world that has betrayed her. You are helping to maintain her in a Christ-filled environment. It is a noble and worthy cause. May it be blessed.

I would like to share a few less dramatic things that I picked up on this trip in the days to come. There are a couple of practices I heard about at the Hogar that are meant to instill a spirit of maturity and responsibility in the children and young adults that I believe you will find interesting. Until then ... Adios!

Dios ustedes bendigan!

Con mucho amor en Cristo,

Fr. Steven

Interview with Madre Ivonne

Dear Parish Faithful,

For those who may be interested, here is a pretty extensive interview with Madre Ines of the Hogar San Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala City, conducted when she was recently in Russia. It was sent to me by Bobbie Royhab, a woman from Toledo who has been on our own mission teams in the past.

Fr. Steven

_____

http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/31235.htm

Good Afternoon,

Ron and I attended a retreat with Madre Ivonne, coordinator of the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orthodox Christian orphanage in Guatemala, at a Greek Orthodox church and school in Pittsburgh this last weekend.

She gave us an article (link is above) that recently appeared in a Russian publication. It is an interview with Madre Abbess Ines of the Orthodox monastery in Guatemala. Madre Ines, also director of the Hogar, and Madre Maria, the third Orthodox nun who lives in Guatemala, spent several weeks in Russia in July.

--Bobbie

A Part of Their Lives ~ Reflections On the 2009 Mission Trip, by Anastacia and Alexandra Taylor

When we arrived at the Hogar on Monday afternoon, I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea what connections I would make with the children in the few days I was there. Although I spoke no Spanish, and most of the children knew very little English, it didn’t stop friendships from being made.

As a missionary team, we were in charge of moving all of the furniture and instruments from the ‘old’ music room into the next room over and repainting the ‘old’ music room in order to expand the wood-workshop. While it was hard work, knowing how much we were helping the Hogar staff and children was well worth it. Many people on our team also helped with gardening and grounds keeping. The beautiful ‘park’ area now has freshly cut grass and weed-less flower beds.

On Tuesday night, Anastacia K, Mara, Megan, Alexandra, and I went with the older girls to a cinema to see Jonas: 3D Concert Experience. The girls were much like many of the girls here in the U.S.-they love the Jonas Brothers. Many of them knew more of the songs than I did!

When there was any extra time, (after lunch, before the next activity) I enjoyed helping at the nursery. I enjoyed playing with the children in their play-pen and also taking them outside on the swings. Some of the children were old enough to swing by themselves and some enjoyed sitting on my lap and swinging. David, one of the younger boys, was so sleepy one day that after swinging for just a few minutes he fell happily asleep.

On my second-to-last day, I decided to play in the courtyard with the pre-schoolers. Even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying to each other and to me, we had so much fun playing with bubbles. They loved blowing bubbles and chasing them and trying to pop them! They were laughing so hard and were having so much fun. Even though I was only able to play with them a few times the rest of the trip, I will never forget how happy they were to play with me. They loved having my full attention and talking to me, even though I couldn’t respond with words. They also loved being spun around and around in circles again and again. Their whole face would light up when I told them they were next…

The church at the orphanage was also beautiful. It was amazing how well-behaved all of the children were during each of the services. Everyone paid attention and sang along. Many of the girls had ‘jobs’ during the services, such as reading or leading the songs.

Going on this trip, I have taken a new perspective on life. I have realized not only how much my family means to me, but also that is not what you surround a person with, it’s who. All of the children are loved by Mother’s, care takers, nannies, and their peers. It amazed me how well everyone seemed to get along, always being so near to each other.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much the children wanted to be with us. We would communicate through hand-signals, games, and a combination of English and Spanish!

Anastacia

~ ~ ~

For our missionary work, we painted the music room. First, we moved all of the furniture out of the room and to the new music room next door. Then, we scraped off the bright red paint. Finally, we repainted the walls white. Afterward, we expanded the woodshop to include the newly-painted room. We did this because their wood shop needed more space for all of the large equipment. The children learn how to carve wood during the week.

It’s amazing how you can get so close to some of the children. From the sixteen-month old babies to the thirteen-year-old girls they were all fun to be around. I was especially fond of a toddler named Anna. We would go out on the courtyard swings and she would sit in the baby swing and I would push her. We would also go into her play pen and she would sit in my lap and we would play peek-a-boo or she would sit on the floor next to me and I would hold her ands and play pat-a cake.

We went to church in the morning and in the afternoon. Before church began, one of the girls would ring the bells, so everyone would know church was beginning. The church had many beautiful icons. There were more than 120 icons in it. On Tuesday morning, we celebrated liturgy. All of the children sat down and paid attention to the service.

Leaving the orphanage was the hardest part. The children all stood in a line and then we hugged each of them. I remember hugging them like it was yesterday. They all seemed so thankful for having us come to the Hogar. I felt part of their life and now they are part of mine.

I wanted to stay much longer.

Alexandra T.

Mission Trip Summary, Pt 2

Dear Parish Faithful,

Buenas Tardes!

Miscellaneous Comments

I wanted to bring up an item of two that would further supplement my summary of our Mission Team trip from yesterday. In terms of "interconnected events," or "meaningful encounters," when we arrived at the Hogar, we were introduced to a long-term missionary by the name of Ben Logan. Ben is from an OCA mission in Nicholasville, KY (Southern Diocese). Ben was a retreat participant last September when Madre Ivonne was here as our guest and retreat leader. As we all were, he was deeply impressed by her presentation of the Hogar. That was the first time he met Madre Ivonne and, as the saying goes, "one thing led to another," and he is now spending the summer at the Hogar. For all practical purposes, Ben was attached to our Mission Team as a twelfth member and was of considerable help in our various work assignments. He is also accompanied us on our "outings" with the children. And he always appeared at the Bible Studies with his Greek New Testament!

Sadly for us at Christ the Savior/Holy Spirit, when Luke Loboda departed from the Hogar his final destination was his new home in Pittsburg, PA. Luke's wife, now Dr. Ashley Loboda, is doing her residency at a local Pittsburg hospital. So the Hogar was Luke's last "parish activity" with us. And Luke was an invaluable team member. In addition to his hard work, Luke was very good with the children. Madre Ivonne said that he accomplished a "miracle" of sorts in the swimming pool with some of the younger boys who were afraid to get into the water, but who trusted Luke and for the first time "made the plunge." We will miss Luke, Ashley and Noah and we wish them the best in their new home. May God bless them for, and with, many years!

Presvytera Deborah's niece, Mara Livezey from Detroit, spent her four high school years at a prestigious Russian-based ballet school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While at the Hogar she offered a one-hour presentation of her ballet skills and some basic teaching to the senoritas who thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Anne, Anastacia and Alexandra Taylor had to leave earlier than the rest of the team. On the morning of their departure, following Matins, Madre Ivonne openly complimented them very warmly on their educational level and their excellent behavior as young team members. Surprisingly and sadly, however, she also informed everyone that they may be the last team members under twenty years of age allowed. On a recent team, the young members unfortunately acted very rudely toward the Hogar children; and, contrary to the rules of the Hogar, they were "inappropriately dressed." This prompts two immediate questions: "Where was their team leader?" "Where was the accompanying priest?" This is a good example of how some must reap what others have sown. Actions have consequences. I am not sure that this has become an "official policy," but again Madre Ivonne informed us openly of Madre Ines' decision. The madres are fiercely protective of the children. They clearly will not tolerate any rude behavior towards them.

The number of ninos and ninas at the Hogar has been considerably reduced. There are now about sixty children. At one point in the past there were a hundred and fifty and above. This allows for greater attention for each child. Many children have returned home to family, or at least extended family, members. The older boys have been sent to Ak Tenamit (Alexander, the boy we tried but failed to adopt, is one of these boys), an educational and vocational school that trains native Guatemalan children for the future while helping them to appreciate their own Mayan cultural traditions. We certainly missed seeing some of our old friends, but we hope and pray that their lives have been changed for the better following their encounter with the love and support they all received from the Hogar.

The Healing Process

Presvytera and I have now known some of these children - particularly the senoritas - for six or seven years respectively. Thye have become our "amigas." Towards us they are always friendly, open and deeply respectful. We mutually look forward to seeing each other periodically and maintaining some contact. We have seen them grow up into sixteen, seventeen and eighteen year old teen-agers. Their deepest desire is to be "normal," and a great deal of "normalcy" now characterizes their lives, as much as that is possible in the settiing of the Hogar. This is their "spiritual oasis," but also something of a "golden cage," as Madre Ivonne acknowledges, shielding them from some of the harsher realities of life, concretly symbolized by the four fifteen-foot high walls that enclose the Hogar on all sides. Over the years, Madre Ivonne has become their "madre" in a very real sense. Yet, the healing process is long and arduous, marked by "ups and downs" that must be dealt with patiently, firmly, but with love. Madre Ivonne reminds us that below the surface, the senoritas have real "issues." None of these senoritas come from wholesome families in which they experienced the love of father and mother. Actually, they come out of broken households that we today would term highly dysfunctional. They are all "abandoned, abused, and/or orphaned." Some of their personal stories have a nightmare quality that we cannot quite wrap our minds around. At some point in their lives they have suffered from physical and/or psychological trauma. And yet they have ambitious plans for the future - marine biologist, doctor, teacher, etc. It is wonderful to hear them speak of this.

The lives of the senoritas - and the other ninos and ninas - are deeply and organically woven into the life of the Church. Thye are immersed in the daily, weekly and annual cyles of the Church's liturgical life in a way that is perfectly natural for them. They have a tremendous love and respect for the Church. This is evident even when they clean the church. For the Church is their primary source of healing as it is the primary source of strength, perseverance, commitment and love for Madres Ines, Maria and Ivonne. Christ is the Physician of their souls and bodies - as He is of ours. All of us are in the process of being healed and restored to fellowship with God through our lives in the Church. The more conscious and committed we are to that process, the more "real" it can become. Witnessing this healing process in such "hurt" and damaged children as are at the Hogar is profoundly moving and encouraging. BIG IS GOD!

A Mission Team Next Year?

This was our first Mission Team to the Hogar since 2006. Up to that point we had a team every summer since 2002. I also calculate that twenty-five current or former parishioners have made the journey to Guatemala. Perhaps we have reinvigorated our Mission Team commitment with this year's excellent team and our generous parish donations. Someone has already approached me and asked about next year! The "June slot" has historically always been offered to us, and I will find out from Madre Ivonne if that will hold up for June 2010. She usually makes the schedule in the early Fall and then informs me of the dates. You may want to let me know if you have any kind of tentative desire to be on the team for next year.

If I could answer any further questions, please forward them to me.

En Cristo,

Fr. Steven

Mission Trip Summary, Pt 1

Dear Parish Faithful,

Buenos Dias!

Introduction

Having returned from a week at the Hogar San Rafael Ayau in Guatemala City, I would like to offer a summary of this year's Mission Team activities and experiences. Over-all, I can write assuredly that the entire trip was muy excellente. I believe that we maintained a good balance between our work project assignments, and accessibility - and thus fellowship - with the ninos, ninas and senoritas. Our (fearless) team leader, Presvytera Deborah, successfully combined the roles of keeping the team in good order, and acting with genuine maternal care for each member's well-being. Her experience with life at the Hogar and its particular "culture" were effective assets throughout the week. The task of further over-all supervision and the directing of each Mission Team to the Hogar belongs to Madre Ivonne. As always, it was a joy to work with her and simply spend some time with her, though her incredibly demanding schedule keeps her constantly on the move from one task to another - including the minor crises of each day. Any conversation that lasts over five minutes is invariably interrupted by a cell-phone call, or an approaching child, teacher, ninera, visitor, etc. with a new question or problem to be solved. The stamina and patience that all of this requires - let alone the ability to address and react to the multi-leveled day-to-day challenges - is staggering to contemplate.

Our Mission Team

On one level, our eleven-member Mission Team was not characterized by great diversity (we were all midwestern, white and Orthodox). However, we did have some real age-related diversity (to keep with the spirit of the times) that embraced some young members - one pre-teen and three teens; some "middle-aged" members; and a few "older" members. This works effectively on more than one level, not least of which are the different types of relationships the children can form within this wide range of age diversity. The Hogar children can enjoy the company of their North American peers; the big brother/big sister relationship with the next age-group up; and the maternal/paternal relationships with the older members. The team was thankfully marked by a spirit of cooperation and closeness as the week progessed. In short, we "got along." We did our best to have a Bible Study in the early evening, followed by an evaluation of the day and preparation for the day to come.

Work Assignments

One of the main goals of a Mission Team is to fulfill a work assignment that upgrades the facilities of the Hogar, beautifies the grounds and relieves the Hogar of the financial burdens such work entails. We had two work assignments: painting and landscaping. Presvytera Deborah thus created two groups for these twin tasks. We transferred the music room from one spot to another newly-prepared room; painted a very large room and then transferred the work shop machinery into that room. Landscaping entailed mowing, edging and planting. Luke Loboda was "awesome" in mowing the entire Hogar park and surrounding areas by himself. Actually, a third assignment was assisting with the children in the nursery - holding them, taking them for walks in the outdoors, playing on the swings, etc. This was done primarily by Anne, Anastacia and Alexandra Taylor (though Anastacia also helped in the painting). And a fourth assignment was helping the younger boys to swim. This was done by Luke Loboda and Anthony Jula from Columbus. This work is carried out within the framework of the liturgical cycle of daily Matins (7:00 a.m.) and Vespers (4:15 p.m.) I also celebrated a somewhat delayed Pentecost Liturgy for the Hogar on Tuesday morning.

Highlights

Memorable highlights, chronologically listed, included: 1) A trip to the mall supervised by Anastasia Kostoff of our younger team members together with the older senoritas to see a film about the Jonas Brothers(?), sponsored by one of our parishioners. 2) Distribution of the special gifts for the senoritas in the beautiful setting of the Hogar park provided by our parish members. 3) A real "fiesta," with pinata, Mariachi band and dancing in honor of one of the Hogar school supervisor's fiftieth birthday. 4) A power-point presentation of our Mission Team members and the parish to a large group of the Hogar children. 5) A very exciting evening to see the Moscow circus(!) with our entire team and the senoritas, together with some of the other younger ninos and ninas. This was quite a night out! The Russian embassy in Guatemala provided the tickets for all of the Hogar children. (Madre Ines has established a good working relationship with the Russian embassy. In July she will be taking two former members of the Hogar family to Russia where they will study engineering in a five-year program. They will initially live in a monastic setting in and around Moscow). 6) A trip to the Holy Trinity monastery to greet Madres Ines and Maria, that began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the breathtakingly beautiful cathedral church there. This was followed by a day in Antigua to which we invited eight of the senoritas for some sight-seeing and the inevitable shopping. 7) A final pizza and coke party also sponsored by one of our parishioners.

Parish Donations

Monetary donations came from a wide range of sources: the wekly "basket by the Cross;" an Ice Cream Sundae Sale sponsored by the Church School; a baklava sale sponsored by members of St. Katherine's Sisterhood; specifically-designated donations for activities with the children or our work assignments; money left with Madre Ivonne for a future Fall event; and assorted miscellaneous donations from outside the parish. This all amounted to about $4,950.00!

In addition there were seven suitcases "stuffed" to over-capacity with new clothing, games, school-related items, domestic items, etc. In other words, we more than retained our "reputation" for genorosity to the Hogar and its children. The three other parishes represented on our Mission Team also brought further generous monetary and item donations. Madre Ines insisted that I express her deep appreciation for these gifts and donations and our continuing support of the "abandoned, abused, and orphaned children" of the Hogar.

To be concluded with a few closing comments, hopefully by tomorrow.

En Cristo,

Fr. Steven